Module 13 · Leadership & people management · Lesson 10 of 12

Managing different working styles

Fast and careful, talkers and writers — making room for how people work best.

6 min read · Level: Practising · Free — no account needed to read

The idea

People work differently: some fast and iterative, some careful and thorough; some think best by talking, others by writing; some want detailed instructions, others just the goal. Different styles aren’t better or worse — they suit different tasks.

Managing well means learning each person’s style and making room for it where you can: written notes before meetings for reflective thinkers, quick check-ins for people who like to talk things through, clear deadlines for everyone.

Why it matters

Adapting to working styles gets the best out of people and reduces friction in teams.

See it happen

Rubina’s manager keeps asking her for instant answers in meetings; she thinks best with time.

The first reaction

The manager assumes she is unprepared.

With the idea

They agree she will get questions an hour before meetings. Her answers become some of the best in the team.

What changed

Adjusting for her working style revealed her strengths.

Easy to get wrong

• Assuming your style is the right one for everyone.
• Accommodating styles so much that shared deadlines slip.

Try it now: Styles in your team

1. List the people you work or study with most.
2. Write one thing about how each works best.
3. Write one adjustment you could make for someone.

Questions to think about

• How do you work best, and do others know it?
• Whose working style frustrates you, and what might it be good for?

Your challenge this week

Ask one person how they work best — and adjust one thing for them.