Make a Small Change

The following is adapted from the best-selling book Solving the People Problem and the Business Bros podcast.

DISC-EQ and Self Awareness

We talk a lot about a model called DISC-EQ that we use when working to solve the people problem. And that model starts with self awareness. It's asking you to think about: How aware are you of your own traits, your own patterns, your own personality preferences and your own communication patterns? That's the first key. If you don't understand yourself, you don't understand how other people are interpreting you. If you don't know how the world sees you, how are you going to be able to adjust what you do to be more effective with the people that you want to work with?

Self awareness is becoming a more and more critical skill in the work environment as teamwork becomes more ubiquitous. In order to effectively work with other people, you need to be able to communicate in a way that all parties can understand. While a majority of people consider themselves to be very self aware, few actually fall into that category when measured.

Increasing Your Self Awareness

So what can you do as you learn more about yourself and increase your self awareness? You can ask someone how you came across in a conversation. You can reflect on how you might have contributed to a conversation that did not go as well as you wanted. We often focus on what the other person did to cause a difficult interaction, when a focus on our part can lead to insights about how we can help the next exchange work better. Seeing how our actions impact others can give us a new appreciation for how our actions may not help us create the success we seek.

Make a Small Change

How can you use that knowledge to make your work environment more effective? Adjust your approach to the things you say and/or the way you say them so that those listening to you understand your point of view. We would never advocate being inauthentic with those around you. But making small changes that are in line with who you are can help smooth your relationships with those around you.

Think about even a small change you can make this week. Making small changes in our own approach can help us be aware of the needs of others in our interactions. We can choose our actions more wisely. Can you ask for someone’s input who is usually quiet in meetings? Can you see someone might be upset and ask them what’s wrong? Making small adjustments can go a long way in strengthening, or even mending, relationships. So give it a try, make a small change this week and tell us about it. We want to hear from you about what this journey means to you.

To find out where you currently stand regarding emotional intelligence, take the Solving The People Problem Survey.

Brett M. Cooper and Evans Kerrigan help professionals like you build work relationships that really work. Over the last twenty years, they’ve influenced thousands of people in government, non-profits, and corporate America to work together in more productive, more effective, and more human ways. Through Integris Performance Advisors—the firm they co-founded—Brett and Evans have helped clients increase employee engagement, improve efficiency, and generate hundreds of millions in financial benefit. Brett and Evans are frequent speakers on team dynamics, leadership, and operational excellence. To access more great content and resources, and to connect directly with Brett and Evans, visit SolvingThePeopleProblem.com.