Colourful Personalities!

Being off over the the festive period has offered up a lot of time for reflection & thought. What thoughts entered my head in this time? People, personalities & why people behave the way they do.

Why personalities?

Naturally at this time of the year you spend a lot of time with the people you love and naturally we all have different behaviours, mannerisms & ways of just being.

As harmless as you feel you are acting, you may be causing someone else a lot of bother. Some combinations work, other combinations take a little more warming up. This is as true in work as it is outside of work.

It’s a minefield! But it doesn’t have to be…

Since starting as a Consultant I have been fascinated by personalities, group dynamics & individual behaviours.

Often in our roles we use profiling tools to help us navigate around who we are working with, how to effectively communicate (& what to avoid!) with the ultimate aim of getting the best out of people.

DISC!

DISCOVER profiling (commonly referred to as DISC) is a great example of profiling. There are others, such as Myers-Briggs (INFJ, ESTP etc.) which provide a similar insight into how people work. But DISC was my first step into the world of profiling & it has stuck with me ever since.

For a nice summary of DISC, take a look at this article looking at the benefits of applying this type of profiling in meetings & building teams: https://www.huone.events/surrounded-by-idiots-how-you-spot-the-different-personality-types-in-meetings/

Surrounded by Idiots…

A former colleague-turned-friend actually recommended a great book to me recently about DISC, “Surrounded by Idiots” by Thomas Erikson.

Whilst the title may sound a little… direct… this book is in fact a great introduction and exploration of the typical types of people, the blends of colours influencing the behaviour, actions, communications and lives of individuals.

It is a reminder that we are different, and just because someone may think or act differently to the way you expect, it doesn’t make them an idiot. Or you for that matter.

Self awareness

To understand others, it is best to understand ourselves better first. A good (& free) place to start is taking a quick test to find out a little bit about yourself and going from there: https://www.16personalities.com/

Trust me, I have shared this link with friends, family, colleagues, stakeholders and it always prompts interesting discussion & contemplation!

So, if you ever want a conversation about personalities, profiling, DISC & dynamics I am more than happy to join in! And don’t worry, as I am high green-blue I will be well-prepared!!