Summary:  Each person you work with has their own character. To be able to work with them you need to understand them.

If you work with people around you, you have noticed that each one has it’s own personality. Some are easier to get along with than others. If you didn’t have to work with everyone, that would be fine. However when you part of team, getting along with everyone on the team is important.

Please note I said “get along” and not “like”. The distinction is important as like means getting to know a person beyond the work environment, which is not necessary to work together. After all we all have work colleagues that we can work with but may not want to go out to dinner with on a Saturday night – and that’s ok.

To be able to work with the various people that make up you team, you need to understand them. How?

Listen. If you really want to get to know a person and what is important to them – listen. No talking just listening. This is actually than it sounds. Ask a few questions and listen. In their own words they will tell you a lot.

Talk to them. After listening you will understand a bit about them. To learn why they do what they do and the why. Talk to them about their career, why they have made the choices, etc. Be careful not sound like an interrogation or an interview. It may take more than one chat to get there.

Mimic. This does not mean copy or be their shadow. Learn how they present information, talk and work with others. This will tell you how they want to be treated. Mimic their behavior subtly back to them to get the best results.

By learning about each person on the team, you are learning about their character. Like a play each character has it’s role. Learn your characters and their role. Only then can you being to work together.