Although each person is unique and must be treated according to his individual makeup, the following are general guidelines for meeting the personal needs and bringing out the best in job performance for each personality type:

CHOCOLATE: Provide work rules and job description with duties spelled out in priority order. Provide an organization chart showing reporting relationships; respect the chain of command. Respect traditions and established ways; appeal to historical precedent. Avoid changes when possible; if impossible, introduce change slowly. Accentuate reason over emotion when handling problems. Mind your manners and language; be courteous. Establish a career plan with benchmarks for progress, rewards expected, and time frames. Provide tangible rewards for good performance; preferably money. Recognize good work with signs of status such as diplomas, uniforms, medals, and titles. Reinforce company loyalty through service pins, awards banquets, and personal appreciation. Communicate the mission, goals, and objectives of the organization and provide an action plan. Keep work areas organized, clean, and safe. Finally be clear and logical when giving orders.

VANILLA: Include in the decision-making process; use participative management. Provide the opportunity for off the job social interaction -- company picnics, recreation programs, and annual meetings. Emphasize employee teamwork on the job through task forces, committee projects, quality circles, and other group involvement activities. Have regular, well-run staff meetings; provide ample opportunity for sharing ideas. Ask for his opinions, listen to what he says, and then demonstrate responsiveness. Get to know him as a person -- his off the job interests, family makeup, and personal goals. Appeal to both logic and feeling when dealing with problems; emphasize joint approach and talk with him, not to him. Use communications vehicles such as bulletin boards, newsletters, telephone hotlines, and the open door policy to exchange information. Let his people skills shine in public relations, teaching, and mediation projects. Provide growth opportunities through in-service training and staff development programs. Finally, keep human relations smooth; consider his feelings.

STRAWBERRY: Recognize his independence; don't supervise too closely. Provide immediate reward for good performance; don't delay gratification. Talk in terms of present; de-emphasize past and future. Provide opportunity for personal growth through new experiences. Keep things stimulating; keep things fun. Focus on meaningful personal experiences, satisfying interpersonal relationships and important social causes. Provide individual job assignment and assign work by projects when possible. Accentuate feelings over logic when handling problems. Reward good performance with personal time off and personal fulfillment activities. Keep things casual; minimize formality. Avoid rigid controls, allow for questions and creativity. Finally, treat as a separate individual; not as a member of a group or organization.