Personality Clashes with Supervisors

You walk into your practicum site on the first day with excitement and optimism. Within weeks, that enthusiasm dims as you realize that you and your preceptor simply do not click. Maybe their communication style feels abrupt or dismissive. Perhaps they micromanage when you crave autonomy, or they offer so little direction that you feel lost. You might have different values about work-life balance, different senses of humor, or fundamentally different approaches to problem-solving.

Personality mismatches happen. They happen in practicums, in jobs, and throughout careers. Learning to work effectively with people whose personalities challenge yours is not just a survival skill for your current situation but preparation for professional life.

Diagnosing the Disconnect

Before labeling the relationship as a personality clash, examine what specifically creates friction. Is it communication style? Some people prefer detailed written instructions while others favor quick verbal exchanges. Is it work pace? Some supervisors think through decisions carefully while others expect rapid action. Is it feedback approach? Direct criticism feels motivating to some and devastating to others.

Understanding the specific points of friction helps you address them strategically rather than viewing the entire relationship as problematic. Often what feels like a personality clash is actually a difference in working styles that can be bridged with awareness and adaptation.

Consider your own role honestly. Our personality traits can create friction too. If you tend toward perfectionism, a supervisor who values speed over polish will frustrate you, but they might see your careful approach as inefficient. Neither style is wrong; they are simply different.

Adapting Your Approach

Flexibility is a professional strength. Adapting to your preceptor's style is not being inauthentic; it is being effective. If they prefer email, use email even if you would rather talk face-to-face. If they want detailed status reports, provide them even if they feel excessive. Meeting people where they are builds rapport and demonstrates professional maturity.

Study how your preceptor communicates with others who seem to work well with them. What patterns do you notice? How do successful colleagues present ideas, raise concerns, or request support? Modeling effective approaches you observe can smooth interactions.

Find common ground wherever possible. You may differ in personality but share commitment to the organization's mission or care about the same public health issues. Connecting over shared professional values creates a foundation for the working relationship even when personal chemistry is lacking.

Managing Your Reactions

When personality differences trigger frustration, pause before responding. The moment when you most want to react emotionally is precisely when you should not. A brief delay allows you to choose a professional response rather than an instinctive one.

Venting has its place, but choose your audience carefully. Complaining about your preceptor to colleagues at your site is risky and unprofessional. Instead, process frustrations with friends outside work, classmates in similar situations, or a counselor if stress becomes significant.

Reframe challenges as learning opportunities. Working with a difficult personality teaches emotional regulation, diplomatic communication, and adaptability. These experiences become interview stories demonstrating your ability to succeed in challenging interpersonal situations.

When to Seek Help

Some personality differences cross into problematic behavior. If your preceptor is hostile, discriminatory, or creates an environment where you cannot learn, that goes beyond personality clash. Document specific incidents and consult your academic program coordinator.

Even in less severe situations, your program may offer support. Faculty advisors can provide perspective, suggest strategies, or facilitate conversations. They have seen many student-preceptor pairings and can help you determine whether your experience is within normal range or requires intervention.

Rarely, situations are truly unworkable, and a site change becomes necessary. This is a last resort, but it exists for good reason. A practicum that causes serious distress or prevents meaningful learning does not serve your professional development.

Maintaining Professionalism Throughout

Regardless of how the practicum unfolds, protect your professional reputation. Public health is a connected field, and your preceptor knows people you will encounter throughout your career. Even if you struggle personally, maintain professional behavior. Meet deadlines, produce quality work, and remain courteous.

When the practicum ends, you can choose the level of ongoing connection. A difficult preceptor does not need to become a close professional contact, but leaving with mutual respect keeps doors open and protects your reputation in the field.

Not every professional relationship will be easy or enjoyable. The practicum may be your first experience navigating this reality, but it will not be your last. The skills you build now will serve you for decades.