This talk was given at the 2013 Information Architecture Summit. As user experience designers we work with a variety of different people, everyone from engineers to executives­­—not to mention the end users themselves. Successful team collaboration and empathy for the users are key to designing a superior user experience, but how do you do this when you are working with a myriad of different personality types? Can you keep personality conflicts from negatively impacting your work? This session will focus on identifying different personality types and learning how to communicate and work better with them. You will walk away with tips on collaborating more effectively with team members, selling UX to executives more successfully, and connecting more easily with end users when conducting research. Some of the most well-known people in our industry have agreed to take a personality test just for this session. Come find out who they [really] are by putting your new skills to the test!

1. I Can’t Work With You,
But I Need To.
Kyle Soucy | @kylesoucy
www.UsableInterface.com
Photo credit: http://fogsmoviereviews.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/office_space_peter.png
#PersonalityTypes

2. Most people have
significantly
different
behavioral styles

3. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Why is this important?

5. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
It’s reflected in
our work.

6. Are you
responsible
for this?

7. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
“To sell UX research to
people, one must first
know them very well.”
- Tomer Sharon

8. rstan ding
U nde thers
self a nd O
Your

9. People come in types

10. Analytical Driver
“Thought person” “Action person”
Peter Drucker
Amiable Expressive
“People person” “Front person”

11. Isn’t that
stereotyping?

12. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Photo credit: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQ2KbKL7G-s/TcPXnC-AlRI/AAAAAAAAFL4/7JQCHJQssdQ/s1600/woody-allen-2.jpg

13. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Analyticals tend to be:
✓ Perfectionistic
✓ Systematic and well organized
✓ Data junkies
✓ Introverts
✓ Emotionally reserved
Photo credit: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQ2KbKL7G-s/TcPXnC-AlRI/AAAAAAAAFL4/7JQCHJQssdQ/s1600/woody-allen-2.jpg

14. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Photo credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Donald_Trump_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg

15. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Drivers tend to be:
✓ Fast-paced
✓ Decisive
✓ Highly-independent
✓ Task-oriented
✓ Get-it-done people
Photo credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Donald_Trump_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg

16. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Photo credit: http://dontstepinthepoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Mr-Rogers-a_jpg.jpg

17. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Amiables tend to be:
✓ People-oriented
✓ Sensitive
✓ Conflict/confrontation avoiders
✓ Cautious
✓ Embarrassed by recognition
Photo credit: http://dontstepinthepoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Mr-Rogers-a_jpg.jpg

18. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Photo credit: http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/32000000/Robin-Williams-robin-williams-32089746-2798-3917.jpg

19. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Expressives tend to be:
✓ Outgoing
✓ Energetic
✓ Impulsive
✓ Visionaries
✓ Extroverted

20. What’s
your type?

22. Get
feedback
from
others

23. Co-workers know
you best

24. Not your mother...
You’re perfect!
(I raised you)

25. Identifying
people’s
type

26. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Ask yourself two
key questions...

27. How assertive
are they?

28. How responsive
are they?

29. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Assertives
(Drivers & Expressives)
Talk more, faster, & louder.
Gesture more & demonstrate
more energy

30. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Responsives
(Amiables & Expressives)
Use more facial animation &
more vocal inflection.
Show more emotion

31. Analytical Driver
“Thought person” “Action person”
Less assertive More assertive
Less responsive Less responsive
Amiable Expressive
“People person” “Front person”
Less assertive More assertive
More responsive More responsive

32. e Be tter
mun icat
C om nt Types
h Dif fere
Wit

33. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
The Myth of
Incompatibility

34. The problem is
inflexibility

35. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
“You can only
change your half
of a relationship.”
- Robert & Dorthy Bolton

36. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Flexing
Your Type

37. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Select only 2-3
behaviors to
temporarily change

38. Why, yes.
I love Michael
Bolton’s music.
This is not conformity

39. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Mimic the other
person’s type

40. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
For analyticals you can try to:
✓ Give clear expectations/deadlines
✓ Give details
✓ Be precise and focused
✓ Be tactful and reserved
✓ Honor precedents
Source: https://www.manager-tools.com/docs/BeEffectiveWithDISC.pdf

41. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
For drivers you can try to:
✓ Communicate briefly; to the point
✓ Respect their need for autonomy
✓ Let them take the lead
✓ Show independence
✓ Stick to the topic
Source: https://www.manager-tools.com/docs/BeEffectiveWithDISC.pdf

42. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
For amiables you can try to:
✓ Approach in a friendly informal manner
✓ Use sincere appreciation
✓ Provide recognition in private
✓ Let them go slow into change
✓ Listen more than talk
Source: https://www.manager-tools.com/docs/BeEffectiveWithDISC.pdf

43. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
For expressives you can try to:
✓ Be relaxed and sociable
✓ Give them public recognition
✓ Use humor
✓ Let them tell you how they feel
✓ Keep the conversation light
Source: https://www.manager-tools.com/docs/BeEffectiveWithDISC.pdf

44. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Make Differences
Work For You

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46. I have people skills; I am
good at dealing with people...
What the hell is wrong
with you people?!?

47. @kylesoucy | #PersonalityTypes
Learn more...
- People Styles At Work And
Beyond
by Robert Bolton & Dorthy
Grover Bolton
- It’s Our Research: Getting
Stakeholder Buy-in for User
Experience Research
by Tomer Sharon
- 27 Powers of Persuasion
by Chris St. Hilaire

48. Thank you.
www.usableinterface.com
@kylesoucy
/usableinterface