The Key to Working with Alpha Males and Females
Paul Michelman interviews Gill Corkindale, Executive Coach, on how to work with Alpha personalities. Think Jack Donaghy of 30 Rock.
The good news about alpha personalities? Corkindale doesn’t think there are as many alphas out there as we think there is. The bad news? Alphas are challenging to work with and equally challenging to manage. Alpha males and females present unique challenges for those who work with them, requiring you to develop a different set of strategies for getting along with an alpha boss and managing an alpha employee.
What are alpha male and females?
Corkindale characterizes alpha males as charming, charismatic, competitive people with short attention spans. Often interested in their own point of view, they like to shape the conversation. When conversations don’t go in the direction, alpha males were hoping for, they shift the conversation back to them. Corkindale thinks there should be more research on alpha females. She does think they are very individual, rounded in their experience, with a compassionate side. They also have huge charisma like alpha males.
Is your boss an Alpha?
If your boss is an alpha male, Corkindale recommends delivering expected results or “giving them what they want.” Understanding they have short attention spans, alpha males like things packaged neatly, not wasting time and being courageous. Word of warning, she doesn’t recommend you challenge your alpha males spot. They don’t like being challenged. They like to dominate. The Alpha female boss? The same strategy should be used like the alpha males.
How to Manage an Alpha Employee
Understanding that alpha males and females don’t like to be challenged or dominated, you have to be a strong manager by containing the force of the alpha without dampening their drive. Give the alphas the attention they need, but make sure they understand they are part of a group. As a manager, Corkindale reminds us to aware of everyone we’re managing, using individually developed strategies for each employee. On that note, enjoy this clip of Jack “keeping his friends close, his enemy closer.”
Recommended Reading
- “The Return of the Personal Brand” by Gill Corkindale
- “11 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand“ by Gill Corkindale
