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Secrets to Success Deborah Cole Micek |
Communication brings
harmony to utter chaosIF YOU ARE the leader of your team, you realize it is your responsibility to ensure all members on your team are in sync with one another in order to function as a unit. Much like the parts of your car's engine. None of them would work well without the other. You as the leader need to ensure that all the parts of your team are accurately identified, know what their role is on the team, and properly function with the other team members.
In previous articles, I talked about the four styles of communication (the D, I, S, C) and referenced case studies to describe each of these communication styles. The DISC observable language of behavior explains that we are all a combination of all four of these styles in various blends, while communicating predominately in one style over the other.
This week, I will share a case study, from when I was the director at a nonprofit agency in New Jersey, that will illustrate how an understanding of these communication styles aided me in facilitating better communication between two co-workers, increasing productivity of the entire team.
Daphne as a communicator closely mirrors the case study of Gabriella from my previous article. She is enthusiastic, friendly, demonstrative, someone you might label as the eternal optimist. While Terry as a communicator mirrors the prior case study of Jason. She is compliant, conservative and thrives on following established policies and procedures.
While both team members were productive and for a large part worked well together, I began to notice that productivity was being affected by their inability to get along. While Daphne was more productive working hands-on with the clients, Terry was more productive when working on organizing the procedures manual.
Meanwhile the two of them were complaining about one another in my office. Daphne would accuse Terry of not caring about her job and being so focused on busy work to avoid working with clients. Terry would accuse Daphne of being disorganized, intrusive and lacking the ability to fulfill her work obligations.
I requested that they take the DISC assessment to determine their communication styles. As I suspected, Daphne and Terry were on opposite sides of the communication wheel. With knowledge of these assessments and coaching around the styles and their characteristics, Daphne and Terry quickly learned how to adapt to each other's styles. Their relationship improved as did their productivity because they minimized time wasted complaining.
Recognizing they were each vital to the productivity of the team, they split up tasks based on each other's styles. Daphne focused on the sales and marketing, while Terry focused on ensuring policies and procedures were created and followed by the entire team.
Quickly, they realized how much more they enjoyed their jobs now that they focused on what they were exceptional at, instead of doing everything.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
John-Paul Micek is a small-business strategist
and chief operating officer at RPM Success Group.
Reach him at JPM@RPMsuccess.com
or toll-free at (888) 334-8151.
Deborah Cole Micek, chief executive officer
of RPM Success Group, is a business success coach
and life strategist. Reach her at DCM@RPMsuccess.com
or (888) 334-8151.
