Jul
8
WRITTEN BY:
Nicolas El-Debs
Thursday, 8 July 2010
We all know how to speak with, email and text each other. But sending a message is only one part of the communication process. We don’t all have a good understanding of how our communication may be interpreted. The different personalities of the recipients of our communication have a direct influence on how they’ll perceive our message.
Understanding this principle, and understanding that there are different personality types, helps us:
- become better communicators
- resolve or prevent conflicts
- appreciate the differences in others
- help gain credibility and positively influence others.
The DISC Personality System identifies four main behaviour categories:
- D → Dominant, Driver, Determined
- I → Influencing, Inspiring, Impulsive
- S → Stable, Steady, Supportive
- C → Compliant, Correct, Cautious
Our personality types can be a combination of these four. For example, I’m an SC.
To help put this in perspective, let’s look at a scenario: the Frame board has decided to move its Sydney office. Understanding that different personality types will respond differently to our messages about the move helps us decide how to effectively communicate to all Frame staff and bring them on board.
High D’s won’t care too much for detail; they’ll be interested in what the benefit and results will be. They would want to hear:
The business is achieving its forecast results and more staff are required. We need to move to continue growing.
High I’s in the team are great at influencing others and are keen to promote change, especially if they’re new trends and ideas, and they like to be acknowledged. They would want to hear:
The new office will be state of the art, meet all energy-sustainability requirements, will have mood lighting, and will be close to shops, restaurants and public transport.
High S’s would be questioning if this is a threat to their security at work and don’t like sudden change, therefore the change has to be conveyed as a steady task rather than sudden. They would want to hear:
The move is directly related to good business results, which is all thanks to your efforts. We will be addressing all your questions via monthly update meetings.
High C’s will be reserved, will want things adequately explained and will ask for a detailed plan. They would want to hear:
We have outlined the stages of the move in a plan, available on the intranet, and this document will be kept up-to-date.
So, making a statement that combines the concerns of each of the four personality types will help successfully convey the move to all staff. Here is an example of a statement that could be used:
The business is achieving its forecast results and more staff are required. We need to move to continue growing. The new office will be state of the art, meet all energy-sustainability requirements, will have mood lighting, and will be close to shops, restaurants and public transport. The move is directly related to good business results, which is all thanks to your efforts. We will be addressing all your questions via monthly update meetings. We have outlined the stages of the move in a plan, available on the intranet, and this document will be kept up-to-date.
By combining the messages that each personality type expects, we have a better chance of getting our message across as we intended—well, at least at the start.
Thinking about those we work with and what personality type they may be, may explain why they do what they do.
As for me, the result of my DISC personality test was ‘Peacemaker/Diplomat/One who is faithful’. The same personality type as Mother Theresa!
Next time: four ways to improve your communication.