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You know full well that an interaction with Martine won't go well if you approach her in the same way as Kim. That's why you're a chameleon manager.

Each person is unique

Without going into too much detail, the most important thing to remember is that every human being is unique. Everyone has their own personality type, interests, skills and attitudes. What's more, each person's experience is his or her own. It's essential to take all these elements into account when, as a manager, it's time to talk to an employee to question her, reframe her if necessary, or provide her with coaching.

The Holland personality types

There are 6 personalities in the Holland typology. Knowing them is a powerful tool for making communications more positive and effective. Here they are:

• Realist: A realist educator generally prefers to work alone to avoid emotionally charged situations, and is comfortable using the materials at hand. She tends to enjoy being outdoors and using her body in a variety of activities. With this in mind, avoid approaching her in an emotional way, forcing her to work in teams frequently or asking her to verbalize her feelings in front of others. Instead, foster a positive work climate and respect his privacy. Offer her support with children who are prone to tantrums, and with those who are not yet able to express their emotions.

• Investigator: An educator of this type will be very curious and will tend to ask you many questions before taking action. Decision-making and leadership are not usually among her strengths. On the other hand, she excels in the art of cognitive development of the children in her care. So, let her understand everything and think through the ins and outs before agreeing to make a requested change. Give her plenty of information, and respect her slower pace when it comes to making decisions. Celebrate her great intelligence and put it to good use when implementing new projects that are not urgent.

• Artistic: An artistic educator generally reacts well to unclear situations, lack of routine and change. She enjoys manipulating materials and creating from scratch. She tends to be disorganized, and experiences challenges when she has to complete a project. With this in mind, it's a good idea to specify the steps to be taken to achieve goals, the deadline and the expected outcome. That said, you'll probably need to follow up closely with her to help her get organized. Give her the opportunity to use her great creativity and overflowing imagination to improve the quality of service she provides to her children and colleagues. Accept, as far as possible, the coats lying around in the checkroom and the mess she leaves behind, since it's not out of ill will on her part: she's probably focusing her energy on something more creative with the kids!

• Social: The social educator needs to be in contact with people. She particularly enjoys interacting with her colleagues and working as part of a team. She has a natural strength for getting children to talk about their emotions, and is a very positive role model in this area. For her, pedagogy is a sixth sense. That's why it's important to take the time to ask her how she's feeling. If necessary, you'll have to listen to her list her dissatisfactions, and accept that she may cry in your office. You may also need to make her aware of the importance of avoiding gossip. Bear in mind that she'll probably make an excellent teaching coach for new employees.

• Entrepreneurial: The enterprising educator demonstrates assertive leadership. She'll enjoy directing and influencing children and colleagues equally. For her, things need to be done quickly, and then move on to another issue. Her strengths: finding solutions and being efficient. Weaknesses: thinking and research. So, with her, you'll need to remember that behind her formidable efficiency may lie some mistakes. And be sure to tell her that she's an educator, not a team leader, as this could cause discomfort among her colleagues. In addition, offer her the opportunity to fulfill her need for leadership in certain projects, so that she can value herself through this great strength she possesses.

• Conventional: The conventional educator needs organization, clear structures and routine. She will tend to avoid stepping out of her comfort zone and reacts rather badly to change. With her, you'll need to give her plenty of advance notice of a change, reassure her, support her and take her through one step at a time, while emphasizing the benefits, at the risk of her turning against you. You'll also need to reiterate the importance of her educational role through democratic rather than authoritarian interventions, as the latter come more naturally to her.

That's just a small part of what you can use as a chameleon manager.

To find out more about Holland personality types and how to use them to make your job easier, visit the Cible Petite Enfance training platform.