To build a successful, diverse team, it should be made up of different people, ideas, personalities, and work styles. Your working style is how you go about your day-to-day tasks on the job. Some work styles are defined as go-getters, learners, leaders, integrators, and more.

Having a mix of different work styles is imperative for your team to thrive, although sometimes varying work styles can lead to miscommunication and challenges in the workplace. To avoid conflict, as a leader, it’s important to learn your employees’ work styles and discover their strengths and weaknesses.

Below are tips to help manage individuals with different work styles so you create a harmonious team.

Identify different work styles

As mentioned before, there are many different work styles. Indeed describes these four styles as go-getters who analyze a problem and tackle it head-on; Learners who are extremely pragmatic, meaning they avoid risks and approach situations slowly and thoughtfully; Leaders who spark energy, take risks, and inspire others; Integrators who are sensitive to the feelings of everyone around them.

The bottom line is not everyone works in the same way. Learn what the workflow styles of your team members are and then leverage their respective strengths.

Recognize the individuality of each employee

All work styles have unique strengths and weaknesses. Learning what your employees’ strengths and weaknesses are will allow you to get a better understanding of how your employees work and how you can best support them. Listen and ask them what they need from you as a leader to help them succeed in their role. Once you know how they work, what motivates them, and where their passions lie, you can assist them and put them in the right situations.

Have employees set personal goals

Not all employees have the same personal goals and perspectives. Creating a common company goal is important, but having individuals create personal goals/ objectives gives them something specific they can strive to reach. As a leader, be sure to clarify what their specific roles and responsibilities are that support the overall company goal. Ensuring different work styles are represented in a team and setting a clear vision will ensure everyone is on the same page, avoiding any misunderstandings from happening in the future.

Do not encourage employees to change their work styles to improve productivity and teamwork. A combination of diverse work styles makes your team stronger, contributing to the overall quality of work. Instead of assuming what tools your employees need to succeed, ask them. Prove to them that you are there to give them the support they need to do their job effectively and efficiently. Being flexible and adapting to different work styles will create an environment for your employees to flourish.