Motivation is a hot topic in the circles of business and executive coaching. Personally, it’s a topic I’ve been fascinated with since my MBA days 25 years ago, when the most phenomenal marketing professor at The George Washington University, Dr Sal Divita, introduced me to personality types.

Professor Divita’s research focused on developing effective marketing strategies based on understanding what motivates different personality types to buy a product/service. Although his expertise focused specifically on sales, an invaluable knowledge I utilised whilst working in advertising and corporate marketing, it also sparked what turned out to be a long-life interest of mine: “what makes people tick.”

Some years later when I trained in understanding personality types based on the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, I really honed into how this motivating factor is a constant underline characteristic whether you’re focusing on sales, careers, education, relationships, parenting or any other area in our personal and professional lives.

And it’s no different when it comes to motivating employees: understanding their personality and temperament can be the most powerful tool you could have have at your disposal.

Temperament refers to a person's natural inclinations, tendencies, and behavioural patterns. By recognising and appreciating the diverse temperaments of your team members, you can tailor your motivational techniques to suit their individual needs, ultimately fostering a more engaged, satisfied, and productive workforce.

Recognising Individual Differences

Every employee possesses a unique temperament that influences their work habits, communication style, and preferred methods of motivation. Some individuals thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, while others excel in a more structured and predictable setting. By acknowledging these differences, managers can avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to motivation and instead personalize their strategies to accommodate diverse temperaments.

Customising Motivational Approaches

Once you have gained insight into the temperaments of your employees, you can tailor your motivational approaches accordingly. For example, employees with an outgoing and social temperament may respond well to public recognition and team-based incentives, while those with a more introspective temperament may prefer private praise or opportunities for independent work. By customizing your motivational efforts, you demonstrate an understanding of your employees' individual needs, which can cultivate a sense of value and respect within the team.

Building Stronger Relationships

Understanding and acknowledging your employees' temperaments can also contribute to stronger working relationships. When employees feel that their manager recognizes and appreciates their unique temperament, they are more likely to feel understood and supported. This, in turn, can foster trust, loyalty, and a positive work environment. By taking the time to understand your employees on a deeper level, you can build stronger connections that benefit both individual performance and overall team dynamics.

Encouraging Self-Awareness

In addition to utilizing temperament as a motivation tool, encouraging employees to become more aware of their own temperaments can also be empowering. By providing resources or workshops that help individuals understand their natural inclinations and tendencies, you can support their personal and professional growth. When employees have a clearer understanding of their temperament, they can make informed decisions about their work preferences, productivity strategies, and career development, ultimately contributing to a more motivated and self-directed workforce.

So to sum up, understanding the temperament of your employees is a highly effective motivation tool that can lead to improved performance, stronger relationships, and a more harmonious workplace. By recognising and adapting to the diverse temperaments within your team, you demonstrate respect for individual differences and create an environment where employees feel valued and understood. This, in turn, can contribute to a more motivated, engaged, and productive workforce.

If you’re looking to foster a more harmonious workplace where each individual feels heard, appreciated and motivated then get in touch with me. As the only Keirsey Temperament certified facilitator in Cyprus, I offer you the tools that leading organisations, including Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies, utilise to support their greatest asset: their people.