Stereotypes In The Workplace

The workplace is a melting pot of personalities--no surprise there. All types of employees must work together and are expected to overcome differences to reach a common goal. But ethics, cultural norms, and temperament can sometimes cause tension. Let’s discuss temperament; employee groups will exhibit two main types: introverts and extroverts. Each type can interact very differently in the workplace. One may be better suited for leadership than the other.
CHARACTERICS
Extroverts sound like wonderfully interactive people, don't they? They can be--but a dark side may also emerge. They can emotionally overpower a client who prefers to remain "strictly business," causing mistrust. This manager must learn to moderate this tendency according to …show more content…
 Involve themselves socially with everyone who will have them..
 Can become overly friendly with staff and clients. (Rugg-Gunn)
Scientific research now shows that behaving in an extraverted manner is the key to success as a leader. Like John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jack Welch, great leaders are extraverted: their behavior is bold, talkative, energetic, active, assertive, and adventurous. This enables them to communicate a strong, dominant vision that inspires followers to deliver results." (Kuofie)
Introverts become effective leaders, in spite of but because of the fact that they don't push themselves forward. They tend to have a realistic view of their abilities and the patience to figure out the job as it progresses. They can have impressive powers of concentration and problem solving. When this manager presents his plan, it will usually be detailed and well thought out.
Traits associated with most introverts:
 They often prefer to work in solitude and may get angry if interrupted.
 Acknowledge the lives of others but don't enter social …show more content…
Like Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, and Socrates, great leaders are introverted: their behavior is quiet, shy, reserved, and unadventurous. This enables them to empower their people to deliver results." (Kuofie)

EFFECTIVE LEADER
There are the introverted CEOs—calm, eremitic, and observant—who prefer flying below the radar. You've never heard of them, they don't like the spotlight. Take Peter Rouse, who last week was named interim White House chief of staff, replacing the extraverted Rahm Emanuel. (Rugg-Gunn)Barely known outside of Washington circles, Rouse is a quiet politician who seems to eschew the public eye, preferring instead to hunker down and deal with problems. Within the walls of the, he is reportedly known as a "fixer."
Both types of leaders, the extraverts and the introverts, can be equally successful or ineffectual, but with different groups of employees.
Studies find that extraverted leaders actually can be a liability for a company's performance, especially if the followers are extraverts, too. In short, new ideas can't blossom into profitable projects if everyone in the room is contributing ideas, and the leader is too busy being outgoing to listen to or act upon them.

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