We Need Community to Be Successful in Life

I’m fascinated that God created us with different personality types.

As I read another book on understanding personality types yesterday, I was again impressed that each type has strengths and weaknesses, and that only in community are we complete. Only together do we have all the strengths necessary to do a job well, to care for one another, and to have a complete understanding of a situation. This is just further proof that God intended us to function in communities – families, tribes, and churches.

Our different personality types also lead to conflict. We see things differently. We process things differently. We have different approaches to problem solving. We even have different ways of dealing with conflict based on our personalities. That means that in communities we must expect conflict and learn together how to deal with it. The differences are healthy because they allow us together to be better than any of us alone. But at the same time, we each must respect what others bring to the community and recognize the need for compromise and collaboration.

God often calls us to work within the strengths of our personality. When our work matches our personality strengths, everything seems easy – we’re in the “flow.” When our work doesn’t match our personality strengths, we usually find the work difficult, often struggle, and productivity and performance may be low. Finding our calling – work that matches the way God made us – is a great blessing. Those of us who are coaches and career counselors frequently help clients better understand the impact of personality traits on career choices and job satisfaction.

Interestingly, God also often calls us to work in areas where our personality does not provide strength. It is during these times that His strength can be displayed. And it is during these times that we see the value of partnering with others that have personality traits and skills that complement ours. Moses is a good example. Moses’ personality and skills were not a good match for negotiating with Pharaoh or for organizing and leading a nation. Yet, because of the power of God, and through partnering with others that had the needed traits and skills, Moses was effective.

So, some questions for thought:

1. How can I use the differences in personalities to improve the communities and organizations I am part of?
2. What types of people do I need to partner with to complement my natural strengths?
3. What types of work and ministry/volunteer efforts best match my personality traits?