I recently read Maggie Craddock's book “Power Genes” in which she explains what she calls “power people” or four types of attitude or behavior that determine how we react to certain situations and how we interact with other people.
According to the author, these behavioral dynamics come from the family dynamics that we lived during our childhood and have important repercussions in our professional career. All have their advantages and disadvantages and if you are aware of them, the better you can understand and control your reactions and how you relate to others, and the better you will also understand the people around you. So here I leave you a brief summary of the four types of profiles or patterns. Determine which is yours (the translations of the four profiles are mine because I think there is no Spanish translation yet and I have chosen the ones that seem most appropriate to me):
1. "Pleaser" or Complacent. If you belong to this category you like to help and make others feel good. You are empathetic and very intuitive when it comes to supporting others, you know how to listen, you are a worker and you show great diplomacy in conflict resolution. Drawbacks: You rely too heavily on external approval and validation, making you easily manipulable. Plus, you focus so much on supporting others that you often overlook good opportunities and hurt your own career path. What can you do? You need to learn to depend less on external approval and to believe in yourself and fight for your rights, come on, say no when necessary…
2. "Charmer" or Charmer. If you belong to this group you are seductive and intimidating at the same time, it is easy for you to seduce and manipulate others, that is why you usually achieve things that most do not even try, a promotion, a client that seemed impossible… You are strategic and you usually get what you want Although it seems difficult. You know how to influence others, you generate good results and you are a teacher solving problems. Also you tend to question everything, you don't take anything for granted and job changes are less difficult for you than others because you know how to sell yourself well.
Your weak points: you focus too much on the result without caring about the process and without waiting or following the instructions. You tend to isolate yourself, you value your opinion more than that of others (including your bosses) and you have difficulty trusting others, since you consider emotional weakness. In your case, you need to have more perspective on the risks you run, not underestimate your colleagues, know how to listen and focus on what you really want instead of always looking for results without thinking well about what really interests you.
3. "Commander" or Commander. It is easy for you to take control of situations and put yourself in command and your greatest fear is losing control. You have and show a lot of confidence and you like to win. This group usually belongs to high command and leaders. You are enthusiastic about sports and you are focused on advancing and winning, you respect authority, you are decisive and resilient, you have courage and you keep going despite failures. You adapt very well and have confidence in yourself.
Disadvantages: Impatience, you want it all for yesterday. Also, for you, rules are more important than people, and you can be bigoted and callous. In your case, try not to be overly critical of your employees, express appreciation more often, and try to be more responsive. Communicate your expectations, cultivate your creativity, do not underestimate your colleagues and avoid attacking them (they are not your enemies but your allies).
4. "Inspirer" or Inspirational. In your case you always have a great cause in mind, you need it to feel fulfilled. You are altruistic, charismatic, you lead by example, and you are a great visionary thanks to your innovative thinking. You tend to follow your passions, treat everyone the same and help them relax and think freely, which makes you very popular as a mentor and supervisor. Your weak points: naivety when it comes to seeing that there are people with less noble motives than yours; the need for freedom and independence, which collides with the bureaucracy and can make you feel unhappy and tied up in an organization. In addition, you tend to ignore the details when thinking big, you can have high levels of stress due to all your commitments and the pressure of expectations that you generate in others.
What will help you: be aware of the politics around you; do not lose touch with reality and surround yourself with all kinds of people, not just those who think like you, it will help you keep your feet on the ground and appreciate different opportunities. Identify jealous colleagues who feel overshadowed by you (they can jeopardize your career), share stardom, and bring to light their contribution. Accept that not everyone thinks innovatively, many do not like to take risks. Do not leave your job abruptly if you disagree with your boss, it could harm your professional career.
Which one do you identify with? Do you recognize your colleagues? Being aware of your profile with its advantages and disadvantages and the possible profiles of your colleagues will help you take advantage of your advantages and better understand how others behave. I recommend that you read the book for a much more complete vision and full of clarifying examples.
