Managing different working styles
Each of us will have preferred ways of working.
These differences are not necessarily age-related, but older employees often say that they don’t feel that their working styles are valued.
Creating a culture in which everyone feels able to work in a way that brings out the best in them and in which difference can be valued is an important step to being age-friendly.
1: Understanding different working styles
Your team may have done some psychometric profiling which has provided some insight into different working styles. If not, you can ask people to self-identify their preferences.
Do they prefer working with others or alone? Do they like plenty of space to reflect and analyse information or are they more action-orientated? Some people may like to work in a very ordered and structured way, whilst others thrive in a crisis. Some members of a team may be focused on achieving goals whilst others are more interested in checking in on how everyone feels.
None of these are right or wrong. Recognising the differences and being able to discuss them is a huge part of building an effective team. Get to know what works for each member of your team, regardless of their age.
2: Adapt your style when necessary
As a manager, being aware of the preferences of individuals in your team means you can flex your approach when necessary.
For example, one member of your team may prefer you to give them feedback face-to-face, while another is happier to get it by email. Some team members may feel better able to contribute to a meeting if the materials are distributed in advance to allow them to read and digest. Being willing and able to adapt means you will be able to get the most out of everyone.
3: Encourage people to flex
As a leader, if you show that you are inclusive and value people as individuals, this will help everyone to feel part of a positive culture.
While people will have their own preferences, encourage everyone to be willing to flex and adapt when it’s helpful to do so.
When you’re having conversations about working styles emphasise that the most effective teams have a diverse range of skills and that everyone is valued.
Creating a team charter
A team charter is a document that everyone in the team signs up to, which sets the standards for how you will communicate and work together. You can design this together in a workshop, which should prompt lots of useful conversations about preferences and communications styles.
