In a previous blog we talked about Versatility as a choice; people can consciously decide to behave with Versatility towards others, or not. Most people would say that our behavior is within our control. But is this true all of the time? How much of an impact does the larger context in which we live and work impact our behavior and our Versatility? Does the specific culture of an organization affect the Versatility of the people who work there?
One way to answer this question is to look at differences in Versatility across industries. Although all companies are unique, there are some common aspects to companies within a given industry. For example, many companies in the retail industry have similar environments, structures, and challenges, and this could influence how people behave.
TRACOM examined Versatility across industries and we found some interesting results. Certain industries do, in fact, have higher Versatility than others. Healthcare and medical services, entertainment and leisure, and consulting services lead the pack with the highest average Versatility among employees in our database. These are followed closely by people who work in the pharmaceuticals industry. The average for all of these industries is “Y” Versatility, which is higher than over half of the general population.
On the other end of the spectrum, we found the lowest average Versatility in the energy, manufacturing, and computer services industries. The average for these industries was an “X” level of Versatility, well below half the general population.
Average Versatility within Selected Industries
Above Average
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Healthcare/Medical Services
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Entertainment/Leisure
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Consulting Services
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Pharmaceuticals
Below Average
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Manufacturing
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Computers/Computer Services
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Energy
We hasten to point out that these findings are based on averages, so any individual within these industries can have low or high Versatility.
Still, is it possible that the unique demands of these industries influence people’s behavior? And do different industries have different sets of expectations about how people should behave? A medical facility might have a different expectation about how to treat co-workers and customers than a manufacturing facility.
People in leadership roles naturally influence their organizations’ cultures through their formal expectations and efforts to shape culture, and also through their personal behavior. It seems only natural that individuals’ interpersonal behaviors could be influenced by these expectations and practices.
What do you think?
Dr. Casey Mulqueen, TRACOM Director of Research