My sister and me. We’re both very High i!
Do you work with an i-Style boss or manager? That is, someone often described as:
- Highly enthusiastic, upbeat, cheerful, and positive;
- Has their hands on a million different projects;
- Serves on various extra-curricular committees within the organization; and/or
- Is tireless when coming up with new ideas and ways of approaching things.
If you said yes to most or all of these, it’s time to buckle your seatbelt! Like it or not, you’re in for a bit of a wild ride.
Reminder of What the i-Style is All About
Those people with the i-Style, generally speaking, move around (and fast!), talk quickly (and a lot!), and express their opinions (loudly!). They tend to be high-energy, glass-is-always-half-full types who enjoy time around the water cooler getting to know their colleagues, as much as anything. Cheerleaders to a fault, these people are total optimists with a “you can do it!” attitude. Naturally skilled at putting people at ease and getting along well with others, those who lead with their i-Style tend to be highly persuasive and influential; sometimes charm is their middle name! They are the ultimate networkers. And to top it off, they can be incredibly creative brainstorming partners, what with that busy and colorful mind they have!
Four (4) Strategies for Working with an i-Style Boss or Manager
So, if you are lucky enough to work for an i-Style boss, here are four things you must do in order work effectively with them.
Show enthusiasm and passion.
People with a strong tendency toward the i-Style have an incredibly outward-facing zest for life. They crave variety. They seek adventure. They relish the human experience and all it has to offer. Each day begins with a happy hello for the sunshine and ends with a deep appreciation for the mysteries of the moon. If you want to work effectively with an i-Style boss or manager, you serve yourself well to find the excitement in the projects or programs in which you are working (even if it means you’ve got to dig deep to do so!). Show up with your best game face, try to always find the upside, and never turn down an invitation for lunch.
Keep Projects Moving.
Managers and bosses who lead with an i-Style are action-takers. They understand deadlines and like to keep things moving. That means you have to be able to keep moving, too! Caveat: all that swirling motion can be distracting, and i-Styles are known to lose focus more easily than others (think: squirrel!). That said, if you can keep up and remain nimble moment-to-moment, you’ll find that work can be an exciting and dynamic place in which to spend your days.
Emphasize Teamwork.
Those with an i-Style are the ultimate “people people.” They love people. They get their energy from interacting with other humans. They are juiced by conversations and opportunities for verbally expressing their thoughts and ideas to others. As such, i’s thoroughly enjoy teamwork. If you work with an i-Manager or i-Boss, know that collaboration reigns and expect that you’ll spend a good deal of time “talking things through” with the group.
Avoid Focusing Only On Facts.
For i-Style bosses and managers, facts are important when leading a team…and so aren’t feelings and people. Focusing only on facts in a situation or on a project will make your i-Manager’s eyes gloss over, and they’ll quickly ask for how the facts relate to the people and/or relationships they might impact. Back up your facts with anecdotal information or, better yet, relevant and compelling stories of human interest.
If you or someone you know works with an i-Boss or Manager and struggles to find a way to effectively make the relationship work, please reach out to me. I can help. There’s no need to suffer the energetic! I can recommend some really useful strategies for working with this style. Simply email me today at chariti@charitigent.com to learn more.
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