Working Styles: What’s yours?

Ever started a new project, work task or business venture and had your mind go one of two ways…either ’I can’t WAIT to do that’ or ‘FML, this not what I signed up for!’?

Me too. You’re not alone.

In fact, I’m now beyond grateful for the ability to outsource and allow someone else to do the things they love, which I’m terrible at!

We all have things we’re good at and things we’re not so good at! Layer on a preferred way of working, a unique style that works and allows us to step into our zone of genius and feel in flow.

This is known as a working style.

Or as I like to think of it as the get-shit-done style.

We all have our preferred ways to get sh*t done.

And understanding your working style (get sh*t done style) will allow you to work more efficiently and effectively. Your working style determines how you approach tasks, interact with others, and manage your time, so understanding it can help you find ways to improve your work and overall productivity.

It’s also helpful to be aware of where your strengths lie because these will also influence your preferred working style. We tend to lean towards the things we are good at and shy away from those things that we find harder or less enjoyable.

Let’s hone in on getting to know yours.

You may already have a rough idea of what yours could be, for example, you might dislike working on group-orientated projects as you prefer to rely on your own working schedule and not as a collective. You might love anything that involves being hands-on, but the last thing you want to do is read a manual. You know you love the details and don’t do well with big picture…

You inherently know the things you like and dislike, or what you’re good or not good at. And it’s okay not to be great at everything. Being fully aware of what lights you up vs what brings you crashing back to earth…hard is a great awareness to have when it comes to harnessing your working style.

So, let’s find out what your working style is.

Working Styles

There are several ways to categorise working styles, including personality types, learning styles, and work preferences.

There is no right or wrong working style – and every workplace and business need a lot of different types of people (workers) to function efficiently.

Even when it comes to my business, I know that hiring 10 of me isn’t going to work because I need to ‘fill the gaps’ with different skill sets that complement my working style not mirror it.

The landscape of the working world has massively shifted over the last decade from office cubicles to open office layouts, work-from-home at your kitchen table vibe to coffee shop surfing and in recent years more and more people are travelling the world with a laptop to work from anywhere and everywhere.

But the recipe for a high-performing team or individual hasn’t changed.

High-performing teams and individuals are focused and engaged, working towards a common goal with shared values, and complementary skill sets, and under leadership that fosters open communication and autonomy to work in a way which best suits their working style.

So, what are the different factors that make up your working style?

First up…your personality type.

1. Personality types

Did you know there are different personality types?

Of course, Myer Briggs has been changing the personality type game ever since their questionnaire was introduced in 1943 and businesses dove head first into understanding who they had hired and how better they could work with their employees. Myer’s types indicator brings to the surface 16 different personality definitions. If you want to find out more about all 16 head here, for now, we’re going to cover four main areas:

Personality types can be based on certain traits, such as being super open, not being a sociable character, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. You’ve likely heard these definitions below:

Introverts: Those who prefer to work alone, have a low tolerance for distractions, and are more focused on the task at hand.

Extroverts: Those who are more outgoing, sociable, and prefer to work in teams.

Analytical: Those who are detail-oriented, logical, and prefer to work with structured processes.

Intuitive: Those who are more creative, and imaginative, and prefer to work with open-ended projects.

Which resonates with you?

Note it down and let’s cover how you might learn…

2. Learning styles

From personality types to learning styles, the way you approach tasks and problem-solving comes down to how you prefer to learn. The three most common learning styles are:

Visual: People who learn best through visual aids, such as diagrams and videos.

Auditory: People who learn best through listening, such as lectures or audio recordings.

Kinaesthetic: People who learn best through hands-on experiences, such as practical tasks or simulations.

I always consider this when creating courses and learning materials for my group coaching and 1:1 clients so I cover all 3: interactive videos, audio snippets through voice notes and learning materials with words and images that can be printed or used digitally.

Just imagine if our school education system took into consideration the various ways children learnt, we would never have been forced to sit at a desk and watch a teacher write on the blackboard (showing my age!). The same goes for now…if you’re dreading your 9-5 office job because you’re not in an environment that is stimulating to your learning or working style. It doesn’t mean you’re not productive or a ‘bad employee’!

We are all built differently.

How epic is that!?

The icing on the cake that brings your personality and learning style together is your working preference…

3. Work Preferences

You can have different work preferences, such as your preferred pace, level of autonomy, and level of structure. These will go hand in hand with how you present yourself to the world and show up for work!

Some of the most common work preferences are:

Independent: If you’re Independent, you prefer to work alone, without distractions or interruptions. You prefer to follow instinct, avoid group projects, and run the show yourself. You’d categorise a lot of entrepreneurs as Independent. They are efficient, disciplined, and productive.

Collaborative: If you’re collaborative, you’re someone who prefers to work with others, and enjoys team projects and brainstorming sessions. You like to bounce ideas around and share the responsibility equally. They’re organised, collaborative and strategic.

Structured: If you have a structured working style, you prefer clear guidelines and defined processes, and are comfortable with routine and repetition. You like to know when you’re starting, the targets to hit, and when the end is. If anything, Structured individuals are needed to keep entrepreneurs in line — these are your business development gurus.

Flexible: If you’re flexible, you prefer to work with more autonomy, and enjoy changing your routine and trying new things. You have a social connection with your co-workers but you’re more than happy to pursue your own projects. If you’re flexible, you probably enjoy travelling the globe with your laptop but then finding a space to work when you’re in paradise.

Why is it important to know your working style?

Having an awareness of your working style means you can make sure you’re going after roles, in companies, with the right teams, or setting up a business you’re going to thrive in that aligns with how you prefer to work.

It allows you to:

• Know which roles, teams or companies best suit you based on their working and leadership styles.
• Highlight your strengths and weaknesses in job interviews.
• How to structure your days.
• Understand how you can best get into flow.
• Know how to approach certain tasks to create more success for yourself.
• What tools support you when doing certain tasks
• The physical environment you need to be productive.

Your working style influences your overall productivity and success. If you want to get sh*t done, start by understanding how you like to work, and what factors play into that. You’ll find yourself thriving vs surviving.

Embrace your unique working style and the value that brings to any team or environment you’re a part of.

You’re unique. And so is your working style. Own it!