Almost every team has at least one dominant personality who is motivated by winning, reaching results, and has less empathy for others. These types of workers have incredible upside, and are often seen as confident and goal-oriented people who work quickly to get results. However, that direct or obstinate behavior can also be tough to work with on some occasions, especially if your personality is at the opposite end of the spectrum.  

However, in order to be successful, coworkers from all personality types need to be able to find common ground and work together. Here are some tips from Business Insider on how to work with dominant personality types in the office: 

• Focus on the “what” and not the “how.” More dominant personality types are task-driven people – they want outcomes and don’t really care about how to get there. When speaking with them, focus on tangible facts and come to them with suggestions versus an open brainstorming. 
• Cut the chit-chat. Stronger personalities operate on speed and efficiency. For them, there is a time and a place for small talk but it isn’t in an email or meeting. Skip the pleasantries and dive right in. 
• Give them ownership. To influence a dominant personality, give them room to work independently on aspects of a project, rather than collaborate on all the pieces. They want to be able to make decisions on their own. 
• Fill the gaps. Healthy teams need a mix of personalities, so use your own strengths to interject thoughtfulness and stability. A dominant personality is likely to act quickly, and may overlook risks along the way. 
• Don’t take it personally. These personality types can be brusque in their responses. They may even ask pointed questions that may put you on the defensive. This isn’t a reflection of you, but rather a preferred style of communication.  

There can be a lot to learn from dominant personalities…especially if you tend to overthink things or aren’t as confident in your decision-making. Integrate the positives into your own style, along with learning to work with other styles, and you’ll have a more successful team.