How to assess your team’s work personality to identify gaps

Ever wondered why some teams just click and others seem to struggle, even if every individual is talented? The secret often lies in understanding the dynamics beneath the surface—the unique personalities, strengths, and blind spots each team member brings to the table. By getting a clearer picture of your team’s Work Personality, you can uncover opportunities to fill gaps, strengthen collaboration, and ultimately build a high-performing team.

Here’s how you can assess your team’s Work Personality and why doing so could be the game-changer your hiring process needs.

Why understanding work personality matters

At its core, Work Personality is about understanding how people work, why they work the way they do, and how they interact with others in a team setting. It’s the difference between knowing someone can technically do a job and understanding how they’ll actually gel with the rest of your team and your company’s values.

When you take the time to map out your team’s Work Personalities, you gain valuable insights into your team’s strengths, areas for improvement, and the dynamics that may be holding you back. This information can directly influence smarter hiring decisions, by helping you pinpoint what your team genuinely needs—beyond just ticking off a skills checklist.

The benefits of assessing work personality

Before we get into how to do it, here’s why it’s worth the effort:

• Stronger team cohesion: When you understand how team members contribute and communicate, you can align roles and responsibilities to leverage their strengths.
• Smarter hiring decisions: Identifying gaps allows you to hire new team members who complement—not duplicate—the team’s existing dynamics.
• Enhanced productivity: A well-balanced team works effectively together, reducing friction and improving outcomes.
• Reduced attrition: When employees feel they’re part of a cohesive, supportive team, retention improves.

Simply put, assessing your team’s Work Personality isn’t just a feel-good exercise—it’s a strategy with measurable outcomes.

How to assess your team’s work personality in 3 simple steps

If you’re ready to dig in and start uncovering your team’s unique dynamics, here’s a straightforward process to guide you.

1. Map out existing team profiles with a reliable tool

First things first—you need data. While it can be tempting to rely on gut instinct or surface-level observations, that approach often leads to missed insights. Instead, use a tool like Compono Engage to conduct a detailed assessment (or try our free 2-minute individual assessment to get started).

Engage allows you to measure various behavioural and psychological traits, identifying everything from core strengths to underlying blind spots. You’ll get a clear picture of who you’ve got on your team—from the big-picture thinkers and the doers to the ones who thrive on collaboration and the ones who prefer to deep-dive into solo work.

For example, imagine your team’s results show an abundance of idea generators but a lack of practical implementers. That’s a critical gap to address when growing your team, as it can create bottlenecks in getting things done.

2. Analyse team dynamics and identify gaps

Once you have assessment data in hand, it’s time to connect the dots. Look at your team holistically—how does each Work Personality profile influence the overall makeup of the group? Consider these questions:

• Strengths: What does the team do exceptionally well? Are there standout traits like resourcefulness, problem-solving, or adaptability?
• Priorities: Where does your team focus most of its energy? Is it on innovation, collaboration, hitting deadlines, or something else?
• Blind spots: Where do you notice gaps? Is there a lack of leadership, creativity, or a specific type of thinker (e.g., detail-oriented or big-picture focused)?

These insights can act as a roadmap, showing you exactly where to focus your efforts—whether that’s through hiring, training, or reshaping roles.

3. Use the data to guide your hiring decisions

Here’s where it all comes together. Armed with a comprehensive view of your team’s Work Personality, you can plan recruitment efforts with crystal-clear intent. That means crafting job descriptions and interview questions that reflect what the team actually needs—beyond just a list of required skills.

For example, if your team is highly collaborative but struggles with decision-making, you might prioritise candidates who demonstrate confident leadership and the ability to take charge. Or, if your team is detail-focused but lacks big-picture strategists, you’ll want to uncover candidates with a proven ability to think ahead and innovate.

The result? You’re not just hiring someone who’s “good”; you’re hiring someone who fits your team’s specific needs, improving alignment, productivity, and overall satisfaction for everyone involved.

Where Compono comes in

Switching from a trial-and-error hiring process to a Work Personality-driven approach might sound like a lot of work, but the good news is you don’t have to do it alone. With tools like Compono Engage, you can seamlessly assess team dynamics, uncover gaps, and make data-driven decisions that benefit everyone.

Our platform provides easy-to-understand personality assessments, helping you build teams that are not only capable, but also cohesive. Whether you’re aiming to improve collaboration, address cultural misalignment, or simply get hiring right the first time, we’ve got you covered.

Start building your best team today

Assessing your team’s Work Personality is more than just a one-off activity—it’s an investment in creating a team that works harmoniously and performs at its best.

And the best part? By identifying gaps and prioritising alignment, you’ll set your team (and new hires) up for long-term success.

Curious to see how it works? Learn more about how Compono Engage can help you map out your team’s strengths and identify the missing puzzle pieces.

The smarter way to hire starts here.

See how better people decisions start with clarity.

Talk to an expert and find out how Compono may be the smarter choice for your next growth phase.

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