As a small business owner or entrepreneur, there are a roller coaster of emotions that you feel going through the highs and the lows of your business. Sometimes even in a day. 

It can be a lot to deal with so many emotions and stress while still trying to keep everything together.

Some days you just need a break.

And you deserve to have breaks too!

But, there are a lot of times we can feel “in a funk” that can be hard to get out of. 

If there’s one thing that I want you to know… not everyone is motivated in the same way, with the same frequency or at the same intensity.

Differing personality types respond to different motivators. That’s a research based fact, folks.  

Perceivers may have a lot of motivation and ideas for getting a project or task started, but have trouble finishing the end product. Judgers are the opposite, they might find it hard to get started, but find a lot of satisfaction at finishing up a project. 

When you can fit your business tasks and projects to your own unique personality type, research shows that you tend to remain more motivated because the approach is consistent with who you are and your “zone of optimal functioning”. 

This is what I like to call your “sweet spot”.

Imagine if you could operate from your sweet spot all the time... 

You might just find yourself doing more in less time. Talk about increasing your productivity! 

Smart business owners know that productivity is the key to your success. You don’t have to make sweeping changes to find your and your team’s sweet spots. 

It’s as simple as learning how to motivate yourself and others by understanding who you are and how your teams operate best.

Let’s talk. Schedule a time to figure out how you as a business owner or entrepreneur can use personality typing to find your sweet spot and skyrocket your productivity.

Here's To Your Success,
​Kate

This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart that I am sure you all as business owners and entrepreneurs can identify with.

As a small business owner and entrepreneur we wear all the hats. Especially if you are just getting started and it’s early in the game. 

We are responsible for making sure everything gets done. We deal with copious amounts of work and projects for our business and have to shift gears ALL THE TIME. 

As a business owner, there are things you are always thinking about such as personnel, marketing, finances, cyber security issues, legal issues, branding, messaging, networking, customer engagement...and so many more considerations. 

You have to make sure you have covered all your bases.

And if we didn’t have enough on our minds already with running a business, there are a lot of adjustments required just by being alive right now in a pandemic.

Best laid plans don’t always work out like we think they will.

When you think about all of the basic day-to-day business operations you as a small business owner or entrepreneur are responsible for, that is more than enough to fill your day. 

No wonder we feel so much stress sometimes with all that is on our minds?!

However, one thing I know to be absolutely 100% true, which I am seeing all over every industry right now is the importance of learning how to engage your team members and customers in a real, genuine and authentic way.

I know, we just talked about how much we have to do as business owners and the amount of stress we have and I’m adding something else to the mix of our daily lives.

Call me crazy, but hear me out…

Especially now, in times of crisis and stress, leading with empathy and genuinely engaging with your team and customers will give you the competitive edge in this day and age. 

Small businesses going online is becoming more and more of a saturated market. 

If you want to set yourself apart from all your competitors, think about the energy that you bring to everything that you do from your business to your teams to your everyday life. 

In order for customers or team to find your engagement authentic, there are some things you should consider. 

1. Build a community

What better way for your customers or team members to feel like they belong other than being part of a community? Whether it's a Facebook Group for your customers to join, or a group chat message for your team members, find a space where communication and genuine conversation can take place. This builds connection.

2. Provide value to your product or service

Let your customers know about the value that they are getting out of your product or service. Your customers are more likely to get behind you and your business if they are offered real value and understand how this can enhance their efforts. Same goes for your team. Let your team know there is purpose and value behind the work they are doing. Be real, open and honest and serve others.

3. Keep the conversation going

Your business is not all about you. Yes, your business may be your baby and something you have built from the ground up. Yes, you should be proud of that! However, without your team or your customers, your business wouldn’t be the great success it is. Reply to your customers or team members. Ask them questions. Engage your community and listen to what they have to say. Getting to know who is involved with your business is a priority if you want to scale and grow as a business!

Okay, so I gave you 3 things to consider for engagement. Pretty doable, huh?

In this time of stress and constant transition, engagement will go much further for your small business than you might think.

Setting yourself apart as a business by taking time to engage with your customers and team will give you the competitive advantage you need in our online world. 

Prioritizing engagement in your day-to-day just like you would marketing, finances, legal issues, etc. is the first step to more success.

Let’s schedule a time to talk about how you as a business owner or entrepreneur can engage those involved in your business during this time of stress.

Here's To Your Success,
Kate

Have you ever had a job where you or your team just felt downright, um... unproductive? 

Maybe the workplace environment felt off or you never felt fully heard…?

Sound familiar?

We’ve all been there before. And let me tell you something. It’s hard to give your all when you don’t feel like a valued and productive part of the team. 

But here’s the thing…

Productivity isn’t always a direct reflection of whether or not someone is capable of doing whatever it is they’ve been assigned to do. Oftentimes, a shift in the team’s overall environment or communication procedures might be enough to do the trick. 

You see, we all look at the world through our own life filters. 

Components of our personality preference type, our traits, our history, and our experiences directly impact the way we move through our day-to-day lives. 

This can and does sometimes create difficulties when working as part of a team and oftentimes, these challenges often show themselves as a decrease in productivity and overall morale. 

So it makes sense that understanding everyone’s personality type is an incredibly powerful tool that will help you increase effectiveness and productivity, right?

Raising and growing the bottom line all starts with people and understanding how those people work best.

Products and services are all important, don’t get me wrong. But the key factor in running a successful team or business is your people. 

The secret to success starts with your team. It’s about knowing them, honoring their own unique perspectives, and consistently working to better understand them. 

Happy people make wonderful and productive environments; it’s as simple as that.

They create collaboration, creativity, and productivity.

Remember this…

What motivates you, may not motivate or work for the people on your team. 

(I get it though...Sometimes it’s difficult to keep this in mind because you are always operating in the world through the lens of your own personality filter too!) 

For example, think about an Intuitive Feeler who has a Judging preference. If you look at specific traits for that type, they are efficient and reliable. They seldom miss deadlines, and achievement is constant. They follow the rules; they are good at anticipating needs and paying attention to details. They will assert themselves for harmony in a group. 

As a manager, even just knowing about this specific type and what it needs to thrive, will affect management style and communication. And in order to be an effective leader, you have to be able to communicate effectively to all types of people. 

I call this “type-shifting”.

In my experience, the most successful teams are the ones that are willing to understand all the unique components of the people they work with. And find ways to bring them all together in the same space.

Without a doubt, each team member fits perfectly into the larger puzzle. Everyone has a valuable part to play. As a leader, it’s your job to help unlock the potential of each team member through learning about who they are and how they thrive! 

And there’s no doubt that the first step in that process is awareness and understanding of each person’s individual personality type and preferences. 

Knowing personality type and preferences for the teams you participate in or manage is crucial not only in the corporate, or traditional business world, but it is especially important in the world of remote and virtual teaming as well. 

Let’s talk today! Set up a time with me to discuss how you can effectively develop your team with all of its different personality preferences. 

Here's To Your Success,
​Kate

Do you like to go above and beyond for your work? Do you like to extend beyond the bare minimum to establish yourself as a good employee? Maybe you like to push your work out of the box to get noticed?

As we have established already, certain personality types are naturally drawn to certain industries and interests.

It’s also true that certain types are more likely to rise to the top of traditionally structured businesses and companies. Traits such as objectivity, punctuality, and accountability are qualities that are often seen in those who are classified as “overachievers”. 

And this often gets promoted. 

Overachievers are often very successful in their careers leading to promotion, raises, etc. 

What’s interesting, though, is that although overachievers like to extend themselves for their work, the irony is that these same “achievers” may be far less successful in other parts of the organization - sales, training, or research and development, for example. 

It takes a village to make a successful business run.

So….who specifically are these “go-getters”?
What “types” tend to make up the promoted “over-achieving” groups that often get recognized the most for promotions and advances in their careers?

Traits such as Thinking and Judging tend to be types that are naturally promoted, and other types tend to be harder to find represented in upper level leadership, the higher up you go in a company. 

Though any one of the sixteen types can and does make it to the executive level, those not sharing the Thinking and Judging preferences, that make it to the executive level, tend to be the exception, not the rule. 

To give you some perspective, according to “tested type”, at the executive level upward of 90% of all executives are Thinking-Judgers. 

Crazy, huh?

Based on this, here are a few insights about what we can learn from the personality type makeup of the higher levels of the workplace:

• As long as management is predominantly Thinking/Judging preference dominated, women are statistically destined to be in the minority; there are simply just fewer “true type” Thinking women in the population.
• Most of the women achieving top-level positions will look typologically like their male counterparts. More than likely they will be Thinking/Judgers.
• The few Feeling-Perceptive types who make it to the top typically do so for one of two reasons: (1) simply to prove to themselves that they can do it or (2) because they have a missionary zeal to change the organization.
• The Feeling-Perceptive types that get there, do so not because the system accepted them so much as because of their ability to play the Thinking/Judging preference game.

​
While at the top, the idealists do have some impact, as soon as they leave, their programs are often obliterated with the sweep of a pen.

Diversity in the executive circles of any organization typically is pretty fleeting and over the long term has low impact on organizational effectiveness.  

So what does this mean for you if you are not a Thinking or Judging type? 

Here’s the good news: Especially now, workplace culture is continually changing. 

In some industries, especially up and coming industries like tech, there is more of an openness to diversity in leadership styles than we often see in the typical, traditional corporate world.

You can be a great employee and be an “overachiever” no matter your type. 

The great news about being an entrepreneur and business owner is that you have far more freedom and opportunity to challenge the traditional ways of doing business. 

You get to decide how your business will be structured, what kinds of diversity you will include and how to get the results you strive for in your business. 

This starts by leveraging knowledge about who you are and how you operate into creating an environment in which everyone can thrive.. 

No matter if you are an entrepreneur or working in the corporate world, you can leverage yourself to be successful no matter your personality type.

By understanding your personality types and how you can use it to your advantage in the workplace will go MILES. Get the raise or promotion. Expand your business.

Let’s talk today about your MBTI and how you can get those promotions you deserve at your work. 

Here's To Your Success,
Kate

When you think of business owners and entrepreneurs, do you often assume that in order to be successful, you have to be an Extrovert (E)? 

You know, the idea that it takes a lot of time and energy to start a business of your own and you really need to be able to put yourself out there. 

And “Introverts” (I) aren’t naturally drawn to this, so there’s no way you could be an entrepreneur or small business owner if you are in fact, gulp, an Introvert...? 

(This is the part of the movie where the scary, doomsday music would start to play….)

But wait...hold on...before you turn your computer back in and shut down the office, keep reading...especially if you, yourself, are an Introvert...rest assured...all is not lost.

I’m here to tell you that Introverts also make very successful entrepreneurs.

Although putting yourself “out there”, promoting yourself or your business, along with networking does burn up more energy for Introverts, there are lots of incredible traits they also bring to the table to balance things out.

For example, Introverts (I) are great at reflecting and being intentional about their efforts. They know everything they are doing for their business has a purpose and are highly committed and focused on their ideas. 

This is also true for other preferences within the Myers-Briggs Personality tool too.

Those with a “Sensing” (S) preference are adept at paying attention to the nitty gritty details of plans and projects. They are excellent at routines and systems and carrying out the myriad of details required to run a business. 

Intuitives (N), those with a preference for Intuitive learning, are able to easily see the bigger picture and are often quite innovative. These are the “out of the box” thinkers, the visionaries, the “big idea” people. 

Some businesses need fine details sorted out to be successful, other businesses need innovation and a holistic approach. Both of these MBTI type preferences bring unique strengths to the table that will benefit their business.

Thinkers (T), those with a preference for a more logical decision making style, are practical and down to Earth. Thinkers are great at applying logic and analysis to the task at hand. They are incredible at analyzing information and applying it to the bottom line.

Feelers (F), those with a preference for a more value-centered decision making style, thrive off of relationships and make excellent ambassadors of a brand.

Feelers can establish great professional relationships for their business and are naturals when it comes to developing meaningful connections within teams as well as the customer base.

As you can see, every personality type has the potential to be a successful business owner or entrepreneur. It really all comes down to knowing who you are and how you tick. 

Once you unlock these insights into who you are and your strengths as well as areas of growth, it’s easy to create a specific and effective plan for both your team as well as your overall mission, that includes growing your team with the “rite type” of people doing the “rite type” of work. 

Personality type is not about pigeon-holing you, or putting you in a box and predicting how you are going to act or succeed in your future.

As human beings, we are dynamic and no one “paper and pencil” test is going to adequately capture all of who you are. That said, learning about  your Myers-Briggs Type is an excellent jumping off place to learn more about who you are and what you need to thrive and be a successful entrepreneur and business owner.

It’s like acquiring your own personal “guide book” for your success. Priceless, huh? I think so.

Let’s chat. It’s time to grow!

Here's To Your Success,
​Kate

Knowing your personality type allows you to know where you need to grow as an entrepreneur.

If you take "whole-type" out of the equation for the moment and just strictly look at differences between preference pairs when it comes to entrepreneurship, there is an incredible amount of invaluable information that you can learn!!!!

For example, the preference type pair Judging & Perceiving represents different abilities for business owners.

Those with a preference for a Judging (J) preference find time management and organization a naturally easy task. Those with a preference for Judging as a way of organizing in the world are methodical and systematic, often developing routine approaches to work.

In this sense, Judgers are natural managers.

Perceivers (P) on the other hand often have a "different" way of managing that is not always appreciated in a traditional work environment.

Perceivers have a preference for being adaptable and often come up with flexible and innovative approaches to work, improvising as needed.  Those with a preference for Perceiving, loooove to start things but might struggle a little bit when it comes time to finish or follow through.

Perceivers also may find it easier sometimes to pivot when things are working out as planned. Which is definitely an essential skill when it comes to entrepreneurship.

Judgers are also great at meeting deadlines and following through on important projects. Again, a necessary skill of an entrepreneur. 

Not better, just different.

Being a small business owner and entrepreneur means that many challenges and obstacles will be thrown at you.

Knowing who you are and how you tick will allow you to leverage your skills and play to your strengths as well as know when to bring in outside help to fill the gaps where you might lack skills needed to grow or scale your business.

Everyone has the ability to be successful at entrepreneurship and business ownership. The more you can know about who you are and how you tick, the better able you'll be to maximize your teams and accelerate your results!!!

If you’re ready to grow and scale yourself so that your business can follow, let’s talk.

Yours in Innovation,
Kate

One of the "go-to" questions in an interview is "what are your strengths and what are your weaknesses". It's a question that is asked in some variation in pretty much every single job interview.

The truth is, we all have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to work and our professional life. Knowing what these are and how to work with them is the key to success in your career and your life.

Well...so what does this have to do with being a business owner or entrepreneur?

Grab a cuppa and read on…

Are you exploring your strengths and weaknesses as well? Your business is only going to grow as far as you are willing to grow your own skills and abilities.

It’s true: leadership sets the tone and level of productivity through who you are and how you lead and engage your people.

Learning about why you react the way you do, your leadership style, your gifts, your areas for growth, even learning about how and why you are more productive in certain situations compared to others, are powerful skill sets to have as a leader.

If only there was a tool, or a manual of some sort that could help us dig deeper within ourselves to understand why we are the way we are and why we are better at somethings in the workplace and need improvement in other things.

Check this out….drum roll please.....there IS one!!!!!!

Would you be interested in learning how to leverage who you are in order to become the best leader you can possibly be?!?!?

What if I could give you the secret password to unlock your own “personal manual” to life so that you could gain an unfair advantage over your competitors?

Imagine that you could learn how to engage your employees in a way that genuinely created loyalty and productivity for the long haul…

Or imagine this...you’d be able to quickly and easily engage your customers with “messages that matter”, building those kinds of long-term and loyal relationships that are so essential for businesses to thrive…?

Well, I’m ready to give you the inside secret that is going to help you unlock your own genius inside so that you can do all this and more.

You ready…? Are you listening…? Here goes…

Your own personal manual is called your Myers-Briggs Type!

Are you having a bit of an “ah-ha”, light bulb moment? How could it be so obvious??

Did you know that your personality type is the manual to go to when you want to learn everything about yourself, including your strengths as well as areas for growth?

It’s also the number one tool for learning how to tap into your sweet spot so that you can thrive in your business and life.

Yup. It’s true.

Knowing how you like to work, the environment you work best in, how you get along with others, as well as, what kind of management style you respond best to...all these nuggets are things you need to know to properly represent and promote yourself and your business.

It's an essential practice for you to engage in as a business owner. Here’s why:

Your team is only going to be able to grow and thrive to the level that you are doing so for yourself.

As a business owner and entrepreneur you may not always consider how your strengths and weaknesses impact your teams and your business success. You might not even know your personality type or really who you are as a person.

And this is what is going to hold you, your teams and ultimately your business back from achieving the kind of success you’ve always dreamed you would have.

Each MBTI type has its own strengths and weaknesses and to be a successful business owner, you need to understand your own personal strengths and weaknesses just as any other member of your team.

It’s time to learn about your own personality and work style. That is, if you truly want to get where you dream of going.

And that’s what I am here to help you do. Let’s talk.

Here's To Your Success,
​Kate

For a lot of people, continuing education involves going back to school. Whether it is finishing a level you have not completed, or adding more to your previous education. For a lot of people, they don't have the time, money, or resources to continue their education. 

With this amazing tool, the Internet, it has become possible for more people to continue to learn everyday without the commitment of going back to school. They can take classes for certificates, do research, or get involved with groups or people who are also interested in learning about specific topics.

I challenge you to take part in expanding your knowledge by taking a class in your free time, reading an article, or joining a group like my Rite Type Coaching Facebook Group to get involved with a topic you have been passionate about or something you can apply to your everyday life.

Yours in Innovation,
​Kate

Can you think back to a time when life seemed much more simple? When you were a kid and one of your biggest priorities was the playground? 

On the playground, there always seemed to be two types of kids. 

There was the type that was always organizing the kickball game. These kids would tell others where to stand or tell others what position they were playing. These kids always seemed like the ones in charge.

There were also the type of kids who stood in the outfield and picked daisies. Or if they did not want to play kickball that day, they would go over and see what the four square kids were up to. It really depended on the day and how they were feeling; there seemed to be no care about which game to play on the playground that day.

Well as we are all adults now, those preferences from when we were younger often follow us throughout our lives.

These preferences in our personality are the Judging and Feeling MBTI types. These types really have distinct energies between them and how each type lives their lives and how these types play out in the workplace.

When it comes to management, we think back to those kids who organized every part of the kickball game. Those types would be Judgers. They are the more natural managers, especially in the United States culture. This type reflects the more typical management style we see. Judgers thrive off of structure, systems, routines, checklists, and are skilled at time management. 

The kids who picked daisies or changed what game they played everyday would be typed as a Perceiver. Perceivers are more spontaneous and go with the flow; they live their lives more flexibly. 

A common difference between the two types is that Judgers manage their lives and Perceivers live their lives.

I, for example, am a Judger. 

I can pretty much tell you everything I am doing tomorrow based off of my schedule. I really need to separate out work and play. I will not be able to relax at the end of a long workday if I did not get everything done on my checklist; it would disrupt my ability to unwind. 

My partner on the other hand, is a total Perceiver. If you asked what they were doing tomorrow, they would tell you it really depends on how they feel when they wake up. Play and work can be easily intertwined for Perceivers.

As you can see, there are two totally different energies and distinct differences between the two types. 

But that does not mean Perceives cannot be managers. 

Perceivers as managers just have a much different style of managing. It's often classified as “out of the box”. Perceivers as managers have an atypical management style that is more flexible, easy-going and maybe even more innovative. 

Perceivers also have a harder time finishing things. A lot of their energy is focused on starting a task, in which they are really easily motivated. However, deadlines and finishing the task are where P’s struggle. 

Judgers are the opposite, they do not feel accomplished until the task is finished.

With all of these differences, it is really not a matter of who is a “better” manager when it comes to Judgers versus Perceivers. 

However, we do live in a culture that traditionally values Judgers as managers. 

Perceivers as managers may often receive a lot of grief or bias towards their management style due to the untraditional aspects of it.

Management styles may also make more of a difference when looking at success across various industries. If you think about it...J’s are more likely to thrive in business or financial worlds, compared to P’s who may get more out of a creative sphere. 

Again, it is not a matter of what type is a “better” manager. It's about recognizing and valuing the differences. 

So who were you on the playground...? 

A little Judger who made sure the kickball game ran smoothly? Or a little Perceiver who was able to be flexible and play any game you chose?

Yours in Innovation,
Kate

It is an ugly truth that we need to face...Conflict is inevitable. 

Honestly, you can’t get along with everyone. (As much as you might like to.)

As I mentioned in my last email, we know that most conflicts (especially in the workplace) are a result of differing MBTI personality types. Think of an Extrovert working in a quiet work environment or a Thinker working in a group project. There are going to be some disagreements and conflicts because it is out of their comfort zone in relation to their personality type.

So yes, you will have to deal with conflict at some point in your life in the workplace.

But how do you deal with it? 

Well, that's going to depend on your personality type too!

Just as with everything else, differing personality types really see the opposite sides of the actual conflict as well. Thinkers want to get to the facts of what is happening whereas Feelers tend to focus on the interpersonal relationship and how that affects the dynamic of the conflict.

Judgers focus on how the argument will impact the future and will be relieved when the conflict has ended. Perceivers value other’s input who are also involved in the conflict. 

Each style of conflict resolution is unique to each personality type. It can even mean some types are more likely to speak up when there is a conflict, while other types like to remain more passive.

One of the most noticeable places conflict shows up in MBTI is between Thinking and Feeling types. 

Thinkers feel rewarded when the job is well done; overall team "wellness" isn't top priority. The bottom line is really the biggest indicator of success for Thinkers. On the other hand, Feelers feel rewarded when everyone’s needs are met first and foremost. 

As a very gross generalization, Thinkers may be more likely to speak up when there is conflict. Feelers will be drained of energy if there is conflict and will be less likely to bring attention to the issue.

I am not a fan of generalizations as everyone is different when it comes to their personality types and the impact that has on their overall experience. That's why I also look at someone's Enneagram type as a significant role in the way they deal with conflict.

Think of it this way...

Conflict is a stress point. No matter how we deal with the conflict, it causes some sort of stress for a person. So, dealing with conflict in the workplace has much more to do with your Enneagram and how it is nuanced by your MBTI type. 

Your approach to handling conflict resolution in the workplace requires you to understand how the different types react to conflict.

Personally...as a Feeler, I notice when others I am working with aren’t as receptive to relationships and bonding beyond the work. I take note of that as something that can affect my work negatively. While it does not always necessarily mean that there will be a conflict, my productivity of work and ability to be creative may be lessened.

Another example in my distant past (I have gotten much better about this!) was when it was hard for me to tell people “no”. 

If my friends invited me out to eat, I would have a hard time declining the offer when all I really wanted to do was go home and put on my fuzzy pajamas. Because I am really aware of how much my actions will affect other people, I like to "keep the peace" so to speak. 

Feelers really tend to go against themselves to make sure that everyone is happy. (Raise your hand if you can relate...!)

So all in all, some personality types avoid conflict like the plague. Others are more open to addressing it. 

The reality is that in the workplace conflict will need to be addressed sooner or later. It can't be avoided - no matter how hard we may try sometimes!

To do so, it's valuable to start recognizing how you typically deal with conflict. 

Will your usual means of resolution be effective with an opposing personality type? If not, it might be time to dig deeper and learn how to handle conflict in the workplace through a place of understanding. 

Learning more about personality types is a great place to start!

This is all about working with people in a way that suits each individual person's style!

Yours in Innovation,
Kate