Dear Subscribers,

At CBK Advising, we understand that effective communication is crucial in every setting. It involves not only conveying information, but also understanding and interpreting the messages we receive from others. Self-awareness is a critical component of emotional intelligence that greatly improves our communication skills. It allows us to recognize and understand our own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, as well as how they affect ourselves and others.

Understanding our unique communication style allows us to tailor our communication to better suit the needs of others. It also enables us to recognize and manage our emotions, which can be impactful in both positive and negative ways. By being self-aware, we can express ourselves effectively and identify areas of needed improvement.

At CBK Advising, we believe that understanding our colleagues is an essential aspect of building a positive and productive work environment. Recognizing and appreciating the unique strengths, perspectives, and communication styles of each team member is critical.

Tips for successful relationships:

• Recognize individual strengths: Every colleague has unique strengths. By recognizing and appreciating them, you can better understand how to work with them.
• Be aware of communication styles: Communication styles vary widely among colleagues. By understanding these differences, you can tailor your communication to better suit the needs of others.
• Understand perspectives: Each colleague has their own unique perspective based on their experiences and background. By understanding these perspectives, you can better appreciate their point of view and work together more effectively.
• Build relationships: Building positive relationships with colleagues is an essential component of teamwork. Take the time to get to know your colleagues on a personal level.
• Practice empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Practicing empathy helps you better understand the needs and perspectives of your colleagues.
• By recognizing individual strengths, being aware of communication styles, understanding perspectives, building relationships, and practicing empathy, we can better understand and work effectively with our colleagues.

   

Navigating the DISC Profiles: How to Communicate, Collaborate, and Succeed with Each Unique Behavioral Style

What does DISC stand for? (D) Dominance (I) Influence (S) Steadiness  (C) Compliance

Dominant (D) behaviors are known for: being direct and assertive in communication, as well as being results-driven and goal-oriented. They tend to be decisive and take charge, preferring to work independently rather than in a team. However, they can also be perceived as aggressive or impatient.

To effectively communicate with Dominant behavior: it is important to be direct and assertive, focus on results, respect their decision-making style, and provide space for independence. They appreciate clear and concise communication, so it’s important to avoid beating around the bush or using vague language.

To combat negative behaviors associated with Dominant behavior: it’s important to address aggressiveness or intimidation, encourage collaboration and teamwork, foster patience and understanding, provide constructive feedback and support, and encourage attention to detail. This can help them better understand the perspectives of others and work more effectively with their team.

To motivate and inspire Dominant behavior: it’s important to show respect and acknowledge their contributions, provide challenging projects that align with their goals and interests, be direct and assertive in communication, and offer opportunities for autonomy and independence. This can help them feel valued and engaged in their work, leading to increased motivation and productivity.

Influencers (I) are known for: their outgoing and expressive nature. They are often charismatic and have a natural ability to connect with others. They enjoy being the center of attention and thrive in social situations. They tend to be spontaneous and enjoy taking risks, which can make them unpredictable. However, this impulsiveness can also lead to negative consequences.

To effectively communicate with Influential (I): it’s important to be outgoing and sociable in communication, enthusiastic, creative, persuasive, and motivational. Creating opportunities for them to participate in group discussions and brainstorming sessions can help keep them engaged and focused. Providing clear directions and deadlines may help them avoid missed deadlines or incomplete work.

To combat negative behaviors associated with Influential (I) behavior: provide them with structure and clear expectations. Incorporating fun activities into the workday can help create a positive work environment that still emphasizes the importance of completing tasks. Encouraging them to consider all possible outcomes and potential risks before making decisions can help them avoid being overly optimistic or ignoring potential challenges.

To motivate and inspire Influential (I) behavioral styles: provide opportunities for creativity and self-expression, give clear expectations and deadlines, and provide positive feedback and recognition for their work. Aligning work with their personal interests and values can also be highly motivating for them.

Steady (S) behavior tends to be calm and patient in communication, loyal and supportive of others, good listeners and empathetic, and prefer stability and routine in their work. They can be perceived as indecisive or resistant to change.

To effectively communicate with Steady (S) behavior: it’s important to be warm, friendly, patient, and understanding. Providing clear and concise information can help them make informed decisions. It’s important to avoid being confrontational or aggressive in communication with Steady behavior and to be respectful and considerate of their opinions and feelings.

To combat the negative behaviors associated with Steady (S) behavior: it’s important to provide them with support and guidance in decision-making, create a positive work environment that promotes learning and growth, encourage open communication and conflict resolution, prioritize self-care, and provide support in evaluating risks and making informed decisions.

To inspire and motivate the Steady (S): it’s important to provide them with a sense of stability and security, create a positive work environment that encourages teamwork and collaboration, provide opportunities to contribute to a team or project, provide extrinsic rewards or incentives, and align their work with the organization’s mission and values.

Compliant (C) behaviors are precise and detail-oriented in communication, analytical and logical in problem-solving, systematic, and organized in their approach to work, and tend to prefer working independently rather than in a team. However, they can also be perceived as rigid or inflexible. 

To effectively communicate with Compliant (C) behavior: provide detailed information, be patient, focus on facts and logic, avoid being confrontational, provide reassurance, and be respectful. Compliant behaving value accuracy and precision, tends to be analytical and logical, and may be risk averse. They prefer to make decisions based on data and facts rather than emotions or personal opinions. 

To combat negative behaviors associated with this style: provide opportunities to build confidence and decision-making skills, encourage calculated risk-taking, provide a sense of urgency and necessary information for decision-making, encourage open communication, conflict resolution, and create a positive work environment that promotes innovation and creativity.

To motivate and inspire Compliant (C) behavior: provide a sense of structure and organization, opportunities for learning and growth, meaningful work that aligns with their interests, recognition of achievements, feedback on work, and a positive work environment that includes a comfortable workspace and supportive team environment.

Understanding your own and your coworkers’ DISC behavior and drivers can significantly enhance performance and teamwork

By recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of each personality type, team members can communicate and work together more effectively to achieve common goals. For instance, a team with a mix of Dominant (D) and Influential (I) behaving may tend to focus on big-picture ideas without paying attention to details, while a team with a mix of Compliant (C) and Steady (S) behaving may be more detail-oriented but struggle to take risks or make quick decisions. By understanding these tendencies, team members can balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses, leading to more effective decision-making and problem-solving. Moreover, understanding each other’s drivers or motivators can help team members work together more effectively by tailoring their approach to motivate and inspire each other, leading to higher levels of engagement and productivity.

CBK Advising understands that effective communication and teamwork are essential components of a successful organization. Understanding and managing self-awareness while working with a variety of DISC behaving can significantly enhance performance and teamwork. Expert Karen Nutter can provide valuable insights and strategies to help you and your team communicate more effectively, work together more efficiently, and achieve common goals more successfully. Contact CBK Advising today to learn more about how we can help you and your team develop self-awareness and build a positive and productive work environment.