Let’s explore how the Gold Temperament manages teams and leads others. Your personality influences so much of what you do – including leading a team. Play up your natural talents and skills in order to “bring yourself to work” for the benefit of your team.
Wait! If you are not sure what in the world I’m talking about with True Colors, click here.
Did you catch my previous blog post about the easy-going, peaceful Blue temperament and its implications on leadership? If not, check it out here!
The Gold temperament is part of the True Colors personality type indicator. This means people with the Gold temperament bring special gifts to the workplace. Gold leaders leverage their sense of order, responsibility, and structure to build team effectiveness.
Now, let’s talk Gold.
You have lots of strengths!
If you attended my most recent training in Kansas City, you learned Golds use task lists to manage multiple demands on their time. They like having a good “handle” on their duties and responsibilities and never want to be a slacker.
Is that you? If so, people value your ability to get things accomplished and your many to-do lists may be a tool that helps you get all done.
Recently, a Gold told me “Teri, project management apps are the best thing in the world”. That’s something you don’t hear every day, right? But, if you’re Gold, you’re likely nodding your head in agreement.
Wait! Let me write it down!
Another thing about lists, you’re good at seeing a big problem and breaking it into smaller, controllable pieces. Sometimes, that is what your list is – a big, old problem broken into tiny jobs.
Other times, the list is all about manageability and keeping life’s demands under control.
Dependability is another part of your core value system. When the “chips are down” people know they can count on you and their confidence is justified. You deliver…or die trying.
You know, I think Golds get a bad rep. But, they bring lots of strengths and consistency to teams and management roles. Let me speak directly to you: just like the other temperaments, you, as a Gold leader have a few potential “blind spots” of which to be aware.
“I’ve Got This!”
As a natural “take charge” sort of person, be careful not to overstep boundaries or force control on a project you’ve delegated. Make a few recommendations and fight the burning urge to interfere. It really is an “urge” for you. Deep inside, you may see ways to do things better, but you must learn to delegate and trust your team.
As you know, some of your team members approach tasks differently than you would and that’s OK. As long as they produce and do the job efficiently, try not to stress over their ways of work. Take a deep breath and let it go.
Embracing risks is just….hard!
Let’s talk now about how you may manage risks. Risk minimizes your ability to control an outcome (or a process) and that can be tough for a natural-born planner like you.
Risks are often pathways toward improvement and innovation. If things don’t work out; it’s no problem; it may be for the best. Remember, your team learns just as much from failure as they do from success – maybe even more. Trust the process and challenge yourself to be flexible and “hands-off”.
Time-wasters and Rule-breakers
Another stressor maybe when people don’t follow through on promises. It simply doesn’t make sense to you. A Gold professor once said, “it boggles my mind when people go back on their word”. This person was a primary Gold with a secondary Green. Read more about Green here.
When people flake, you may say to yourself, “I’m a dependable person, why can’t others be too?” For your own sanity, let that all go in your personal life. In the context of your management style, find out the “whys” behind the failure. You may be able to coach the team member on project or time management tips.
It also bugs you when folks circumvent rules and systems. You figure the rules are there for a reason (you likely created some of them) and you have very little tolerance for whimsical rule-breakers. You may perceive such behavior as irresponsible and childish.
You believe in using all resources wisely – especially your time. It’s no wonder “time wasters” get on your nerves! For example, this may be the very reason you like having meeting agendas.
Thank you for bringing order to the world. You really are as “good as gold”.
Read about Managers who are Gold | Blue | Green | Blue
As a True Colors consultant,
here is what I love to do!
Leveraging the 4 personality styles to help you when working with different personalities in the workplace. I also discuss often how business personalities play a role in how you approach work and manage work personalities in general. I also answer the question” “how does personality influence communication at work?” Your temperament plays a role in everything. I love talking about it and exploring exactly how!
