No two people are exactly alike. Especially when it comes to your employees, you’ll encounter different employee personalities that will make you deal with each person differently, especially in terms of learning, development, and performance management.
But isn’t that a little too over the top? Shouldn’t they be the ones adjusting to what I want to happen?
Traditionally, companies didn’t care about the personalities of their employee, virtual assistant, remote worker, or home-based VA. But this did not allow everyone in the organization to thrive and perform at a level that highly benefits the company.
Sure, targets were met, and a few star employees excelled.
But wouldn’t it be awesome if you became the kind of employer who creates a work environment where everyone has the chance to excel, given the right circumstances? This is what happens when you try to understand different employee behaviors and personalities.
The best part? They get to be at their best in your company, which means better business for you!
To start you off, let’s talk about the Myers-Briggs Type Indication (MBTI) and how it can help you understand different employee personalities better, especially in a remote setting.
What is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator?
Here’s a disclaimer — this is not a pre-employment test. Rather, it is a personality test that gives you an idea of how people will most likely behave in different situations. It can also give you an overview of a person’s general disposition and preferences.
Despite not being a test meant for employment, a lot of employers have adopted the practice of giving this test to employees and people they might hire because it also shows whether a person could be a good fit for the company’s culture.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator involves a questionnaire designed to show a person’s strengths, preferences, and personality type patterned after Carl Jung’s theories on psychological functions.
The areas monitored in the MBTI scale are:
- Extraversion (E) vs introversion (I) – Looks at whether you’d focus on people and things than ideas and information
- Sensing (S) vs intuition (N) – Looks at how you weigh facts and reality versus possibilities and potential
- Thinking (T) vs feeling (F) – Looks at whether you prioritize logic and truth over values and relationships
- Judging (J) vs perceiving (P) – Looks at whether your lifestyle is well-structured or if you just go with the flow
Of course, there are no right or wrong answers on the test. It only aims to look at which side of these 4 areas you are most likely to lean towards. From there, it is easier to see what kind of person you are and how you could potentially react or respond in different situations inside and outside work.
Different Employee Personalities (and How to Handle Them)
Based on MBTI, you’ll get 4 different types of people, all with 4 sub-types each. Let’s take a look at each of these types to give you an idea of how to handle employees falling under each personality type.
The Analysts
The analysts cover 4 personalities — the architect, the logician, the commander, and the debater.
The Architect (INTJ)
Architects prefer working on their own because they fear that other people will only slow them down. They’re really hard workers, though, and they love processing data.
They may have high expectations, so other people may see them as arrogant and judgmental. They may also come across as insensitive to others, although this is because they value logic more than emotions.
Motivating an architect is simple — just give them a problem that will challenge them mentally, and they’ll dive right into it. Give them detailed instructions, a timeline, and the right tools, then leave them be. They’ll figure out how to find solutions to the problem on their own.
Some popular INTJs include Thomas Jefferson, Lance Armstrong, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and C.S. Lewis.
The Logician (INTP)
Logicians (or thinkers, as others would put it) are analytical and can often be found working quietly on their own. Just like architects, they are often seen as insensitive because they often miss social and emotional cues.
They are abstract thinkers, so you can rely on these employees, virtual assistants, remote workers, or home-based VAs to come up with out-of-the-box solutions. They also struggle to follow the rules most of the time, so it’s often better to give them guidance instead of clear-cut instructions.
Some popular INTPs include Albert Einstein, Tiger Woods, Carl Jung, and Dwight Eisenhower.
The Commander (ENTJ)
The name would automatically tell you that this group is made up of people who were born to lead. They are highly confident and charismatic and are generally great at making decisions.
One great thing about commanders is the fact that they would do everything and anything to achieve their goals. However, they may also be stubborn, impatient, aggressive, and insensitive.
To motivate commanders, it is important to be confident when dealing with them. Show them that you are just as competent as they are and that you have the expertise that gives you the right to make recommendations. This makes these virtual assistants see you as an equal and will make them put a high value on your advice.
Popular ENTJs are Franklin D. Roosevelt, Vince Lombardi, and Bill Gates.
The Debater (ENTP)
The name itself should give you a fair warning of what’s to come. Debaters love playing the devil’s advocate in discussions and will have the energy to argue their opinion not because they want to contribute to the end goal but because they find it fun.
Although people usually steer clear of them because of their argumentative nature, one huge advantage of having a debater on the team is the fact that they might see perspectives that other employees, virtual assistants, remote workers, or home-based VAs may not see. They will, after all, imaginatively find all sides possible to every argument — sides that other people may not think of.
Debaters are motivated by challenges to bring a better understanding of anything. This is one reason why they argue different sides of a story. They are very open-minded and believe that anything is possible. They work best in flexible working environments.
Some popular ENTPs include Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Julia Child, and Alexander the Great.
The Diplomats
The diplomats include 4 personalities — the advocates, the mediators, the campaigners, and the protagonists.
The Advocate (INFJ)
Advocates aren’t very common, but if you do find one in your team, you’ll find these employees, virtual assistants, remote workers, or home-based VAs to be empathetic, highly creative, and idealistic. It’s tough to make them come out of their shells because they value their privacy. But once they let you in, you’ll see that they can be the most loyal people you’ll ever know.
INFJs love making deep connections with people. This is why their decision-making usually involves personal concerns and not just facts and numbers.
Their idealism does make them restless and frustrated each time they feel like they’re being asked to do something that does not align with their own beliefs. This is why it’s important to make it clear to them what bigger picture you’re trying to go after.
Popular INFJs include Oprah Winfrey, Martin Luther King Jr., Taylor Swift, and Atticus Finch.
The Mediator (INFP)
The mediators often go after jobs that require or allow creativity. They also rely on their intuition and could put a bigger weight on your big-picture goals instead of going after the teeny tiny details.
Mediators also enjoy their own company and would rather interact with a close group of friends than socialize with a bunch of different people. Because of their inclination to be on their own and their high creativity, they could end up living inside their own head most of the time, causing them to miss small details and even deadlines.
The good thing about INFPs is that they genuinely want to help. As long as you limit their social interaction and do not overwhelm them with too much, they can deliver what is asked of them.
One great way to motivate them to deliver their best work is to get them to support and believe in your mission. Then, give these employees, virtual assistants, remote workers, or home-based VAs a quiet space where they can work on their own, and you’ll witness how amazing their creative minds could be.
Some popular INFPs are JRR Tolkien, Audrey Hepburn, William Shakespeare, and Princess Diana.
The Campaigner (ENFP)
Campaigners (or champions) are rays of sunshine in any workplace. They’re energetic, enthusiastic, and can easily make friends. Their charismatic nature makes it easy to pick them as leaders.
Although relationship-building won’t be tough for them, they are notorious procrastinators and could put off even the most important things until the last minute. This could cause a few problems, especially if the tasks they are assigned are extremely detail-oriented.
They easily get distracted as well, especially if they find their tasks to be routine and boring. This is why it’s always a good idea to give them tasks that are exciting and would require them to be extremely creative.
Because of their spontaneous nature, campaigners are some of the most flexible people you’ll meet. Their spontaneity does cause them to be highly disorganized, so it’s important to keep tabs on them. Make sure you help these employees, virtual assistants, remote workers, or home-based VAs stay on focus when their attention seems to be drifting off.
Some popular ENFPs are Dr. Seuss, Ellen Degeneres, and Salvador Dali.
The Protagonist (ENFJ)
Protagonists are also called givers and for a good reason. They are caring, warm, and friendly, and they’re the cheerleaders that could lift anyone’s spirits even on the worst of days.
Protagonists are exceptionally great at trying to get different (and often, clashing) people to come up with a compromise that benefits the whole. This makes them great leaders.
What could be the downside to dealing with ENFJs is the fact that they can be people pleasers. These employees, virtual assistants, remote workers, or home-based VAs may blame themselves when something goes wrong, even if they aren’t really at fault. They also have a hard time taking credit for their own contributions.
It’s important to remind ENFJs to take care of themselves. Because of their giving nature, they have the tendency to forget about their own needs and prioritize others.
Popular ENFJs include Barrack Obama, Bono, Peyton Manning, and Abraham Maslow.
The Sentinels
The sentinels are made up of 4 personalities — the inspector, the protector, the director, and the caregiver.
The Inspector (ISTJ)
Inspectors thrive in working environments where there are deadlines to be met. Yup, they’re the employees who resent team members who they feel are not working hard. They have a detailed plan for almost anything, and they hate it when they see even the slightest hint of chaos.
They are highly realistic and logical, so they pore over details when going after a goal. You can also expect this employee, virtual assistant, remote worker, or home-based VA to stay focused no matter how many distractions there are around them.
ISTJs could come across as judgmental and insensitive, so it’s best to keep them away from highly creative people who do not really conform to the kind of order that inspectors expect. It is also important to explain to them what each person’s role in the team is so that they won’t expect more from others.
Popular ISTJs include George Washington, John Rockefeller, and Warren Buffet.
The Protector (ISFJ)
Protectors will defend you and your cause, especially if they also believe in it. They are extremely supportive and loyal, although their loyalty to certain things may also cause them to be a little bit wary of change.
ISFJs are great at remembering even the smallest details about people. This shows how keenly they observe other people even if they don’t really normally socialize with others that much.
This employee, virtual assistant, remote worker, or home-based VA is also great at understanding emotions, but they would rather keep mum about it than speak up. This is why they may occasionally break down or have negative feelings against others.
Protectors love learning by doing. They become even more interested in learning when they find real-world applications to whatever they’re doing.
Because protectors are not vocal about potential challenges they might be seeing, it is necessary to frequently check on them and see if there’s anything you can help them with.
Popular ISFJs include Mother Teresa, Louisa May Alcott, and Kristi Yamaguchi.
The Director (ESTJ)
Directors or executives detest laziness and cheating. These employees, virtual assistants, remote workers, or home-based VAs are normally the first ones to point out rule violations, making them dependable in terms of integrity and keeping order.
Directors could be great leaders, but they have to understand that people are different and may not always see things their way. They can be very bossy, so others see them as insensitive. They also have the tendency to be unyielding.
ESTJs are highly ambitious, so as long as there is a chance to advance further in their careers, they’ll grab every opportunity for this to happen. It is also important to show them that you are fair in judgment so that they do not question your authority.
Popular ESTJs include Lyndon B. Johnson, Billy Graham, Alec Baldwin, and Darth Vader.
The Caregiver (ESFJ)
Caregivers just love helping people out and are highly sensitive to how others feel. But because of this, they also expect others to be kind to them, making them vulnerable and easily hurt when people don’t respond the way they expect.
ESFJs are great at bringing out the best in the people around them. This employee, virtual assistant, remote worker, or home-based VA is very understanding, which makes it unsurprising that others are easily drawn to them.
Caregivers can be called people pleasers and could be needy at times. They are often in need of reassurance, especially when they are trying to overcome obstacles in their jobs.
Motivating caregivers usually roots from one thing — finding out about all the efforts they are making and the steps they are taking to achieve their goals. Find out about their achievements as well, no matter how small. Acknowledging these pushes them to do even better.
Popular ESFJs include Sally Field, Barbara Walters, William McKinley, and Sam Walton.
The Explorers
The explorers cover 4 personalities — the virtuoso, the adventurer, the entertainer, and the entrepreneur.
The Virtuoso (ISTP)
Virtuosos or crafters are results-oriented. They always zero in on the root cause of every problem and immediately come up with ways to solve it. They may be quiet at times and are generally easygoing.
ISTPs use facts and other objective elements to judge situations and do not really apply their own values and beliefs in making these judgments. They are also incredible risk-takers. They would be the type who would go bungee jumping, surfing, and the like.
Virtuosos may have a few issues with commitment, but this is because they treat each day as a fresh start. They easily get bored and may jump from one thing to another.
People may also see them as insensitive. The truth is they distance themselves even from their own emotions. They would rather push their feelings further and keep a cool head at all times, sometimes to the extent that things become overwhelming for them because of the bottled-up feelings.
ISTPs can be highly productive in a setting where they are given random tasks in a single day. They love solving things quickly, so they could be the best ones to send for sudden problems arising throughout the day. They can also work independently as long as they are given a clear set of instructions.
Popular ISTPs are Clint Eastwood, Amelia Earhart, and Zachary Taylor.
The Adventurer (ISFP)
Adventurers or artists live in the moment and will boldly pursue their passions without even thinking twice. They’re not exactly the best planners and are highly spontaneous, but they’re extremely charming and are some of the most enthusiastic people you’ll know in your lifetime.
These employees, virtual assistants, remote workers, or home-based VAs are usually the cause of delay in any decision-making process, but that’s because they believe in keeping their options open. They are loyal to their beliefs and values and hate conflict.
Adventurers are detail-oriented and learn best when they are hands-on. They can also be the opposite sides of a pole — they can be very generous and charitable, but they may also put their own interest above everyone else’s.
The best motivator for any adventurer is self-fulfillment. They thrive in work environments where they are sent to do important missions.
Some popular ISFPs are Marilyn Monroe, David Beckham, Neil Simon, and Harry Potter.
The Entertainer (ESFP)
Entertainers or performers can be trusted to be practical and resourceful. They are not exactly huge fans of books and theories. For them to learn well, you’d have to give them some hands-on experience. This is why ESFPs normally struggle in a traditional classroom. But send them out into the world, and you’ll be amazed by their progress.
This employee, virtual assistant, remote worker, or home-based VA is spontaneous and loves socializing with people. Their spontaneity could count against them, though, knowing that they can be highly impulsive at times.
Some people think that ESFPs are attention grabbers. In reality, they aren’t consciously trying to hog the spotlight. It’s just that they live in the moment so much that their open enthusiasm becomes noticeable.
To witness how great entertainers can be, allow them to communicate and mingle with different people. It’s also good to lighten the mood by asking them about their weekend or telling them a joke before you start discussing work. This is the best way to get them in a productive mood.
Popular ESFPs include Bill Clinton, Mark Cuban, Will Smith, and Pablo Picasso.
The Entrepreneur (ESTP)
When it comes to innovation and risks, the entrepreneur (or the persuader) steps forward. Each time a problem comes up, they jump right in, assess the facts, and come up with quick solutions.
Yup, that’s right! Quick solutions mean they would rather improvise right off the bat instead of spending a lot of time planning.
They are highly observant and would notice things that other people won’t notice. They also talk fast and are often seen as the best persuaders out there.
Just like entertainers, their impulsiveness could create problems. They would not be the type to look before they leap. In fact, they often end up saying things that they regret later on.
This employee, virtual assistant, remote worker, or home-based VA is highly competitive and could get bored easily. They do get excited about new ideas, new technology, and new experiences that you would rarely need to convince them to try something new that you want to bring to the table.
Popular ESTPs include Madonna, Donald Trump, and Ernest Hemingway.
Some personalities fit some jobs better than others. Read this and match each personality with tasks they could be good at.
Traits to Check in a Remote Employee
Of course, just because your remote employee, virtual assistant, remote worker, or home-based VA took a personality test does not mean things will be smooth sailing from here.
Remember that it’s easy enough to answer a personality test based on what employers want to hear and not on what’s real.
This is why even after the hiring process is done, you have to continue assessing your remote employees’ behavior, taking notes on how they handle every situation.
Here are some important aspects that you need to take note of.
Learning Method
Different people learn in different ways. Knowing how each of your employees learns can help you create training, onboarding, and development measures that are more effective for each individual.
Some employees, virtual assistants, remote workers, or home-based VAs, for example, are visual learners and would learn better if shown pictures instead of words. Some may also learn better when shown numbers. It all depends!
Some may feel that adjusting according to each person’s learning style is a waste of time. But the truth is, all your employees are going to be different from each other. And if you think unleashing the best in your employees is a waste of time, then you might have a different idea of how progress works nowadays.
Strength of Character
A person’s character shows one’s mental and moral tendencies. Basically, one’s character can tell you how a person would react and what kinds of decisions one can make in any given situation.
Undoubtedly, a person’s character is important. It can dictate whether someone would act with integrity and would treat the people around them nicely. Trustworthiness, honesty, loyalty — all of this would be based on character.
Work Behavior
Does the person meet deadlines, or do they love submitting their output late? Would this remote employee, virtual assistant, remote worker, or home-based VA be the type to approach you right away when a problem is spotted, or would they wait until things get worse? Do they give credit where credit is due?
A person’s work ethic would not only impact your business’s success, but it also has the potential to disrupt the harmony among your employees. You may think that this may not matter that much in a remote setting, but if one person’s work depends on another, then work ethics or behavior can play a huge role in your success.
Competitiveness
When you think about it, competitiveness has two sides to it.
It can push people to work to the best of their abilities and become as productive as they can. People who are not as competitive might end up on the sidelines, settling for mediocrity.
However, too much competitiveness could also be a burden. Some people may end up not knowing where to draw the line. They may cross boundaries, step on some people and do questionable things for the sake of success.
Motivation
Every person has a big WHY, and it’s important to find out what this is so that you’ll also know how to push them to perform better.
A person’s motivation can also show you whether this is a person who’s in it for the long term or not. If money is a person’s only motivation, for example, he or she may jump ship the moment they find a better offer, regardless if you’re offering a better environment.
Sociability
Although some employees, virtual assistants, remote workers, or home-based VAs may think that sociability should not matter in a remote setting, it could also affect your team. Those who are not as sociable, for example, may not be communicative and could stay alienated from the rest of the team. Knowing that communication is key in remote teams, this could be a problem.
On the other hand, a remote setup could also turn out to be great for people who hate socializing. Some of them would rather chat online or exchange emails with people they have never met than have a face-to-face conversation about work.
Emotional Maturity
Some employers (at least, the traditional ones) believe that emotions do not have a place in the workplace. But your employees are humans, not robots. So it’s not a question of whether people are emotional or not. It’s a question of how these emotions are handled.
Your best performer may be bringing in the big bucks, but if the person has bouts of anger and can throw tantrums when questioned, then the harm done may be bigger than the numbers brought in.
Ready to hire those remote employees, virtual assistants, remote workers, or home-based VAs that match your business needs? Click here to get started.
From Where To Hire Virtual Assistants?
Before getting into the topic, let’s know about some trustworthy platforms from where you can hire a virtual assistant. It can be done either from a VA agency or from a freelancing platform.
Here are some VA agencies to look at:
Some best freelancing platforms to hire a Filipino virtual assistant are:
eVirtualAssistants is one of those sites where you can get legitimate clients and employers without fear of being scammed. Here, you’re protected as a remote worker, with the site administrators making sure that you get paid right.
Scared of being scammed? Here’s how to avoid just that.
Interested in getting started on a remote career? Click here now!
