| Leading and working with different personalities can be a challenge in any organization-and the church is no exception. After all, the church is made of humans, and we're not perfect.
Thankfully, we are created by God's design. The way we're wired isn't a mistake. In business, family, friendship and yes, even church, simply understanding our God-given personality can help us make huge strides in relationships and effectiveness.
That's why we talk a lot about personality style in EntreLeadership and now in The Legacy Journey using something called the DISC Profile System. This test breaks down personalities into four main groups. Most people will have a little bit of each personality style present with one style that dominates over the others.
Decisive: This person is a hard-charging driver. They first look to problems. They can be intimidating and often leave out details when communicating.
Interactive: This person is people-oriented, fun and outgoing. They are generally concerned about pleasing people, so they first look to people. They don't always follow through with things and can talk too much.
Stabilizing: This person is amiable, rational and loyal. They are concerned about keeping a steady pace. They are resistant to change and can be difficult to motivate.
Cautious: This person is analytical, methodical and factual. They love details. They can be critical and assume they are right.
As a pastor, you can use a personality assessment to your advantage in the following ways: - Determine your own personality style to identify your strengths and backfill for your weaknesses. Aim to hire pastors and staff members who bring a unique viewpoint or problem-solving technique to your team. The goal here is to find people who are different from you!
- Assess the personalities of each individual on your staff. Seek to understand how they are motivated, what they find discouraging, and how they naturally approach problems or new ideas. Tailored communication and encouragement is key!
- Realize that your church members are a creative blend of the four personality styles mentioned above. That means you can be creative in the way you preach and minister. Strive to incorporate different teaching styles throughout the year to keep your entire congregation engaged.
The benefits to recognizing personality styles in yourself and others are endless!
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