The Aggressive Personality Style at Work: Fortune favours the bold

This is part of a series on dark side personality styles. These articles are based on the book Dark Social: Understanding the darker side of work, personality and social media.

The focus of this article is on the Aggressive Personality Style—individuals who thrive on challenges, actively search for risk-taking opportunities, and tend to take action quickly irrespective of the consequences at work.

People with an Aggressive Personality Style are often seen as bold and fearless, diving headfirst into challenges and using their enthusiasm for excitement to drive their work forward. They are naturally drawn to situations that push the limits of the abilities, and often test out the rules and boundaries within their workplace and with their colleagues. They can be charismatic, stepping into leadership roles that involve motivating and influencing others.

Aggressive personalities bring a thrill-seeking spirit to their roles, which can be exciting or exhausting for their colleagues. They are adept at thinking on their feet and are often resourceful, but tend to be better at initiating projects than completing them. However, their approach is not Their pursuit of excitement can sometimes distract from the need for follow-through and detail, leading to challenges in sustaining efforts once the initial excitement wanes.

Those who work with individuals high in Aggressive Personality Style may find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of activity. However, the challenge lies in focusing this energy in a way that benefits the team and company goals over the long term.

What is Aggressive Personality Style?

The Aggressive Personality Style is characterized by an active and forceful approach to life and work. Individuals with this personality style tend to have a higher tolerance for risk and a preference for diving into high-stakes situations. The may search out stressful or difficult situations that most other might avoid. They can also be persuasive: convincing others to follow them in risky endeavours or charming other people into taking action they would normally avoid. When this is channeled towards constructive endeavours it can be positive, but they also have the potential to convince others to take unnecessary risks or take sides in conflict without without a purpose. Their love for excitement and tendency to seek out challenges can sometimes manifest as impulsive behavior and a lack of follow-through on longer-term commitments.

Strengths at Work

At work, those with an Aggressive Personality Style can be catalysts for action and change. They are quickly become frustrated with the status quo, and so many be disruptive for the sake of excitement rather than improvement. But they can be a good fit in roles that require decisiveness and the ability to act quickly under pressure. They need a team around them that can temper their need for action and help them focus their energy and activities on change that is most likely to have a positive outcome.

Their strength lies in their ability to inspire and motivate others to step outside of their comfort zones and take calculated risks. This assertiveness can be incredibly beneficial in competitive fields or in situations where bold moves are necessary. The challenge for those who score highly on the  aggressive personality style is to maintain their momentum and ensure that their enthusiasm does not overshadow the needs of their role, and that their constant desire for action does not lead to burnout among their teams.

When Stress Hits the Hardest

Stress often magnifies the inherent drives of any personality style, and the Aggressive Personality style can feel a greater need to take risks and aggressively push those around them to do the same under times of stress and adversity. Inaction feels like failure, so this can lead them to taking bigger mistakes and sometimes leads to making the problem worse. Under pressure, these individuals may double down on their assertive behaviors, potentially escalating conflicts. High-stress environments can exacerbate their tendency to act impulsively and prioritize immediate results over long-term consequences, leading to decisions that may not be well thought out.

For those with an Aggressive Personality Style, it is crucial to have some level of oversight and collective responsibility amongst teams’ decision-making ability. When under stress and feeling the need to act, they are more likely to circumvent or ignore rules and systems that feel stifling. All of the emotional intelligence training and communication skills can go out the window under stress, so their capacity to cause damage must be mitigated, especially during a crisis.

Working in Groups

Group dynamics can be particularly challenging for those scoring high on the Aggressive Personality Style. While their leadership qualities can be a driving force in motivating teams and pushing boundaries, their dominant and sometimes overpowering nature can lead to conflicts and resistance from peers. They may struggle in environments that require a high degree of collaboration and compromise, as their approach can sometimes be too confrontational or dismissive of others' ideas.

To build more effective and collaborative teams, it's important to encourage an environment where aggressive personalities can lead yet also learn to listen and value the contributions of others. Structuring team activities that emphasize collaboration over competition and establishing clear communication rules can help mitigate potential conflicts. It’s important to practice these skills when things are going relatively smoothly, to establish mutually respectful communication and establish rapport ahead of more challenging times.

Understanding Others

Effectively managing an Aggressive Personality in the workplace involves recognizing their inherent drive for achievement in high-risk environments and their bold approach to challenges. For managers and colleagues, understanding that Aggressive Personalities are not merely confrontational but are also driven by a desire to push the boundaries of themselves and others can help in channeling their energies constructively. There also needs to be clear lines of accountability: risk-taking can be more acceptable if the person who is taking the risks will be accountable for the consequences of their actions - blame cannot be shifted up or down.

Providing structured feedback and clear boundaries can help manage their more domineering tendencies. Training that enhances emotional intelligence and promotes collaborative communications skills can be helpful, but it is not a panacea. Those with Aggressive Personality Style need more oversight during challenging times because they are more likely to act, even when caution would be wiser.

How do you score on the Unconventional personality style? Try the Dark Side test and get your results report instantly.