As organisations increasingly rely on collaborative team efforts to drive productivity and innovation, understanding the dynamics that shape effective teamwork becomes paramount. A recent academic study from a Hungarian Nuclear Power Plant (Influence of personality on Teamwork behaviour and communication) sheds light on the profound influence that individual personality traits can have on team communication, behaviour, and overall performance – particularly in high-risk, highly regulated environments.
Based on the Five Factor Model of personality, the research explored how traits like extroversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness impacted the communication styles, interpersonal interactions, and observable skills of team members during simulated scenarios.
Key Outcomes of the Research:
- Extroversion and Openness to Experience positively correlated with relationship-oriented communication indicators.
- Contrary to the researchers’ hypothesis, and, perhaps, surprising to many, Agreeableness negatively correlated with relationship-oriented communication indicators and team performance in highly regulated environments.
- Team performance was directly influenced by Conscientiousness and Extroversion.
- High-performing teams exhibited greater variance in Agreeableness scores.
- “Hard” skills like professional knowledge and problem-solving correlated positively with Neuroticism and Conscientiousness.
- “Soft” skills like communication and cooperation correlated with Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, and Assertiveness.
The findings offer useful insights for managers and HR professionals seeking to optimise team composition, foster effective communication, and cultivate a high-performing workforce:
- Personality Matters in Team Composition – The study revealed that certain personality traits, such as extroversion and openness to experience, facilitated relationship-oriented communication and collaboration within teams. Conversely, high levels of agreeableness surprisingly hindered these behaviours in highly regulated environments. Understanding these dynamics can inform strategic team assembly, balancing traits to promote cohesion and productivity.
- Assess for Best Fit – Incorporating personality assessments based on the Five Factor Model into hiring and team-building processes can provide a deeper understanding of individual strengths, weaknesses, and potential team dynamics. This insight can guide more effective job matching, team composition, and targeted training efforts.
- Nurture Interpersonal Skills -Regardless of personality makeup, providing training in communication and interpersonal skills can help team members develop more effective relationship-oriented communication styles, fostering an environment of mutual respect, collaboration, and shared understanding.
- Tailor Performance Evaluation – Recognising the impact of traits like conscientiousness and extroversion on overall team performance, managers should consider personality factors when evaluating individual and team contributions. This can lead to more comprehensive and insightful performance reviews, identifying areas for growth and development.
- Align Personality with Job Design – The level of autonomy and regulation within job roles can influence the impact of certain personality traits on performance. For example, high agreeableness may be less advantageous in highly regulated environments. Considering this alignment can optimize job design and role assignments.
- Monitor and Adjust – Continuously assessing team dynamics, communication patterns, and performance can identify areas for improvement or intervention. Adjustments to team composition, additional training, or coaching may be necessary to optimize team functioning and maintain a productive, cohesive workforce.
By leveraging the insights from this research, organizations can make more informed decisions about team composition, training, job design, and performance evaluation – ultimately fostering a more effective, collaborative, and high-performing team environment. Embracing the influence of personality can be a powerful strategy for driving success in today’s team-oriented workplaces.