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You’ve got a morning person, a night owl, a peacemaker, a perfectionist, a big-ideas person, and someone who sighs aggressively during every meeting. What could go wrong?
Sometimes, teams just… don’t gel. Personalities clash. Small annoyances grow arms and legs. Someone’s “directness” feels like rudeness, someone else’s “laid-back” style reads as laziness, and suddenly, meetings feel more like battlegrounds than brainstorms.
Whether you’re a manager trying to keep the peace or a team member stuck in the middle of the tension, here’s what you can actually do when personalities aren’t exactly harmonising.
For Employers: Managing a Team That Doesn’t Quite Click
1. Stop expecting everyone to be besties
We all love the idea of the dream team who go for pints after work and get lunch together every day. But your team doesn’t need to be best friends — they just need to work well together.
Focus on building mutual respect over forced friendship. It’s more about collaboration, not karaoke nights.
For example:
You’ve got Sarah (direct, efficient) and Tom (chatty, big-picture thinker) clashing on a project. You can help by letting them see how their differences can actually balance the project out. Sarah keeps it moving. Tom brings the vision.
2. Set clear expectations for behaviour
You can’t control people’s personalities — but you can set the tone for how people treat each other at work. Make it clear what’s acceptable and what isn’t. Passive-aggressive digs? Not helpful. Eye-rolling in meetings? Not the vibe.
3. Step in early, not when it’s already a drama
If you notice tension building, don’t wait for it to explode. A simple “Hey, I’ve noticed a bit of friction — want to talk it through?” can go a long way.
Avoid formal interventions unless it’s absolutely necessary. Most clashes just need a bit of listening, clarity, and the reminder that we’re all trying our best.
4. Play to people's strengths
If you’ve got someone who thrives on structure, don’t dump them on a blue-sky ideas project. If someone else lights up in chaos but hates admin, stop forcing them into rigid planning meetings.
Good team management isn’t about treating everyone the same — it’s about knowing what makes each person tick and building your team around that.
For Employees: When You’re Working With People Who Drive You Mad
1. Ask yourself: is it personality or is it behaviour?
Sometimes, what we call a “clash” is actually a values mismatch. You’re all about reliability and someone else keeps missing deadlines — that’s not just a personality thing, it’s a behaviour thing.
Be honest: is it a difference in style, or are they genuinely making your job harder? That’ll tell you whether it’s worth addressing or letting go.
2. Take it to your manager (but don’t make it a rant)
If someone’s behaviour is getting in the way of work, don’t bottle it up. Raise it with your manager — not in a “Can you believe what they said?” way, but more like: “I’m finding it hard to collaborate on this — do you have any advice?”
Keep it focused on the work, not the person.
3. Don't try to change them
It’s tempting, but trying to “fix” a colleague’s personality will only stress you out. Instead, shift your energy into working with their style.
For example:
Your teammate interrupts constantly. Instead of fuming, you start sending out agendas before meetings and say: “Let’s give everyone space to talk this time.” You're not changing them — you're changing the structure.
4. Pick your battles
If someone’s annoying habit isn’t actually hurting your work or your wellbeing, it might be time to let it go. Not everyone is your people. That’s okay.
Ask yourself: “Is this affecting the outcome, or just my mood?” If it’s the latter, take a breath and crack on.
Bottom line?
Personality clashes are normal. They don’t mean your team’s broken, and they don’t mean someone needs to go. It just means you’ve got a bunch of humans trying to work together — and that’s always going to be a bit messy.
The goal isn’t perfect harmony. It’s figuring out how to work with — not against — each other’s differences.
And if all else fails? Noise-cancelling headphones and a bit of perspective can work wonders.