Bob is a team player, always ready to collaborate on projects. Sheryl has a knack for clear communication, ensuring everyone understands her message. Nelle excels at providing constructive feedback, and turning negatives into positives. Bart coaches youth soccer on Thursdays, while Cliff prefers white papers written in a specific style. Josh, a busy senior VP, only reviews finished products that require a simple yes or no answer.

Observing these patterns of behavior can unlock the key to successful engagement with your team. Align your approach with their preferences or circumstances, and you’ll find them more receptive to your ideas.

• Seek Bob’s help for projects requiring cross-disciplinary coordination.
• Trust Sheryl to review proposals effectively.
• Turn to Nelle for fresh perspectives and valuable insights.
• Remember Bart’s unavailability on Thursday afternoons during soccer season.
• Ensure Cliff’s white papers follow the established guidelines.
• Provide Josh with polished work, as he has no time for fixing issues.

By recognizing and leveraging these patterns of behavior, you can anticipate what’s next, maximizing collaboration and productivity. Don’t leave it to chance, keep your eyes and ears open to understand how to adapt to working with different people and create situations that work for you.