Everyone who’s read
this series has a pretty good idea of his or her own primary DiSC® style. True, we
can go much deeper to understand self and others and we’re going to spend
time on that for the remainder of the month.
Most of us like who
we are (we’ll hit some negatives about ourselves in a couple of days! OH NO –
it can’t be!)
That makes it a good
time to outline the great strengths we each bring to a team or a group of
people working together - what muscles do we flex and how do they enrich a team?
Some of us work alone, others have co-workers, but we
all interact with people on a daily basis – many of them of different styles. So let’s think about
what the muscles - the strengths - of each style are because it’s so easy to fall into the trap
of preferring or surrounding ourselves with people who are most like us.
And that is a trap!
Where does the creativity of different points of view, of challenges, of new
ideas come from if we’re so happy with our circle of “self” – all of that could
be missed. (OK, D's, this is where you have to admit that other styles ARE worthy and have value to a team!)
In general you could
sum it up as:
D generates
ideas
i promotes the
idea
S supports and
implements the idea
C ensures
quality in process and results
A huge generalization, but think about the famous people highlighted
in previous posts – some were from sitcoms and you saw all four styles represented
– what a great team they made.
I don’t watch sitcoms so my examples are fairly dated. Let me
admit – and don’t hold this against me – that I am hooked on Burn Notice [USA
on Thursday nights] and I like watching those four characters represent the four DiSC styles and
make an entertaining team - and they all have strong back up styles.
Michael = D
Sam = i
Maddy/Mom = S
Fiona = C
In my own family the four siblings are the four styles – it’s
amazing to watch and fun to manage! It certainly gives me clues about what to do and not
to do just for the fun of it!
Today we’ll look at
the two styles in the Active, Self-Paced, Assertive and Bold quadrants of the DiSC
model – D and i
If you’re a strong D your value to the team or a group may be:
Being a bottom line
organizer
Challenging the status quo
Challenging the status quo
Innovation
Initiating activity
Dealing with challenges/problems
Tenacity
Getting things done
You’ll ask these types
of questions:
What’s in it for me?
Who’s in charge? (Shouldn't I be?)
Obstacles? Let's charge them!
Opportunities? What can we get out of this?
When do I get started? Let me at it!
A strong i - equally determined to get results - your value to
the team or a groupmay be:
To articulate thoughts –
your own and others - well
Sharing your can-do
attitude
Enthusiasm
Making tasks fun
Motivating others - even charming others
Being a team player
Negotiating conflict
In a group, you’ll ask questions like these:
What about others’ opinions? Have we involved everyone?
Can we have some fun at the same time we do the work?
Can we keep our options open?
How can I be part of the action? I WANT to be involved!
Tomorrow we'll do the same with S and C.
Question for you: Have you consciously appreciated what other styles bring to the
success of a team? Let me admit that at times I’ve been impatient with team work
(high D boorish behavior on my part) because I’m not in sole charge. But when I
force myself to slow down and apply what I know about dealing with others effectively,
I always learn something and that’s my mantra: you never stop learning – apparently
true for me!
My-Still-Very-Important-Note: Discovering your behavioral style is intended to help
you understand more about your impact on and relationships with others and how
you can use that information to improve or create strong and effective
relationships – in your personal or professional world.
ProStar Coach, Performance Support Systems, Inc. Newport News, VA
My Real-World Experience – all over the place!
DiSC Research Reports
Understanding the styles of DiSC® is NOT an opportunity to stereotype
and refer to someone as a “D” (or i, S or C). We all have some of each style within our range of behaviors so
it’s unfair and possibility offensive to call someone by their primary style
indicator. And remember that DiSC® is focusing on a particular role in your
life – circumstances and situations may cause a change in that role and a
change in behaviors. So can styles change? YES! No stereotyping or labeling
allowed.
Resources:
The Universal Language Ô DISC, A Reference Manual, 1993, Target Training International, Ltd.
DiSC® Classic 2.0 Online Profile, Inscape Publishing, Minneapolis, MNThe Universal Language Ô DISC, A Reference Manual, 1993, Target Training International, Ltd.
ProStar Coach, Performance Support Systems, Inc. Newport News, VA
My Real-World Experience – all over the place!
DiSC Research Reports
What we've been talking about is the high-level view of
Getting to Know Yourself…and Others™ -
A Self-Study Program in Building Stronger Relationships
Getting to Know Yourself…and Others™ -
A Self-Study Program in Building Stronger Relationships
Flexed muscle image: inmagine.com
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