"My way or the highway" partnerships don't work well. Yet, introvert and extrovert opposites working together can accomplish great things.
The sooner that introverts and extroverts learn about each other's thinking patterns and different languages, the quicker they can get to creative results.
With the blending of complementary talents of introverts and extroverts, by skilfully combining the extrovert set of signature talents with those of the introvert, you don't just get addition. You get exponential results.
When you bring them together and manage the blend, the entire picture comes into focus and suddenly you can act on things the way neither side could have separately. The possibilities for these two styles collaborating are great for those individuals, but also for their workplaces, including improved morale, surpassed company goals, and the high that comes from satisfying work.
Thirty five years ago I purchased a run down city record store with an introverted business partner, and I quickly learned that we were quite different to each other in the way we worked. However, often through courageous conversations I learnt that this person had many skills that I lacked and that we complemented each other. Together, we successfully developed this business into a very successful retail store. We are still great friends after 40 years.
As the extrovert polishes the bluntness, critical or condescending attitude of the introvert while the introvert begins to sensitively recognise the need for more warmth and tactful communication along with better team cooperation. The introvert's foresight of focusing on projects and his or her drive for perfection helps the extrovert become more clear about the important results they want to achieve and how best to verbalise them.
The Opposites Process; each of these steps is an essential component of a strong partnership:
1. Accept the Alien: You can't change your opposite, but you can understand him or her. Once you are able to accept this fact, you are in for much less stress.
2. Bring on the Battles: See disagreement as necessary to arriving at better outcomes, because you challenge each other to come up with better solutions together than you would alone.
3. Cast the Character: Know each person's role in a scenario and cast them so that you bring out your opposite's best. Opposites share the credit no matter what role they take.
4. Destroy the Dislike: When you respect each other and act like friends, you can talk openly and have fun.
5. Each Can't Offer Everything: Know that each one of you is incapable of offering everything, so for true diversity, you work in concert to provide the widest range of options to others.
Today, for every success story about two opposites who make it work, there will be four or more opposites who crash and burn because they can't reconcile their different styles. However, by reading "The Genius of Opposites" and putting these five steps in place the odds of success will be much greater.
Reference: Jennifer B. Kahnweiler PhD: “The Genius of Opposites: How Introverts and Extroverts Achieve Extraordinary Results Together."
Business Tips
How to Make the Attraction of Opposites Work in Your Business
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- Category: Management
