Memorial Day Reflections: Let’s Keep Things In Perspective

My Boat - USS Benjamin Franklin Twenty-one years ago this month I left the U.S. Navy, got married, and began my civilian career. A lot has happened in those twenty-one years. I have moved from South Carolina to New Jersey to Michigan and to Indiana. I have worked in large multi-national corporations, small family-owned businesses, and in my own business. I have become a father. I have faced financial ups and downs. I have experienced health challenges and been with family members through their... [Read more]

One Way To Guarantee That Your Suggestion Is Ignored

I have noticed one behavior many of us use that almost guarantees that our suggestions, solutions, and opinions will be ignored when we offer them: We tell people what to do before we have heard their whole story. When we offer people suggestions, solutions, and opinions before we have heard them out, they often do not care what we have to say. So, they rarely listen to and fully comprehend what we are suggesting. The suggestion might be useful. It might be right on target. It might be exactly... [Read more]

Communication Tips: Connecting With Reserved, Task-Oriented People

One way to improve your communication effectiveness is to communicate in a way that best fits the other person’s DISC behavioral style. When you find yourself communicating with a person who is reserved and task-oriented (primary Cautious behavioral style), remember these key communication tips: Slow down — they usually want you to give them time to process what you’re saying before they respond. Use data and third-party information to support your position — they want to know that... [Read more]

Communication Tips: Connecting With Reserved, People-Oriented People

One way to improve your communication effectiveness is to communicate in a way that best fits the other person’s DISC behavioral style. When you find yourself communicating with a person who is reserved and people-oriented (primary Supportive behavioral style), remember these key communication tips: Slow down — they usually want you to give them time to process what you’re saying before they respond. Show that you care about them — if you come across as focused only on the task... [Read more]

Communication Tips: Connecting With Outgoing, People-Oriented People

One way to improve your communication effectiveness is to communicate in a way that best fits the other person’s DISC behavioral style. When you find yourself communicating with a person who is outgoing and people-oriented (primary Inspiring behavioral style), remember these key communication tips: Smile — they tend to be very much in-tune with your body language and facial expressions as a way to “read” your emotions. Show some enthusiasm — if you seem bored, they will be... [Read more]

Communication Tips: Connecting With Outgoing, Task-Oriented People

One way to improve your communication effectiveness is to communicate in a way that best fits the other person’s DISC behavioral style. When you find yourself communicating with a person who is outgoing and task-oriented (primary Dominant behavioral style), remember these key communication tips: Get to the point quickly — offer the results or conclusions and then your data or analysis. Focus on results and outcomes — process and feelings are less important to them than results. Give... [Read more]

DISC Model Frequently Asked Questions

This is a series of articles that answer frequently asked questions about the DISC model of human behavior. This article is from the DISC FAQ's series. Use the links below to read more from this series. DISC Model FAQ's: Can Four Styles Really Describe Everyone? DISC Model FAQ's: Could I Have More Than One DISC Behavior Style? DISC Model FAQ's: Can I Have One DISC Style at Work and Another DISC Style at Home? DISC Model FAQ's: Is One Style Better Than the Others? DISC Model FAQ's:... [Read more]

Seven Workplace Conflict Resolution Tips

As I work with participants at workshops and with my training and coaching clients, I frequently get questions about workplace conflict resolution tips. Over the last few months, I’ve given some thought to what I consider to be the Top 7 Secrets for Resolving Personal Workplace Conflict, and I have recorded an audio program that is available now. While the program is targeted at personal workplace conflict resolution, you can use the insights from it to minimize and resolve family conflicts... [Read more]

Employee Motivation: Interesting Ideas to Consider

I’ll leave the video to do the talking in this post. The ideas that Dan Pink presents are definitely worth considering. I suggest leaders (including parents) should learn from this talk and find ways to apply the concepts to their situations.  Read More →

The DISC Model of Human Behavior – A Quick Overview

Guy Gives a Quick Overview ofThe DISC Model of Human Behavior As a teenager and young adult, I thought people were totally irrational and unpredictable. In my thirties, I learned about patterns of behavior that people tend to follow in many areas of their lives and in many situations. Understanding these patterns helped me to realize that people are not totally irrational. Most people simply see the world, prioritize their activities, communicate with others, and act according to relatively predictable... [Read more]

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