Blog
In this blog you will find useful materials, inspiring ideas and practical tips for your development.
Join us on a journey of discovery, where you’ll find the tools and wisdom you need to thrive in today’s ever-chaging world!
The Power of DISC Model: Adapting Communication Style for Better Relationships.
Understanding our behavioural style and those of others can be incredibly helpful in our personal and professional lives. By understanding what motivates us, how we communicate, and how we approach problem-solving, we can work more effectively with others and build stronger relationships.
One popular tool for understanding behavioural styles is the DISC model, which is based on the work of psychologist William Moulton Marston. The model categorizes individuals into four main behavioural styles: Dominant, Influential, Steady, and Conscientious. Each style has its unique characteristics and tendencies.
By learning about these styles, we can adapt our communication in order to avoid all sorts of miscommunication. We all do it unconsciously anyway, but with the knowledge of DISC, we can make choices where we can better understand others and be understood.
Additionally, the DISC model can help identify areas where we may need to improve. For example, if we have a dominant style, we may need to work on our listening skills to better understand the perspectives of others. If we have a conscientious style, we may need to work on our flexibility and willingness to take risks.
Here is when the DISC model can be helpful:
Team Building
By adapting their communication approaches, the team members can work together more effectively, which leads to improved outcomes.
Conflict Resolution
The DISC model can help resolve conflicts between individuals with different behavioural styles. By understanding the motivations and communication approaches of each party, a mediator can facilitate a more productive conversation and help the parties find common ground.
Sales and Customer Service
Salespeople and customer service representatives can tailor their approach to each customer, which can improve customer satisfaction.
Leadership Development
To adapt an approach to different team members and build stronger relationships with their team.
Personal Development
The DISC model can be used in personal development to help individuals gain insight into their behavioral tendencies and areas for improvement.
I am proud to confirm that I became a certified DISC practitioner and added this great tool to my practice to help my clients and their teams to strengthen their performance.
"I Feel Like Giving Up... " How Often Have You Been Plagued by That Thought?
It happens more often than we think. Even the most successful of us might at some point feel like giving up on our creative ideas. I've seen this amongst my clients, some of whom are great achievers in their respective fields and whom you would never expect to have these limiting thoughts.
And yet, hidden though they may be, they are still there, ready to pop up the first chance they get.
For example, I've recently had to hold an emergency session for a client when she froze in a speech in front of people she did not know. This woman is an experienced public speaker and yet, one day, in front of a crowd amongst which were only a small portion of unfamiliar faces, she found herself frozen and at a loss for words.
After this episode, she reflected on the incredible surprise she felt at discovering her hidden limiting belief. She went on to describe that she had been carrying a feeling which bothered her on occasion, and yet she always suppressed it, believing it not significant. But now, all of a sudden, in the most inconvenient of moments, it rose to the surface, becoming so strong she actually forgot her entire speech.
The important lesson of it is that, once she realised this limiting thought within herself, she immediately took action and asked for help. Through our sessions, we worked through this issue, without it ever interrupting her work or affecting her income.
Feeling discouraged can happen to anyone, no matter how successful they may be. But it doesn't mean you need to quit. In fact, when you do feel this way, the fastest solution may be to reach out for help rather than burden yourself with going through the challenges alone.
I have recently come across an online post about a woman admitting she finally got a job after facing a staggering 357 rejections and 40 interviews. Having the strength to go through this intense ordeal is nerve-wreaking and can destroy the confidence of even the most self-confident. However, you needn't feel you must face this alone. Reaching out and working with a Coach will give you the support to take on the unpleasant task of identifying your limiting beliefs, working through them, and thus securing you a better path to success.
I promise you this will significantly shorten the incredibly stressful process we call a job search.
"Investing in People: Business Needs Not Just Employees, But Teams"
...The most pressing issue for businesses today is the shortage of personnel! Politicians, experts, and business owners themselves talk about it! Recently, the head of the Central Bank, Elvira Nabiullina, raised this issue.
According to the results of studies by the NAFI analytical center and HSE, 76% of Russians would like to change their job in the next 6 months. HeadHunter says that in Russia, up to 40% of citizens stay in one job for less than a year, and about a third (28%) - no more than three years. And some of the main factors for changing employers, in addition to salary, are:
Poor relationships in the team/with management
Lack of opportunities for professional growth
How can this problem be solved, and what exactly is the business already doing?
Large companies today actively invest in their employees, aiming to ensure their engagement and create opportunities for growth at all levels within the organization. Special attention is paid to building effective teams. Why teams specifically?
I'll give examples that prove the advantages of these investments. First, let's look at the most well-known foreign companies. Observing them, one can conclude that a well-knit team is not just a group of employees, but a phenomenon where the principle of emergence operates: the whole becomes something more than just the sum of its parts.
Productivity and Results: McKinsey research shows that companies with high team efficiency levels on average demonstrate stability growth (1.5 times) and revenue growth (30%). For example, Google, known for its methods of creating strong teams. Their Project Aristotle research revealed that the quality of teams and their interactions influences the success of projects even more than the qualifications of individual participants.
Innovation and Creativity: Team creativity can increase innovation levels by up to 20%. For example, Apple - their team approach to developing new products is known worldwide. Each product is the result of the collective work of various specialists. This means that each company employee works together to achieve common goals, using common implementation methods. Apple also pays attention to creativity and innovation, encouraging employees to come up with new ideas and providing them with the necessary resources to bring them to life.
Talent Retention and Brand Attractiveness: LinkedIn research shows that about 52% of workers would prefer to leave their current job for the opportunity to join a better team.
For example, Zappos Corporation actively attracts attention to the culture of its team. Their focus on strong relationships within the team has become a key element of their attractiveness to talents.
And what's happening in the Russian market?
The most vivid examples of the development of a new corporate culture, where teams play a leading role, are Sber, Alfa Bank, MTS, Kaspersky Lab, Yandex, Mail.ru, Wildberries. The growth results of these companies vividly demonstrate the advantage of creating their unique corporate culture, where team interaction plays an important role, where mentoring allows growing and retaining qualified personnel. Applicants definitely show interest in such companies.
And here's the question: what about small and medium-sized businesses?
Often, medium and small companies believe that team development strategies are relevant only for large corporations, postponing them as secondary tasks. However, it is precisely at the early stages, when the team is not yet large, that the formation of corporate culture becomes crucial.
By building a healthy team dynamic from the very beginning, the company reduces the risk of errors in hiring and increases its chances of successfully surviving in a competitive environment. A culture that supports growth and mutual engagement becomes the foundation for the future success of the enterprise.
The unique position of medium and small businesses lies in the ability to create a healthy team environment from the very beginning. This allows the company to avoid many difficulties that enterprises face when making decisions about team development at later stages. In the end, building a balanced team and investing in its potential development becomes the key to success, ensuring the stability and competitiveness of the company in the future.
Diving into research that proves that team development gives businesses a double bonus - increased efficiency and employee retention - opens up unique opportunities for the company:
Increasing Productivity: Studies indicate a significant increase in productivity after team development events. For example, data from the International Coach Federation shows a 70% increase in the productivity of participants in team-building activities.
Impact on Employee Turnover: When teams become more balanced and efficient, it can affect employee turnover. Improving team work can increase employee satisfaction, which in turn reduces turnover. Gallup research shows that companies with high employee engagement levels are 59% less likely to experience high turnover.
Quality of Work and Satisfaction: Improving team work usually leads to improved work quality, more efficient problem-solving, and increased employee satisfaction. This, in turn, contributes to a reduction in employee turnover and improved business results.
In conclusion, behind the scenes of numbers and statistics, there remains one important factor - the sincere desire of every team member I've had the opportunity to work with to restore connection, interaction, and, above all, human contact. The era of remote work during the pandemic emphasized more than ever the need for real communication behind computer screens. In addition to the desire to increase productivity and development, it is also important to recreate that collective spirit that arises when people share common space and ideas.
10 Questions For the Diagnosis of Personal Effectiveness
Today I want to talk about a topic that is relevant for each of us — personal effectiveness. We often encounter moments when it seems that energy is at zero and productivity leaves much to be desired. At such moments, it is important to ask yourself a few questions: at what point does our efficiency sink, where does the energy drain and how do we recover?
🧠 Self-reflection — is the first step to understanding yourself
Self-reflection helps us realize what exactly affects our productivity. Try to do a little analysis regularly:
📉 When does your efficiency sink?
What time of the day do you feel most tired? Are there certain tasks that cause you to lose strength?
🔋 Where does the energy drain take place?
What actions or events draw energy out of you? Perhaps these are unnecessary meetings or unresolved tasks? How can their influence be reduced?
🌱 How are you recovering?
What helps you feel better and regain your strength? Do you find time for sports, recreation or socializing with your loved ones?
⚡️ How do you deal with conflicts?
How do you react to conflicts? Are you trying to solve them right away or are you storing up negativity in yourself? What do you think is better — to solve the problem in the moment or to postpone it for later?
🎯 What are your goals and priorities?
What goals do you set for yourself? Do you know how to prioritize? How do you determine what is important and what can be postponed?
⏰ How do you manage your time?
Do you use time management techniques such as Pomodoro, time blocking or Eisenhower Matrix? Which ones work best for you?
💡 How do you develop emotional intelligence and manage stress?
How do you deal with emotional overload and stress? Do you notice how your emotions affect your productivity?
📚 How do you invest in your development?
How often do you study and develop? What new skills or knowledge would help you become more effective?
🏃♂️ How do you take care of your health?
How does your physical condition affect productivity? Do you sleep enough, do you eat right, do you exercise?
🏢 How does your environment affect you?
In which environment do you feel most productive? What impact does your workplace have on efficiency?
📱 How do you use technologies and tools?
What technologies or tools help you be more productive? Which ones are distracting? How can we optimize their use?
💡 The path to personal effectiveness through self-reflection:
Personal effectiveness is not just a list of tips, it is a path of self-discovery and constant self-development. By asking yourself these questions every day, you will be able to better understand yourself and your needs. Find your balance and move towards success through self-reflection and awareness!