Man standing in front of his colleague

Is Your Birth Order Influencing Your Career?

Published by Kim Thompson on March 12, 2022

If you ever found yourself having difficulty getting things done at work or following a colleague whom you deem toss knowledgeable than you – then you might be the firstborn in your family.

Your birth order gives you a unique view of the world and often influences how you interact with others at work. Discussing birth orders and how they affect your relationships may seem like an unfair advantage or disadvantage, but the truth is we are all shaped by our upbringing to some degree. Birth order can influence the roles and positions we seek in our careers and affect the way we interact with others.

While you can’t change your birth order you can develop awareness and appreciate the differences that each person brings to the workplace. Birth orders shed some light on others who might be uncomfortable taking a leadership position and the natural tendency for being a good negotiator.

Firstborns: It all starts with the firstborn child who is typically characterized as a serious, conscientious leader who is used to taking control and setting the stage for younger siblings to follow. To a firstborn taking over and giving out directions fits into the natural order at home, where they were brought up with high expectations. Firstborns usually work with an intense focus and like to follow procedures with a conservative approach in the way they interact with others.

In the work setting, firstborns can bring authoritarian style and control, and as a firstborn, learning how to compromise and value the differences that others bring to the workplace is essential.

Only child: They resemble firstborns in assuming leadership roles and are naturally independent. Because an only child has the parents’ full attention, they tend to relate to adults and can be exposed to a higher vocabulary. An only-child leader usually takes work seriously and has more self-confidence than the other birth orders, often shaping their unique view on creativity. Most only children excel at being independent and are super reliant.

As an only child, developing your view of teamwork and learning how to expand your social side are essential attributes in growing your career. Allowing yourself to learn from mistakes instead of personalizing them as failures can help you be more tolerant of others in the workplace.

Middle child: Learns how to adapt and naturally seeks a position of compromise being sandwiched between the oldest and youngest. In the workplace, learning how to give and take gives the middle child an excellent advantage in working with teams. They desire harmony and are content when relationships are running smoothly at work.

Working with a middle child can be one of the best working relationships because they understand the value of negotiating. Managers, often have empathy for those who do not get recognition. Out of all the birth orders, a middle child can be the most open-minded and establish open-door policies where communication is encouraged and valued.

As a middle child, developing your identity is important, and learning that you can’t always please everyone and that in the workplace, there will be situations where harmony will not always be present.

The youngest child: Is the baby of the family and as a result, does not often carry a load of responsibility as their older siblings. By the time the youngest child comes around parents are usually more lenient and younger children develop a carefree attitude with a tendency to let others take the lead. This carefree upbringing can spill over to the workplace, and if not aware, can send a perception that you view work as less serious than others may view it.

In the workplace, the youngest child might need more supervision and patience as they develop the skills necessary to participate in teams. With the youngest child’s sense of creativity and adventuresome spirit, they can be great innovators. As the youngest child, developing decision-making skills and learning to take leadership roles, even though uncomfortable, can help you grow in your career.

It is helpful to understand how birth orders can impact your communication style and may help explain why it’s easier to get along with some better than others. Understanding the differences can foster better working relationships and help you manage your career.

What are your thoughts about birth orders at work?