|
Communication: It’s a
Matter of Style
by Medical Staffing
Resources
JCHA HEALTHLINE-NEWS, November 2008
Back to JCHA Homepage
Why can you easily
communicate with some people while others are always a challenge?! Is it
possible to improve your communication skills and build stronger
relationships? Yes!
Each of us has a
unique behavioral style. These styles offer a distinct way of thinking,
feeling and acting.
When you speak with
someone who is motivated by the same factors as you, your communication
skills are more effective. However, when you try to communicate with
someone motivated by different factors, you may not be clearly heard.
To improve your
communication skills, first you must identify your own behavioral style so
you are able to understand how you communicate with others.
§
DiSC
Profiling System - Four Dimensions of Behavior
o
Dominance – direct, task-oriented
o
Influencing – people-oriented
o
Steadiness – people-oriented
o
Compliance – direct, task-oriented
Although we all
exhibit characteristics of each of the styles from time to time, most
people possess strengths in only one or two styles.
§
Dominance
o
goal-oriented
o
thrives
on challenge
o
interested in hearing the bottom-line, not the rest of the story
o
may
overstep authority and exhibit an argumentative attitude.
o
motivated by new challenges
o
handles
a crisis situation well
o
works
diligently to overcome obstacles
§
Influencing
o
prefers
involvement with people rather than tasks
o
optimistic
o
great
motivator
o
inattentive to detail
o
not a
strong listener
o
strong
verbal communications skills
o
will
talk with almost anyone who is willing to listen
§
Steadiness
o
prefers
a routine work schedule
o
does
not like change unless it is absolutely necessary
o
good
listener and a team player
o
sensitive to criticism
o
has
difficulty establishing priorities
o
excels
in a team environment
§
Compliance
o
task-oriented
o
prefers
order and procedures
o
detailed
o
conscientious - sets high personal standards
o
may get
bogged down in details
o
the
“anchor of reality” for the team.
Once you understand
your own style, you must learn to identify the styles of those with whom
you communicate. DiSC teaches us the Platinum Rule, “Do unto others
as they would have you do unto them.” When you learn to modify
your own communication style and speak the language of others, your needs
will be met and the interaction will be much smoother.
For example, when
communicating with a Compliance style, the Influencing style must be
well-informed. The Compliance style will question the data and want to be
presented with factual information. An individual possessing the
Dominance style must speak slowly and make an effort to listen when
communicating with the Steadiness style. The Dominance style must ask a
lot of questions and prepare the Steadiness style for any upcoming
changes.
Behavioral assessment
does not stop at communication. Jobs require:
·
Specific skills
·
Educational training
·
Particular behavioral characteristics
When one’s behavioral
style does not match the behavioral requirement of the position, an uphill
struggle results. Instead of using energy to
complete the task, energy is being expended to bring about a behavioral
change; this diminishes the efficiency in completing the assigned task.
For
instance, if a person who instinctively avoids confrontation and routine
work is hired as an insurance collector, a high level of stress and
excessive energy drain may be experienced. Expected performance standards
may be consistently difficult and out of reach. “Putting square pegs in
round holes,” so to speak, is one of the main causes
of low employee morale.
On the other hand,
when a person with a particular behavioral style is hired to do a job that
requires the matching behavioral style, energy is focused on completing
the task at hand. It has been proven that, when a person’s behavioral
style matches that of the job, he or she will be less stressed, more
motivated, and experience less severe and less frequent illness, resulting
in less sick days – a plus for all! That person will also enjoy doing his
or her job more, because their motivational needs are being met.
Job
satisfaction naturally leads to increased enthusiasm and higher
productivity, resulting in greater success for both the employee and the
organization.
As you
can see, understanding the “Four Dimensions of Behavior” and how they are
relevant to your behavior, your employees’ behavior and the
requirements of each position is a key factor in effectively hiring and
communicating with your employees. Remember, successful communication is
not only a matter of content; it is also a matter of STYLE.
Back to JCHA Homepage |
