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From NetSpeed Leader Volume 31, February 2007
I remember the work years before I really understood
style differences. I was often annoyed, frustrated,
and hurt by others’ behavior. Trapped in the misbelief
that everyone viewed and responded to the world
exactly like I did, I was easily surprised and offended
at the inexplicable choices and actions of the crazy
people I worked with.
You simply can't be effective in the organizational
arena if you don’t move past these assumptions
about people. As my career unfolded, I came into
head-to-head conflict with a boss. I saw him as
uptight, rigid, unemotional and unsupportive.
Convinced that I had no alternative but to leave the
company, I prepared my resume and started to look
for a new job. Fortunately, my boss suggested I
attend a training program on style differences.
To my absolute amazement, I was finally able to view
the world through the lens of my boss’s
style—and I realized that I was driving him
crazy! In the past, I had dropped into his office
several times a day, chatted often about what I was
thinking, interrupted him when he was working on his
projects with my next new idea, and felt personally
affronted when, lost in thought, he forgot to
say “good morning.”
With my newfound awareness, I dropped the job
search and made a commitment to adjust my style to
his style. I made weekly appointments to meet, kept
a running list of my questions and ideas, organized
my thoughts before speaking, wrote proposals, and
stopped demanding instant answers from him. I was
rewarded with a more solid relationship, free of the
tension we had been experiencing.
As I stopped judging his behavior as inadequate and
began to appreciate the strengths of his style, it
became easier for him to appreciate me. He became
one of my biggest advocates, a mentor, and a
friend.
In the NetSpeed Leadership module Working with
Communication Styles, we explain four common
behavior or communication styles that we call
Adventurer, Analyzer, Achiever and Anchor. We give
participants that same opportunity to expand their
view and make room for the diversity of styles that
strengthen organizational performance. If you would
like to schedule a one-hour or 90-minute webinar for
up to 50 or your employees, please contact us. It’s
never too late to begin the journey of self-awareness
and style recognition. |
A blended learning program for customer service providers |
