Mgt 312 - Diversity and Personality at Work

Diversity and Personality at Work

Team A - Christina Behm, Geneva Davidson, Ian Harvey, and Parvin Kumari

MGT/312

January 30, 2017

Dr. Bill

Diversity and Personality at Work

For this assignment we worked as a team to create a 700-word summary describing the following: each team members’ personality type, the advantages of working with different personality types & the disadvantages, and examples of ways organizations can manage diverse groups of employees. Diversity pertains to the host of individual differences that make all of us unique and different from others, personality is at the center of the diversity wheel because it represents a stable set of characteristics (Kinicki, 2015).

Personality types

I found it interesting that each team member listed their strengths and I listed my weaknesses. My strengths are important to me, but I feel my weaknesses are much more important. Those are the ones that I need to strengthen.

It turns out that Ian, Parvin and myself have a conscientious personality, people with this personality are able to exercise self-discipline and are in control of their environment. They tend to be very goal oriented, expect and demand 100% from self and others, eager to take on challenges.

Geneva is the only different one on our team, her personality shows she is open to experience, she was taken back because she considered herself to be a laid back type of person who is open to new ideas. This is my weakness; I do find myself feeling it’s my way or the highway. I need to learn to embrace the unknown, be less resistance to change by making a commitment to the change.

Ian lowest score on the personality assessment was in emotional stability, which is the ability to remain stable and balanced. Which is a good thing because people who score high like myself have a tendency to experience negative emotions.

Advantages and Disadvantages

A combination of different personalities can create a strong, balanced working environment. Each person brings something, someone who is quiet brings a stabilizing factor and risk takers give your business that extra nudge to try different things.

Qualities differences bring:    

• Conscientiousness – self-efficacy, achievement-striving, self-disciplined
•  Openness – great imagination, flexible attitude
• Extraversion – friendly, assertive, excitement-seeking
• Agreeableness – trust, cooperation, sympathy
• Emotional stability – calm, no constant negative thoughts

On the other hand, there are many disadvantages to having a combination of different personalities. Discussions can last longer, conflict within the group, stronger personalities persuade others, just to name a few. Disadvantages lead to destructive conflicts, which can be damaging both for the team and the organization.