Understanding Personality Types of Vendors & Industry Colleagues  

I was not a psychology major, but I love analyzing personality types. I seem to do this regularly, based on the experience I’ve gained through the years of meeting and working with so many amusing and intriguing people. I have identified and written about varied personality types in customers and employees, but then I realized that I also needed to examine vendors and industry colleagues as well. Understanding personality types can help with networking. The following is my take on personalities with whom I do business or often encounter while networking:

Not All Sponges Are Super-Absorbent
“Sponges” are people who become comfortable in a conversation a little too quickly. I realize I am a very good listener, but that doesn’t mean I want to listen to you chatter all evening long about yourself. I call them Sponges because they only absorb what they want to, and usually that is just talking about themselves and their agenda. It is quite possible by the end of an hour to know their favorite movie, their grandmother’s best recipe, and all about their childhood pet. However, they have no idea what my business is about.

How to network and work with Sponges: Figure out what you both have in common and try to grab their attention with that common thread. Once you have a commonality, they may be more apt to listen to you and you can start working together.

Tailors Are Often the Best-Suited
“Tailors” are the kind of people that will give you the shirt off of their back. They will be some of your best allies because they are there when you really need someone. These people I find are collaborative, helpful, and genuine, and are the types of colleagues and vendors who have been lifelong friends to me and my business.

How to network and work with Tailors: Trust will be at the forefront of this relationship. Treat them as a confidant and let them know you are serious about working with them.  You will need to prove yourself to them, and this takes time.

Magicians Dodging Fire
“Pretend Experts” are the ones you will speak with that are touting themselves as an expert in their area of work. However, as they go on and on about the subject, it becomes apparent that they are “all talk.” They chatter along, and with each question that is asked to them for examples to back up their conclusions, they evade the question as if a flame-thrower is coming at them. They are therefore quite talented at dodging questions and finagling themselves out of the corners that they have talked themselves into.

How to network and work with Pretend Experts: Figure out how much truth there is to what they say. Once you figure this out, see what areas make sense for you to work with them. There will be much time spent on discovery of how much you can trust them and their follow through.

The Trusted Pouch
“Kangaroos” are fast thinkers and doers, and their pouch is reserved for only those they trust and want to align with. We definitely want to be in that trusted pouch, because these people can make things happen for us. Kangaroos are the people who will get you the answers you need, and see that projects are done exceptionally. Their social level may not be the same as with Tailors, but they will be on your side as a trusted ally. So even though I love a good smile and a pleasant chat, Tailors and Kangaroos are my favorite.

How to network and work with Kangaroos: You will need to prove yourself to them that you can get the job done. Let them know your accomplishments and let them see that you can work well together because you like to work efficiently and do the best job possible. Your previous work will be your “in” with them.

Pushing Buttons
“Elevator Operators” push buttons; they are the ones who show up to our office unannounced to “just chat.” Some in the office will brush them off, and others will listen with half an ear.  Elevator Operators will talk to anyone with a pulse, or even a quarter of an ear. They are persistent. However, their delivery is usually a turnoff.  In general, humans appreciate subtle and helpful, rather than aggressive and unrelenting. They rarely take the hint, though, and their usual rhetoric is, “Well, just think about it, and I’ll be back soon.” Their overbearing nature is not one we can relate to, nor appreciate.

How to network and work with Elevator Operators: Set boundaries with them. They can be aggressive so you want to let them know that there are boundaries. Make sure all communication is clear.

Rays of Sunshine
“Consummate Smilers” are jovial and quite pleasant to be around. They have some of the best smiles and handshakes. Their lack of negativity is refreshing and in a room full of Sponges, I would much rather converse with a Consummate Smiler. However, although the conversation is a two-way street, you will not be going too deep with the Consummate Smiler; things are kept at a surface level, and sometimes, that is all that is needed.

How to network and work with Consummate Smilers: Find commonalities and see where you can work together. Have clear goals in mind. Work on smaller projects with them and know that follow up may be needed regularly. Also, continually praise and acknowledge their efforts.

Harvesting business relationships is essential, as we want to grow the network of people we work with. Understanding the different personality types has helped us negotiate better and work more effectively with each of them. There are many more types of personalities out there, but I wanted to touch on a few that I regularly seem to meet and with whom I work.  I’ve dealt with my fair share of characters, and not everyone you talk to or deal with will be the one you want to have a coffee with on a sunny afternoon, but being able to understand and tolerate different approaches can only be helpful in the end.