Mother’s Day reminds me of the personality of my amazing mom. She was a consummate diplomat who embodied what it meant to be a lady. She was a great listener who was able to help people come to consensus. A lot to live up to as a daughter. After trying to emulate her process and feeling like I failed, what I discovered was that I didn’t have to approach things like my mother to have my own value. I just needed to find the best approach for me.
Like many people, I have taken a variety of personality tests – I am an ENTP, a DI, and a #8. I am much more direct and tend to want to be the leader of groups. I have come to understand I am much more like my grandmother in personality than my mom. I still admire both of them as effective communicators. Each has their unique approaches, and both work. I can appreciate one without using the same approaches. Personality tests help you understand yourself, but the best insights are found in understanding others that you interact with. Different personalities approach topics in different ways. Effective communication involves listening to understand (not to reply) and responding with the context of what is important to the person you are speaking to. Personalities have a big impact when it comes to presenting a new idea to a group. You should be aware of the variety of personalities in the room and understand what they are listening for. One person may be visionary, another resistant to change. One might be interested in the financial impact, another worried about what others are feeling. You can try to cover the bases in your initial presentation based upon your knowledge of the audience. The next step is creating a safe space for participants to ask questions, make suggestions, clarify, and understand. Trust is required. It is easy to say, but building trust is not easy. People will contribute freely only if they know their input will be valued. So many initiatives go awry at this stage. As a leader, it is tempting to present a new idea as a done deal – here you go – this is what we are doing. You can do this, but don’t expect effective and enthusiastic implementation. Allowing two-way communication takes more time, but the increased understanding will build commitment and make the participants feel a part of the team. So, have patience with your skeptics, the detail people, the process folks, and the visionaries. Make sure to make space for your quiet introverts and listen to the extroverts. Let your personalities add to the communication and understanding.
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Liza HollandAuthorI have always loved words and reading. I was that kid that had her nose in a book to and from school. The crossing guard saw me coming and stopped traffic so I didn’t have to look up! As I grew into professional life, I did lots of writing - published articles, newsletters, ads, white papers, reports, grants, op eds, blogs, you name it. Recently, I took what would up being a sabbatical to Europe. My husband was offered a great opportunity and we spent a year in Belgium and a year in Ireland. It was magical. I did so many things I never had time for, including joining a writing group. Having time to think, I came back to Kentucky with 2, count them, 2 book ideas. I hope to share the journey of the coming to fruition with you.Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
July 2022
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