What’s Your Corporate Personality?

I’ve been in the corporate world for many years and have worked at large-sized companies as well as small corporate environments. Over the years, I’ve been fascinated by the many personalities I experienced along the way. A company large or small is filled with a “cast of characters” and each character has his or her own set of business and career goals in mind. Pretty simple, isn’t it?

Every company culture and corporate experience is different. No matter the size or the industry, there’s a commonality among personalities in the corporate world. As much as I’d love to tell you they are all good, you also find the bad and yes, the ugly, too. Here’s Five Corporate Personality Types from one working mom’s perspective:

The Team Player
This person can also be thought of as the cheerleader. He or she is always willing to work with different people in the company and maintains the “get the job done” attitude. He or she typically accomplishes goals by utilizing that positive attitude and engaging in very little drama. The Team Player usually does a good job of motivating others just by way of being cooperative with his or her fellow employees.

The Gossip
Isn’t it fun to be in the know? Every office has a person who loves to gossip. He or she may even spend a substantial part of the day jumping cube to cube with the latest news. Be wary of the word on the street. It could be inaccurate and hurtful at best.

Are you the office gossip? Just remember, it’s not that great being on the other end of the gossip circuit and it can make for some damaged reputations if taken too far.

The Averter
Things may not run smoothly in the corporate world and The Averter can make the rid even bumpier. This person will rarely admit to fault and is comfortable with throwing others under the proverbial bus. He or she often attempts to create negative focus on a co-worker or other department in order to move the spotlight from his or her own short comings. The unfortunate thing about The Averter is that he or she contributes to what ultimately becomes a less than stellar collaborative, trusting environment.

The Negative Nelly
Cheer up! It can’t be that bad. A co-worker that is constantly negative can bring you down, too. Complaining about work and everything under the sun can make the day seem longer and the task at hand harder. Limit your exposure to The Negative Nelly.

If you recognize that you are The Negative Nelly, just think about the things you like to do outside of the office. Find a positive focus that will get you through the day!

The Motivator
Hip, hip hooray! Hip, hip hooray! Get your pom-poms out because The Motivator is going to get you excited and pumped. This person is that go-getter who is ready for the challenge and prepared to accomplish it. You may wonder where The Motivator gets his or her energy. If you are doing something you enjoy, the motivation flows. Some people really strive and thrive in the corporate environment. That exuberance comes out in his or her actions.

So, what’s your corporate personality?

Whether you are exactly one of these people at work or a mix of them, your behavior and attitude  directly affect  your co-workers’ morale and attitude about work. Of course, other factors can be considered in the morale mix like leadership, hierarchy and corporate culture overall.

Either way, the good, the bad and the ugly is there. A deep breath or a short walk can help put things in perspective, even on the stressful or frustrating days.

It’s up to you (and me!) to decide the foot we put forward each day and be aware of the impact we have on the people around us.