Do you have a team member who loves to be in conversation? They may be really good at listening, so much so, that it can affect their productivity as they listen to the problems of their co-workers. These types of team members can have so many ideas that sometimes they don’t seem to complete one thing before moving on to another. They think it’s really important to consider all of the players in any situation, and how they all may be affected, before making any decisions. They can be very sensitive to criticism and can sometimes be judgmental of how others behave.
Congratulations, you are working with someone who has Merchant energy according to the Core Values Index™. What does that mean?
A person with a lot of Merchant energy tends to:
- focus on relationships first.
- be a visionary.
- trust their instincts and judgement of character.
- dismiss the need for data or assessments.
- make decisions based on their gut reaction and feelings.
- have ideas that can seem unrealistic and idealistic.
- learn through talking things out.
- be impatient with others who need time to analyze and assess.
- wait until relationships are secured before making a decision which can affect them.
As you can see, there are always advantages and disadvantages to the Merchant energy. Everyone wants a Merchant on their team because they have plenty of ideas and they know how to pull a team together. However, for those people who want to move very quickly, or who need data or assessment before making a decision, working with a Merchant can feel like they have to spend a lot of emotional energy to keep them happy.
So what should you do if you are not a Merchant? Try the following:
- Reassure a Merchant that you are committed to relationships as well.
- Explain the plan to move forward, but reinforce the steps to evaluate how relationships will be affected.
- Value the instincts of the Merchant and point to the drive towards a vision.
- Be as transparent and authentic as you can.
If you are curious about the Core Values Index™, take the free assessment at this link:
Core Values Index™and feel free to share with anyone on your team.
For more information on how we can help check www.coreimpactcoaching.com