Interestingly enough, although
personality theory is mostly about strengths, how to leverage what is good
about you, it is also about weaknesses and where you come up short and another
person fits in. It is about the crazy in all of us. While it can be a good
thing to be the one who knows the big picture all of the time, you aren’t going
anywhere without the necessary details for a plan to come together. In other
words, all cars can take you from A to B (all functioning cars), but not all
cars will take you there in the same condition, speed, comfort and safety. That
is how it is with personality. Each personality type has a strength and each
personality has a weakness. Let’s take a look.
The Controller. The controlling
personality is really good at using conflict, making fast decisions and adapting
to change. They are not so good at listening, being patient with others or working
on the details. What is the need of the controller? To be in control and taken
to an extreme this can be a little on the crazy side. How about when a
controller is given a situation where they have no control? Someone else is in
control, running things and it is inefficient. The leader criticizes on the
personal level and blocks you from accomplishments? This is when the controller
starts to come undone. The tendency will be to explode, blame others, dictate
or take over. Worst of all, they will suppress emotions and that’s when the
real problems begin. Who was a controller in Scripture? Mark, Nehemiah and Saul.
The controller’s focus is on results, they are task oriented and we need them –
in control of themselves most of all.
The Stabilizer. The stabilizing
personality is good at maintaining harmony, working in teams and taking a
systematic, thorough approach. They are dependable and build relationships. Their
weaknesses are in taking things too personally, initiating a task quickly enough
and trying to avoid necessary conflict that will produce results. Stabilizers
taken to the extreme will give in too easily, worry emotionally and take a get
even approach. Because they are good at manipulating circumstances, they can cause
serious damage without seeming to be the cause. Their driving need is for
security, to be trusted and to have appreciation. They are the ones to take a
large project and ensure it happens with the least cost, emotionally and
physically. Who was a Stabilizer in the Scriptures? John, David and Isaiah.
The Analyst. The analyzing
personality is all about getting it right. They are good at using facts, data,
history and logic. They know what should be the precise outcome and the
rules/steps to take in order to get there. In the extreme they tend to feel
overwhelmed by a driving need to get it perfect, they don’t like to take a
position and will lose sight of the big picture. Pushed too far, the analyst
will become overcritical, give up easily, pull away or get caught up in the
need to prove they are right. They are the one you need to get a quality,
accurate and precise product, the key is to support their standards and
principles. Who was an Analyst in the Bible? Matthew, Solomon and the Rich
Young Ruler.
The Persuader. Persuasive personalities
are not necessarily concerned about being right on facts, they are right on
people. Persuaders use verbal skills, combined with optimism and social
initiative to bring someone around to their viewpoint. They are good at
stimulating others to action and they are seldom at a loss for words. Give them
the reigns and they will convince an audience of cold fusion. Taken to the
extreme, the persuader is bogged down in details, will fail to follow through
on commitments and can become overly emotional. They often don’t set realistic
timeframes. Push a persuader too far and you will get a verbal attack, an
emotional dump or a cut and run mentality. The persuader is the one who makes
the journey pleasant, who cuts tension and brings the personal skills. Just don’t
belittle or limit them. Who was a Persuader in the Bible? Luke, Paul and Aaron.
The crazy in us. It is why God
gave us each other, and each of us with our own sets of skills and not-so-skills.
Understanding strengths and weaknesses in one another is the key to getting
along and building the Body of Christ.
