Summary: This article is especially for teams who want to work together more effectively. For teams who want to improve the quality of collaboration on the workplace and want to start a dialogue with one another. The article describes the Everything DiSC Workplace® profile and how that can help teams and individuals to effective relationships.
Voor Nederlands, klik hier.
A while ago, I was visiting an engineering company and spoke to several engineers about their work. Since large investments were made in construction, they had a good workload with great projects. That would have been different in the crisis. Now, they have trouble finding new employees, but that was not their biggest challenge yet.
What they noticed was that large (civil engineering) projects were no longer led by a project team of engineers. I asked how that came to be and they told me that the teams now consisted of people with a financial background, or a background in real estate projects but also more and more people with other backgrounds such as linguists, historians and business administration. These people proved to be able to communicate, negotiate and convince much better.
One engineer proudly told me that they are more involved in finding creative solutions. For example, a solution on how a levee can fit much nicer and more aesthetically within a landscape.
An engineer wants to contribute to a good design and the execution thereof. I do not doubt that.
But I find it sad that because of their enthusiasm for their field, they do not get a seat at the table of the project team. In previous articles, I wrote about the essential skills for engineers such as collaboration, time management, creativity and courage but also about convincing others and communication.
How to get a seat at the table?
What can help well for better communication and collaboration is the Everything DiSC Workplace® profile. This is a follow- up of the DiSC Classic profile and can be used well for an even better insight into your own preferred communication style and how you can communicate better with others. Read this article about the DiSC communication model.
The DiSC Workplace® profile is generated by a more accurate and validated assessment on 8 different scales (instead of the 4 scales of the Classic DiSC). The Everything DiSC Workplace® profile consists of a comprehensive 20-page personal report. You can see an example here. Furthermore, specific profiles can be generated, for more insight into the fields of management or sales.
Stressors and motivators
What I find very clear, is that the report shows stressors (what requires energy) and motivators (what gives me energy). This makes me more aware of how I can get more motivated and what I can do if something is stressful.
If there’s no motion, there’s no motivation
-Steve Pavlina
Insight into group culture
In addition to an adaptive assessment which is different for everyone, the Everything DiSC Workplace® profile can be used well to map out the different communication styles within a team and make better use of these styles. This gives you insight into the group culture. For some projects it may be useful that most of the members have a certain communication profile (e.g. conscientious or analytical in research projects). Click here for an example of a teamview report.
Different communication styles within a team
Understand your colleague better
You can also compare the profiles of different people. This will allow you to better understand the priorities of others. This gives you the opportunity to investigate what your similarities and differences are. It also offers you the opportunity to convert these into strengths and points for improvement. In fact, the comparison report gives you practical tips to work better together. It helps to increase understanding and to improve working relationships. It can also be used to start a dialogue. Click here for an example comparison report.
I’ll give you an example: A comparison report between me and Anna (not her real name) shows that I am rather cautious when it comes to taking risks. Anna, on the other hand, is very daring and adventurous. An advantage to working together is that the daring ideas of Anna can sometimes lead to valuable improvements. A tip for me might be to ask myself if Anna’s plans are too risky or if the idea of change just feels uncomfortable to me.
More connection
As I write this, I realize that with the DiSC model you can understand others better, that there is more compassion and empathy. Connection is created.
In addition to understanding your own communication profile, the DiSC model helps to bring people together. This can help teams who have been working together for longer and want to collaborate on a higher level but also for teams that have recently formed. It can also be used well in conflict situations. Therefore, you can communicate more effectively and have more joy and pleasure in collaborating. This will undoubtedly lead to a successful project where the successful collaboration plays a more important role.
My tip: take action now!
Do you also want a deeper insight in your own communication style and the one of your team? So that you can communicate more effectively, that you are more effective and can take a seat at the table of a project team? Then do the extensive Everything DiSC Workplace® assessment and contact me for a great offer!
The Everything DiSC Workplace® is, among other languages, available in Dutch, French, German, so that you can work with it in international teams.
Do you first want to have a basic insight into your preferred style in communication? Then do this FREE short test.
How do you collaborate better together? Let me know in the comment box below. I, and other readers of this article look forward reading from you!
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