The Specialist

Overview:
The Specialist often becomes a manager because he is an authority in his field. He is best suited to environments where he can leverage this expertise, focus on concrete issues and exercise prudence when making decisions.

He is less comfortable in fast-paced, rapidly changing environments where decisions must be made with a minimal amount of hard data or where there is significant risk.

Motivating:
The Specialist has a strong task-orientation and will lead by example. This approach earns the respect of his staff and they will rely on him for his technical expertise. He is not afraid to roll up his sleeves to get the job done.

With his analytical nature and low key communication style, it is unlikely that the Specialist will light a fire under his team and he may struggle in environments where keeping his staff "pumped" is essential. He prefers to manage things rather than people, as he often finds people too unpredictable and emotional.

He will be more successful with a disciplined, mature team that can work under his guidance and utilize his eye for detail and structure to ensure that projects are completed without error. Although relying on his expertise guarantees high quality output, it inhibits him when it comes to visioning - he often doesn't see the forest for the trees.

Delegating:
Due to his analytical nature and desire to have everything 'just so', the Specialist is reluctant to delegate tasks, especially those within his area of expertise. When he does delegate, however, he will provide very thorough instructions regarding priorities and methods - perhaps a little too thorough for more independent staff members who may feel like they are being micro-managed.

It is unlikely that he will trust someone with a significant project until they have proven themselves. His perfectionism ensures that no corners are cut.

Decision Making:
The Specialist makes rational decisions after careful analysis of the facts and figures at hand. He will avoid the pitfalls of hasty decisions based on gut feeling but may suffer from analysis-paralysis at times. His deliberate approach to decision-making, combined with a lack of urgency, can be frustrating to his more driving colleagues and direct reports who want it done now.

He doesn't like to take risks, preferring to rely on methods that are tried and true. It is unlikely that a Specialist will excel at out-of-the-box thinking.

Dealing with Conflict:
The Specialist's naturally laid-back style and desire for harmony will make for a stable working environment, but he will be reluctant to challenge the ideas and actions of stronger personalities, especially if there is no past precedent to back his stance.

His tendency to keep to himself can result in conflict avoidance, which can be detrimental in the long run. He enjoys resolving problems that deal with numbers and systems, but finds people problems distasteful.

Developmental Recommendations:
To compensate for his generally non-assertive nature and natural inclination to be a doer rather than a leader, he would be well-served by courses in...