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Meet the Team Member - Make It Happen Mavis
Each character in this new series is designed to portray one of four different styles of behaviour, based on Robert Bolton and Dorothy Grover Bolton’s book, ‘People Styles at Work’. (See description). We will be looking at two examples of each style: one person whose approach has more impact upon other people and one that has more impact upon the task in hand.
The style
Last time, we looked at Party Animal Pete, who is an Expresser, and the implications of this to the people around him. This time, we’re focusing on ‘Make it Happen Mavis’, who is an example of a Driver. We’ll look at how her actions affect the tasks in which she’s involved.
A Driver, like an Expresser, works at a fast pace but focuses on tasks (whereas the Expresser is people-focused). Drivers tend to be pragmatic, decisive and results-orientated. They love to be part of the action, but one of their main weaknesses involves a need to learn to listen more to those around them.
Mavis is quick-thinking and keen on goals. She knows what she wants and she goes straight after it, with great energy and pace.
The substance
Although Mavis is very good at being able to see the ’big picture’ and the main goals, she has a tendency not to really think through all of the detail involved. This means that she can soon come unstuck if things don’t quite go to plan, or if she’s overlooked something. She may have even made some assumptions that aren’t quite right – which could throw the whole project off-balance.
The solution
Mavis needs to be carefully taught the need to pay attention to detail. She needs to understand that the big picture depends upon a lot of less dramatic information that at first may seemingly insignificant, but which plays it part in making the whole project run smoothly. She needs to listen to colleagues who are more focussed on the details – and delegate to them, to make sure everything is covered.
Try to get alongside Mavis and help her to understand this, and also encourage her to do some contingency planning. As she is focused on the ultimate goal, help her to see that paying attention to the details, in fact, is vital if she is going to achieve her overall goal successfully. Once she takes this on board, she will then be an even greater asset to the team.
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