"I" type personalities are the socially active people among us that concentrate on people and interaction, often at the expense of completing tasks.

These people are often the life of a party. They love to have center stage and are always people focused and rarely task focused.

These are the Keith Ferrazzis (author of Never Eat Alone) of this world, the Ronald Reagans, the Bette Midlers. They love to talk and interact and often volunteer for any committee that involves lots of meetings and outings or for committees that plan social gatherings.

Although it sounds like these people are way too party focused to be productive members of a team, they are essential components to every team. They are the glue that bonds the team together. They create the fun atmosphere that draws people in and keeps them as part of a team. They are sensitive to others and can often read the emotional signals in team members better than anyone.

I's, like any of the personality traits, have strengths and weaknesses. I have summarized these traits in the following table:

Tendencies:

• Interacting with people


• Working in a group


• Being optimistic about circumstances and people


• Articulate


• Making a good impression


• Creating enthusiasm


• Entertaining people


• Impulsive


• Inspirational


• Excitable


• Persuasive


• Trusting

• An environment with recognition socially and recognition of ability


• People-focused or interactive


• Free from detail and overburdening controls


• Where they are free to express themselves

• Concentrate on activities


• Deal with things instead of people


• Take a logical and/or systematic approach

• Provide recognition


• Requires help with time management


• Help them set priorities


• Freedom to achieve the end result without overbearing rules


• Friendly work environment

• Optimistic


• Persuasive


• Helping others


• Flexible


• Negotiating


• Motivating


• Enthusiastic


• Manage change well

• Time management


• Too emotional


• May be sarcastic


• Not a good finisher


• Impulsive

• Listen to them


• Start on a social note and move into business


• Be friendly


• Expect fast decisions but ask questions to confirm the legitimacy of the decision


• Recognize them in public but never criticize them in public


• Ask for their input

If you are an I type personality, your biggest challenge is to ensure that you stay focused on the tasks at hand and not just pay attention to the people around you. You need to carefully manage your time because it is way too easy to spend your time frivolously with people rather than working productively. However, you need to try to work in a role that allows you to interact with people because your people skills and emotional intuition are extremely valuable to any team setting.

If you are managing an I, be aware of these things and provide an interactive and friendly environment for the Is to work in. Always start on a social note before diving into the business at hand and help the Is manage their schedule and their time.

If you follow these basic guidelines your interaction with I type personalities will be much more fun and substantially more productive!