Teamwork takes conscious effort
If it’s people that make the difference to how we perform, then why would we leave teamwork to chance? This team exercise will help you foster a more cohesive and productive group from the start.
Team Exercise
Understanding Workstyles with DiSC
This simplified team exercise ‘Understanding Workstyles’ is based on the DiSC® behavioural tool and offers a taste of how it can improve your daily interactions.
By understanding your own workstyle and importantly, those of your teammates, you’ll gain a framework for adapting your communication and working more effectively together. It’s not about who you have on your team, but how you work together.
Chris Collett, former Army Major and expert in human behaviour dynamics, takes us through a colourful elevator analogy, and paints a clear picture of four distinct personality types and how they influence our everyday interactions. Listen to a snip of the conversation here (Buzzsprout)
Grab a piece of paper and a pen and follow these steps.
1. Draw a vertical line
Think about where would you put yourself on this vertical axis? Are you fast paced, assertive and bold at the top of the line, or are you thoughtful, moderate paced, calm, methodical, careful?
2. Add a horizontal line
On the horizontal axis, are you questioning, logic focused, objective, sceptical, challenging or are you accepting, people focused, empathetic, receptive, agreeable?
3. Next, draw a circle and create the 4 following quadrants:
- Dominance
- Influence
- Steadiness
- Conscientiousness
Which quadrant do you fit into?
- Think about your pace and approach: Are you fast-paced and assertive, or more methodical and careful?
- Consider your focus: Do you prioritize logic and objectivity, or are you drawn to empathy and cooperation?
- Plot yourself on the workstyle map based on these factors
Building your team’s DiSC map: A collaborative exercise
Here’s how to build your team’s workstyle map. If you’ve done this before, can you remember where you and your team sit?
To create a visual representation of your team’s workstyles:
- Print a copy of the Workstyle Team Map and gather your team.
- Without plotting yourself at this point, ask the team to discuss and agree where they would plot you.
- Is it the same place as you plotted yourself? This is a great way of understanding other people’s perceptions of you.
- Discuss and agree as a team where you are best plotted.
- Now repeat for your entire team. Using initials, place each team member where you all agree they naturally fit on the map. Note: the closer to the edge of the circle, the stronger their alignment with that style.
Where did you plot yourself?
If you find yourself in the dominance or influence quadrant, you’ve probably already decided. If you’re leaning towards steadiness and conscientiousness, you might want a bit more detail.
It’s important to note, there is no wrong or right place to be. We should adapt our workstyles depending on the situation and who we are working with. Your workstyle is where you use the least energy. It is just your starting point.
For example, Vic (our company founder) is very action orientated. She is as much at 12 o’clock as you can get, but that doesn’t mean she can’t have attention to detail and move to 8 o’clock – she absolutely can but spending too long there is exhausting. It does not come so naturally to her!
The trick is to understand your team mates starting point and figure out together how you can meet in the middle.
When working with a colleague with a different workstyle, how can you meet in the middle? You might realise what was holding a work relationship back and help you to adapt your approach.
By leveraging the power of DiSC, you can unlock a new level of collaboration within your team. A united team working together is the key to achieving speed, innovation, and ultimately, long-term success in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
Listen to the Get Amplified podcast episode with former Army Major, Chris Collett, ‘What Shadow do you Cast?’
Chris illustrates the practical application of DiSC in the workplace, emphasizing that understanding these personality types is crucial for effective collaboration and productivity.
The impact of our behaviour on colleagues is often underestimated. Chris discusses the ‘shadow’ effect, where one’s presence can empower or inadvertently overshadow others. This conversation segues into the importance of self-awareness and introspection for personal growth.
By being mindful of our influence, we can foster a more positive work environment and contribute to the team’s success.
