Bram Begonia from the Salvation Army Kroc Center Hawaii, in an interview with Chad Lovell (TH!NK’s Ambassador of Buzz), shares how Everything DiSC® training from TH!NK helped their organization develop a more cohesive team.
The Issue:
As a Management team, we identified a huge opportunity to work better in our one on one interactions with each other and as an entire management team. There are about 30 Managers on our Management Team. As an example, in the business meeting, we realized it always went long. Sometimes we’d go off on a tangent or stray from the agenda. We noticed some people would ask a lot of questions wanting more detail and others loved to answer questions. The meeting kept going in circles. It felt unproductive and inefficient. We were spending way too much time going back and forth. What was happening?
Coincidentally, the Human Resource Team sought Everything DiSC® to enhance internal team building and dynamics, and to help resolve communication issues on their small team of four. After the Human Resources group started seeing the benefits of the training and started using the tools they learned, they highly encouraged the Director and Management team to undergo the training. We understood the way we worked together needed to change. So the Management team took a chance on Everything DiSC®.
The Solution:
All 30 Managers including the Directors took the Everything DiSC® Workplace training, which was completely eye-opening. First, you learn things about yourself that you already know but are further confirmed. Then you learn things about your personality that maybe you don’t want to know or hope are not true about yourself but you realize is probably accurate. Finally, you start learning about your co-workers and how they view things and why they react and do some of the things they do and say some of the things they say. Uncovering and sharing respective DiSC styles shed so much light on why those meetings would take so long. The “C” folks in the room always asked more questions because that is what they do. The “C” folks love the details and want to uncover every possible ramification of a possible decision. The “I” person perceived they were being helpful by answering the questions and the “I” loves talking. The “I” person also is focused on how the team feels and may not want to make a decision and tries to make sure everyone is heard. With three “C” personalities and one “I” personality at play, we finally understood why the meetings went on for as long as they did. It all came down to how people work together based on their DiSC® style.
We followed up the Everything DiSC® Workplace training with the Everything DiSC® Comparison Report. This further allowed us to better understand – and relate – to differing communications styles. This hit home for me personally because the tool helped me connect stronger with my newest staff member. By acknowledging her style, we’ve been able to communicate more clearly with each other to achieve our department’s goals. It has also provided coaching opportunities to assist and guide in her professional development. It’s a win-win scenario. We also start with a clear foundation of understanding what potential pitfalls we may have when we make decisions and communicate with each other in looking at our comparison report.
The Results:
Everything DiSC® has made employees feel more confident about how they communicate with each other. Before you come into my office, you can see my DiSC® profile next to my door before you enter. You will know what I respond to and what my style is even before entering my office to discuss issues or to solve problems. I, in turn, can bring up a profile of a person I will meet within the next few days so I can prepare to have better success in finding a solution when I know what the potential communication roadblocks there might be. This has fostered positive team building and allowed groups to create stronger connections with one another to accomplish the work that has to be done.
We are much more efficient in the way we do things, giving us far better use of time, to truly focus on those activities that deliver value to our customers at the Kroc Center Hawaii. When employees work well together and are happy, our customers are happy.
Teams inherently appreciate the perspective each individual bring to work and they’ve learned how to leverage the talents of each team member to achieve our business objectives.
Our Center Facilitator has taken the DiSC® training knowledge help her to understand she needs to spend more time to bond with team members, which has increased team morale, loyalty, and productivity. The staff is willing to pitch in when duty calls whether it’s during the workday or in the middle of the night – because the manager has taken the time to get to know the team members and fully understand what makes them tick.
As an organization, we are better equipped to engage and seek input from one another to quickly arrive at solutions. We’ve been successful in minimizing frustration within teams while encouraging a collective approach to problem-solving and team building. Everything DiSC® has transformed our workplace for the better and there are more benefits yet to come once more team members take the profile and start using the tools.
