The Unifier boss's dream....
If you’re a unifier boss you like to make sure everyone’s happy. You might not always know the best way to achieve this and may feel frustrated, especially with examiners and rulers, who don’t seem to respond to your enquiring after their families, general health etc. Discipline is your weak spot – you’re afraid of hurting people’s feelings and of confrontation, so this is your least favorite part of the job.
You usually get along with other unifiers in your team really well. They respond well to your supportive management style and know that you’re on their side. You appreciate their loyalty and team spirit. You know exactly how to make them feel valuable and in a disciplinary situation you are kind – perhaps too kind! Make sure that your unifier team member knows what they’ve done wrong – don’t sugar-coat the pill to the extent that they walk away thinking that you’ve just had “a nice chat about work”. Praise their great teamwork, attentiveness to the needs of otherness and helpfulness – all the things that you like to be complimented on.
Rulers are your nemesis. You find their impatience, fiery tempers and intolerant attitudes difficult to deal with. Just remember that these are the “do-ers” and will help you get things done. Be very clear with them about what’s expected by when and leave out all of the “fluffy bunny” stuff – they don’t particularly want you to ask after their personal lives and will feel it an intrusion. Stick to the facts and your ruler team members will be happy. If you need to discipline them be very direct – going all around the houses to avoid the potential confrontation will just confuse and irritate them. Explain very clearly what was amiss and then move on – don’t apologize or back peddle if they get angry. Listen to their concerns, restate yours and move on. They won’t hate you forever! In fact, after about 2 minutes they’ll have probably forgotten all about it. Praise them for their speed, their great results and their hard work. But don’t gush or they may not think you’re being sincere.
Like rulers, examiners do not share your need for an emotional connection. You need to dig deep, you unifier boss personality types, and be able to very clearly (no waffle) explain what they need to do – preferably write it down in a step-by-step process. Examiners love a list! Asking them how they feel will just confuse them – they don’t think in those terms – asking them what they think will get a better response. When disciplining an examiner, again, you don’t need to sugar the pill. Explain in detail and expect to have to provide clarification. Examiners are unlikely to diverge from a set procedure, so supplying them with one in the first place can avoid problems later on. Don’t feel like you are insulting their intelligence – examiners are a lot happier when they know exactly what’s expected from them and if they have a procedure to follow they’re all the happier. Praise the examiner’s attention to detail and knowledge – leave out the personal stuff.
Your persuader team members are fun and sociable and you find it easy to work with them. Understand that they need to be monitored to make sure they’re getting enough work done, and you unifier boss personality types should be able to accomplish this with just the right lightness of touch. Don’t let them weasel their way out of a telling-off – they will use your good nature against you if you let them. Be firm, but fair and remind them of how they’ve let you down – a bit of guilt in a persuader goes a long way. You can do this in your gentle way and get the job done without a fight. Praise their great teamwork in front of the rest of the team – they’ll love you for it! Recognition is huge for persuaders and you’re very good at it.
