Does Personality Similarity Matter at Work? |
Intuitively, we know that the personalities of our boss and the people we work with affect us. Some colleagues feel instantly familiar, while others seem fundamentally different from us. Research suggests that this personality similarity (or complementarity) may play a much larger role in the workplace than we often realize.
A lot has been written about how similar (or different) people are from their (romantic) partners when it comes to personality. One view is that in relationships, differences in personality are adaptive because people can complement each other. For example, one might assume that someone who is very messy could function better in a relationship with a tidy partner than with another person who is also very messy. On the other hand, a contrasting view is that personality similarity is more adaptive. Indeed, it is not difficult to imagine that a messy person may feel more at ease with like-minded messy persons.
Researchers have taken a closer look at these popular assumptions. While some studies have found no effects of personality similarity, some seem to find positive effects of personality similarity. Women report higher levels of relationship satisfaction when their personality is more similar to their partner’s. Likewise, students like teachers with personality characteristics that are more similar to their own’s more.
However, have you ever considered your boss’s personality? Are they open to the new and innovative ideas you propose? Or are they more reluctant to change, whereas you spark with creative ideas to improve the workplace?
A study published in the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology examined........