Written By: Tracy Civick
Every personality style has many powerful and positive characteristics, but they also have traits that are not as positive and can create limitations to effectiveness and your team culture. If this behavior looks familiar in your team, you need to know how to spot it and why it happens.
For this article, we are going to use the DISC communication method. DISC is an acronym for the four basic human behaviors we all have within us. To learn more about DISC, please visit our website at http://www.teamcultureworks.com.
Dominance – “D” Style (speaks fast, likes to be in control, very authoritarian)
Some dominance tyle traits that may have an adverse effect include stubbornness, impatience, and lack of compassion. Naturally preferring to take control of others, they may have a low tolerance for the feelings, attitudes, and “inadequacies” of co-workers, subordinates, friends, families, and romantic interests. When this happens, give them control over something. It will refocus their efforts and de-escalate this behavior weapon.
Influence – “I” Style (very talkative, dreamer, life of the party)
The I style’s natural weaknesses are too much involvement, impatience, being alone, and short attention spans, which may cause them to become easily bored. When a little data comes in, Influence styles tend to make sweeping generalizations. They may not check everything out, assuming someone else will do it or procrastinating because redoing something just isn’t exciting enough. When Influence styles feel they don’t have enough stimulation and involvement, they may lose interest and look for something new again… and again… and again. When taken to an extreme, their behaviors can be seen as superficial, haphazard, erratic, and overly emotional. When you recognize this weapon system being deployed, plan a group lunch or activity that will squash feelings of loneliness and allow them to get excited about something.
Steadiness – “S” Style (quiet, calm, enjoys harmony, usually a people pleaser)
Steadiness styles have their own unique difficulties with speaking up, seeming to go along with others or any conditions, while inwardly, they may or may not agree. More assertive types might take advantage of this Steadiness style’s tendency to give in and avoid confrontation. Additionally, the Steadiness style’s reluctance to express themselves can result in hurt feelings. But if they don’t express their feelings, others may never know. Their lack of assertiveness and expression can take a toll on this type’s health and well-being. If this weapon system looks familiar in your team members, you should address it immediately by privately meeting with them to ask for their thoughts and feelings. Speak in a quiet tone of voice and make sure to use positive words of affirmation.
Conscientiousness – “C” Style (detail-oriented, asks questions, prides themselves on accuracy)
The C style may suffer from a lack of moving forward and making decisions. A strong tendency toward perfectionism, when taken to an extreme, can result in “analysis paralysis,” delaying their ability to act quickly. These overly cautious traits may result in worry that the process isn’t progressing correctly or that the decision isn’t the right one, which further promotes their tendency to behave in a more critical, detached way. This weapon system is the easiest to squash. When a C is deploying this weapon, create an environment for them where they can be uninterrupted for an hour or two. Allow them to get their thoughts in order and put pen to paper. Once they feel organized, they will resurface on their own.
To learn more about how to improve your team culture, contact me today at Tracy@TeamCultureWorks.com or 214-755-0955. For more information about our Team Culture Camp programs, visit http://www.TeamCultureWorks.com.