Commanders (ENTJs) are personality types that, when addressing productivity, are tempted to say, “Just keep doing what you’re doing.” Their personality traits tend to make them ready-made to get things done – perhaps on steroids.
But then there’s that stubbornness thing that can make productivity a little tenuous. Commander personalities put a lot of stock in rationality and order, and this can give them the impression that their decisions are the only obvious decisions. The problem with this is that other people usually have a lot to contribute, and that can get lost, negatively affecting the outcome.
Commanders may have productivity problems because, at times, they may not take others as seriously as they tend to take themselves. If Commanders work alone, these problems may easily be avoided. However, for Extraverts, there’s an energy that comes from working with other people that can be beneficial, so working alone is probably not their ideal way of producing anything. So a working premise for this article is that Extraverted personalities are more productive when collaborating on some level.
Let’s be clear. Commanders can come across as a little cold and demanding, but they are also capable of maintaining relationships and showing compassion and love. They understand that they need people. We want to avoid a stereotype that paints Commanders as a disdainful personality type. It’s just that, on the job, they can place their rationality and orderliness above feelings. Efficiency and getting it right, as they imagine things being right, can take the lead in their motivation over collaboration and camaraderie. They may have little inclination to sugarcoat their responses to other people or little tolerance for others’ flaws.
More Collaborative and Nurturing Relationships
Active Listening
The first step in taking others seriously involves hearing what they have to say. One way to do this involves improving your active listening skills. In some ways, Commander personality types are made for this skill. You are committed to getting all the information right, and listening fully to others can help with that.
Active listening is the art of fully engaging in the messages that others are trying to convey. It involves listening, clarifying, and summarizing.
Start by practicing listening in a nonjudgmental way. This doesn’t mean that you must agree with everything the person is saying, but it does ask that you listen with an open enough mind that you get a good sense of their thoughts. You may want to be careful not to “mind read.” Don’t fill in the blanks assuming that you know what the other person is saying. Instead, ask questions at the right time.
Then, paraphrase what the other person is saying, asking for clarification on things that don’t seem clear to you or that you feel you don’t understand. “So, you’re saying…” is a great way to start this step, and it tells the person you’re having a conversation with that you are sincere in your desire to understand what they are saying.
Lastly, after the interactive paraphrasing and listening, state a quick and brief summary of what the other person is saying. This should be a succinct recap.
Taking the time to actively listen has a twofold benefit. First, it helps the active listener understand what the other party is saying. Second, it shows caring and builds relationships. Commander personalities can sometimes throw off a “my way or the highway” vibe, and active listening lessens that often faulty impression.
Consider: Can you think of instances where you could have listened more carefully to others? Practice active listening with someone who knows that you’re trying to build this skill. Pick a subject and practice hearing, clarifying, and summarizing what your training partner is saying.
Don’t Get Stuck
Commanders tend to be very serious individuals, and this attitude draws them into deep commitments and fosters intense attitudes which, at the right time, might be useful at work. But they can also cause Commander personality types to be too rigid in their approach to tasks that require a modicum of flexibility. They may fear errors and not allow a sufficient tolerance for them – which is sometimes needed for learning. Trial and error can be more productive than staying the established course.
Perfectionism can not only affect our own work negatively but it can also affect our work relationships. In life and most situations, there must be some tolerance for errors and misjudgments. We’re all human, and we will make mistakes. Inventor Thomas Edison said, “I make more mistakes than anyone else I know, and sooner or later, I patent most of them.”
There are very few things that we do in life that can’t be fixed if broken. Of course, on the job, we try to do the best we can, but sometimes that means taking chances or trying something new.
Generally, Commanders (with their Intuitive personality trait) are equipped to see alternative paths and methods, but sometimes they must give themselves permission to do so. And permission involves letting go of perfectionism. Being aware of the places where you tend to be rigid and deciding to loosen up some is the cure for excessive exactitude. In a world of exotic productivity hacks, sometimes it’s just a simple matter of shifting attitudes.
Consider: Are there things that you do when working where letting go of some established idea might be helpful or instructive? Where can you take some reasonable risks that could be instructive or improve a technique? Is there anybody you find that you judge because of their flexibility and risk-taking? Can you let go of that judgment and actively listen to what they have to offer?
Become More Diplomatic
Commander personalities aren’t necessarily mean-spirited, but they do tend to communicate in a matter-of-fact manner. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), the workplace is usually filled with egos. Egos can be as fragile as a Fabergé egg. Once you break one of these delicate parts of the human psyche, it can be hard to put it back together again. After injuring someone’s ego, morale can drop and resistance can increase as cooperation flags. While sugarcoating can sound like a bad idea, there are reasons why the concept exists. Who needs the drama of brusque, hurtful criticism when it’s unnecessary?
So give yourself points for stark honesty and telling it like it is, but make sure that you know the implications of doing so. There are ways to tell the truth without causing pain in the process. Failing to be diplomatic can be a lazy way of avoiding the effort that it takes to say things in a kind way.
First, try to build a community of mutual appreciation within your teams on a continuous basis. If the general tone of interactions is respectful and shows that each member values the others, then there is already some inoculation against any criticism. Because respect is already in place, negative comments are less likely to feel personal.
Second, couch negatives in a series of positives. A common formula is two positive statements, a negative statement, followed by another positive statement. Of course, you may want to adjust the formula so that it feels comfortable to your own style. Padding unwelcome news in positives is a face-saving device that assures the receiver that they are valued, but there’s this thing they’re responsible for that’s not so good and needs attention.
Third, avoid the feeling that the criticism is a “hit and run.” When appropriate, find a way to invite the individual to take some time to consider the conversation and then to come back and discuss it at another time. Doing so allows the person to feel less like they are being unilaterally chastised and more like they are part of a dialogue where their opinion and thoughts are valued. Doing so may be a little time-consuming, but you may find that fostering goodwill and respect is time well spent.
Consider: Are there areas where you might find yourself being less than diplomatic with the people you work with? Try role-playing the couching of a critical statement between positives. Find a role-playing partner and practice difficult interactions until you find a diplomatic tempo that fits you naturally.
Patience with People Pumps Up Productivity
The idea of smoothing out interactions with others may not seem to be a productivity hack to some. While relationship advice may lack the concrete nuts-and-bolts suggestions that are usually a part of such hacks, these softer suggestions shouldn’t be ruled out as unhelpful. Other people are often essential to the success of individuals, especially if the individual is an Extraverted personality type. Commanders who hone their people skills may also be increasing their collaborative productivity.
Further Reading
- Dealing With Difficult Personalities at Work: The Domineering Dictator
- Using Your Personality Type to Improve Your Work Life This Year
- “I’m Not Stubborn: I’m Persistent”: Stubbornness and Personality Types
- Explore your professional development potential with our premium Career Tools & Assessments.