Four Group/Organization Personality Killers

• The Gossip
• The Negative
• The Know It All
• The Thespian

Here are four personality types that suck the life out of leaders, organizations and groups.  They tend to be high maintenance.  You do not leave them feeling energized.  They are a drain.

The gossip is one of the most divisive personalities in any organization.  The gossip repeats whatever he/she hears to whomever will listen without ever considering potential fallout.  The gossip never bothers to validate what has been said.  Truth is not important to the gossip.  Gossips thrive on repeating information without ever stopping to consider whether or not it needs to be repeated, or how it will impact others. He/she thrives on idle chatter and conversation.   Listening is only a means to gain information to pass along to others. Gossips rarely consider themselves an organizational hazard and most have no idea the damage they inflict on others until it’s too late. 

The negative is among the most draining personality types.  No one likes being around the negative, which is why they rarely experience in-depth conversations or meaningful relationships beyond obligatory comments about the weather, or sports.  The negative makes pejorative comments about every one and every thing.  She is not an optimistic person.  There is no such thing as an opportunity to the negative, only problems.  The negative tends to complain and whine a lot.  This is another reason why he has no substantial relationships in life.  People scatter like ants on the run from a can of Raid whenever a negative enters the room.  Negatives wear people out.  Few people stand up to the negative because they don’t want to engage them.  The negative can kill organizational momentum.  If they attract other negatives you’ve got a major problem on your hands.  It’s like cancer attacking a major organ.  Instead of engaging, or countering their negativity with positives people just quit coming, or participating in the organization to avoid the negative.   Negatives kill group dynamics.  Most negatives are bitter about life and blame everyone but himself or herself.  They are never responsible.

The know-it-all really does, just ask her.  Know-it-alls tend to be experts in everything.  It’s amazing how much they know, even areas in which they have little, or no experience.  Know-it-alls have an innate obligation to tell others what is wrong with them, or the organization.  Know-it-alls make you wonder how you ever survived before their arrival.   Know-it-alls are like the Wizard of Oz thundering commands and solutions without ever stepping from behind the curtain to roll up his sleeves and help.  Doing the actual work is not in their job description. They are simply there to point out what’s wrong and tell you how to fix it.  In fact you can make a know-it-all disappear quickly by asking him to take the lead on whatever it is he is analyzing.  And you should thank them for lending their expertise when others are more deserving.  Know-it-alls like to manage, or coach before they even join the team. 

The thespian is total drama.  Thespians think the world and your group or organization revolves around them.  Everything is magnified and internalized by the thespian.  He/she injects drama into every situation.  Thespians also hear what they want to hear so you have to constantly seek clarification when speaking with them.  Their perception is skewed.  Okay, it’s more than skewed it’s usually way off.  Thespians thrive on chaos, confusion, and emotion.  They tend to go from extreme highs to extreme lows.  If they can accomplish what they want by crying, yelling, or pouting they will.  You must remember that it’s all about them and no one else, not even the purpose/mission of the organization.  They filter everything they hear through a myopic lens.   Not all, but most thespians were either over disciplined, or under disciplined as children.  Balance is not in the thespians hard wiring.  Living with thespians can be like walking on a glass floor while wearing lead boots.  It’s not a matter of if you are going to crack the glass it’s just a matter of when.  Some thespians borrow and internalize the personal crisis of others in order to maintain their usual level of drama because they don’t know how to function without drama in their life. 

All four of these personality types can kill leaders and organizations.  Most of them aren’t even aware they behave this way.  Nearly all of them are insecure, or have a dim view of themselves even though they may outwardly appear to be anything but.  When confronted by their behavior (even constructively and in love) they are often shocked and hurt.  Typically such a confrontation only exposes them and they move on to a new group, or organization instead of seeking help to change.  You have to communicate clearly and draw boundaries with them because every one of them will push you to the limit.