Last week, CMF had the pleasure to host a program for House Chiefs of Staff, "The Keys to Effective Teamwork: What the Muppets Can Teach Us About Social Identity and Group Performance." presented by A.J. Robinson. This program discussed how managers can use the Muppets to identify the four common roles that staff assume when part of a team. It also discussed how to strengthen the team by reducing the tension and conflict that can arise from these various roles, so that offices can take advantage of the strengths that each role brings to the team.

Collective Action Challenges

There are several different personalities. There are even more personality tests. However, all you really need to know is the Muppets. After all, it isn't just about identifying a single personality. Instead, it is about inspiring, mobilizing, and leading a group of varying personalities in the most effective way possible.

Miss Piggy, Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo have a lot they can teach us outside of how to laugh. By simply knowing your Muppets, you can reduce the tension and conflict within your office that leads to poor performance.

So, which Muppet are you?

The Muppets Take Congress

1. Miss Piggy – Miss Piggy is admired for her organizational skills, attention to detail, and productivity. She values action and results. However, she also lacks sensitivity and patience. Still, Miss Piggy helps the group with her steadfast willingness to take on difficult challenges. She can also inhibit the group by moving faster than others, and using power and authority to control the situation.
2. Kermit – Kermit has the ability to analyze information and conceptualize complex ideas. Because of this, Kermit can sometimes appear to be aloof or arrogant, often times having an explanation (and opinion) about everything. Kermit helps the team by bringing credibility, expertise, and objectivity while striving for perfection. However, Kermit's constant analysis can contribute to paralysis as he will not settle for "good enough."
3. Fozzie – Fozzie focuses on the team. He has a concern for others and is very approachable, but is reluctant to make hard or controversial decisions. Fozzie helps the group with his awareness of social dynamics and a spirit of inclusiveness. On the other hand, Fozzie does not respond well to pressure, and tries to hide from controversy.
4. Gonzo – Gonzo is always pushing the boundaries, using his creativity and courage to complete important tasks. However, Gonzo can sometimes act without thinking about the consequences. Gonzo ensures an office will remain open to change. In addition, he will approach an issue with an "out of the box" mindset. However, Gonzo limits the group by disobeying procedures and disrupting the status quo.

What It Means

In order to be a successful leader, it is important to recognize the various personality types on your team for their strengths – and their weaknesses. An office can suffer by losing any single personality type as each personality has something to contribute. Strong leaders use attributes from more than one Muppet. The strongest leaders use all four.

This post was written by Eddie Hamm, a research assistant at the Congressional Management Foundation.