Today the Harvard Business Review offered an article on Empathy as a Super Power in the Workplace. I couldn’t agree more.
Especially these days when managers are stressed, anxious, frustrated, and getting pressured to deliver from above, below and from the side. They are often overworked and under-valued and want desperately to be recognized and rewarded and to be promoted to the next level.
In that article, Adam Stamm recalls taking the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) back in the day and said it provided some very valuable insight into his own behavior especially in the workplace.
However, he notes, using it on a day-to-day basis is a bit challenging. As an example, he tells the story of Patrick Lencioni (my OD hero) who developed a model of teamwork based on his best-selling book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.
Lencioni found that pairing his work with the DISC Personality Assessment was far more valuable than the MBTI. Here’s why:
The DISC is a strengths-based report based on how the respondent reports out about his behavior at work. It provides invaluable information about how he solves problems, relates to others, reacts to stress and pressure and responds to constraints. It also reveals how a person handles conflict and how best to adapt one’s behavior to ensure success in certain work situations and with other personality types.
This information gives the respondent areas for improvement and insights into how relatable she is. If she’s more task oriented she learns what people-oriented people are looking for and if she’s more guarded she learns how people who are more open perceive her.
These insights help deepen empathy and equip the leader with invaluable information about how to approach a tough conversation, how to inspire people in all the styles, and how to share information in a vulnerable manner that helps to create psychological safety and openness in the workplace.
I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been using the DISC and other personal assessment tools to equip managers, directors, CEOs and board members to get clear about their own impact on culture in the workplace so they can go on and write that strategic plan, build out their key messages, and build a cohesive culture that takes into account the organization’s vision and a shared Leadership Philosophy.
The DISC is only one of the 4 initial assessments you’ll get when you enroll in Your Insights Academy. And, if you want, you can expand your leadership coaching and training to include all the members in your organization to improve the Soul of your company – the culture.
All of Versoria’s coaching, training, tools, and facilitations are based on respect for individuals and process simplicity.
It works at work, and you can also take it home and share your report and what you’ve learned with family members.
Click here to learn more about Versoria’s coaching program called “Your Insights Academy” designed for managers, directors and CEOs.
I help Managers and Directors get promoted and I help CEOs create great teams, great companies and great results. Learn more about it here.
https://www.theceomatrix-versoria.com/v/a
Terry Taylor, MA MCC
Certified DISC Distributor
Versoria, Inc.
