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Promoting healthy teams: The right people with the right fit, enjoying right relationships.
 
February 2012
Meeting room

Greetings! 

 

What's the one thing you never want to lose?  Your keys?  Your wallet?

 

The value of your name.

 

Read the newspaper, watch the news, surf the Internet - you'll see stories about people in crisis.  To you it's just another story, but to them it represents the loss of everything they've worked for.

 

"In a curt five-minute statement at the Bellevue presidential palace, Christian Wulff acknowledged that he had lost the trust of the German people, making it impossible to continue in a role that is meant to serve as a moral compass for the nation." (Reuters, 2/24/12)  Barely a blip on our radar, but a huge embarrassment and setback to Wulff and Chancellor Angela Merkel.

 

If you fell, how many people would really notice?  Regardless, it would matter to you and to those you care mostly deeply about.

Protecting the value of your name 
Integrity of resources and integrity of character

Integrity of resources - time and money

"Time is money" - we are familiar with that expression, but it isn't entirely true.  Clearly time and money are two different resources we have to invest.

 

Integrity of time involves giving people what they've paid for and not wasting what they've made available to you.  I've done a lot of different jobs through the years, but one of the most challenging was cleaning houses while I was in graduate school.  It wasn't bending down to scrub a bathtub or moving all the knick-knacks to dust, it was the way the business was run.  Clients paid by the hour and often the team I was on was in and out of a house in 15-20 minutes when a homeowner had paid for an hour's worth of work.  I wasn't in charge, but I was an employee representing a company that had no integrity with time.  I'll never go there again.  Making more money isn't worth sacrificing my name.  That's why it's better (when possible) to charge for the work you do and the results you generate rather than for the time you spend.

 

Integrity of money extends into so many areas - I'll just mention two.  I have an accountant who files my taxes each year and while I tell others I wish he were more creative in finding deductions, I'm thankful that he takes a conservative approach that safeguards my integrity and makes me less liable to audit woes.  Second, I was at Papa John's last night picking up my kids' favorite pizza when I noticed a new punch card they are giving out.  Ten pickup orders entitles you to a free pizza.  I asked them to punch the card for me and was told they don't have a hole punch, so the manager just put an "X" over the number 1.  I asked what would keep someone from going home and putting an "X" over the other nine numbers, thus getting a free pizza.  He said, "I guess nothing."  I told him, "Just so you know, my integrity is worth more to me than a free pizza."  This is why we teach our kids (in Clark Howard's words) "to avoid getting ripped off" while, at the same time, correcting mistakes made in our favor (when possible and when it doesn't create more chaos than benefit to the company - some organizations make it very difficult to be honest).

 

Integrity of character - behavior and speech

Some people want to separate words from actions, but clearly words are actions - that's why they have such impact on our lives.  I'm willing to bet each of you can remember a specific hurtful comment that was made to you.  "Sticks and stones may break my bones, words may just destroy me."

 

What frustrates people is when our words and actions don't line up.  When we speak and don't follow through.  For example, dreamers get excited about an idea or project, but their enthusiasm may not translate into the behavior needed to make it real. That may be OK when people know how to interpret what you say, but can lead to confusion among team members when you're in charge.

  1. When communicating with idea generators, ask them: "Did we reach a decision or were we just talking?"  They may be surprised to realize you were taking marching orders from something they were simply musing about.
  2. The advice of Jesus is something I work to follow: "Let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no.'"  Don't bother with promises and vows, just be a person of your word.
  3. Avoid hypocrisy - "Do as I say and not as I do."  Make sure you don't ask others to be better than you are willing to be or to go where you're unwilling to go.

Integrity isn't a sexy topic, but an honored name is your most important possession.  Difficult to earn over a long period of time; easy to lose in a moment; nearly impossible to rebuild.

 

At Julian Consulting, we want to see you finish well, with your name intact.  That means succeeding with integrity.  We'd love to help you consider what that means for you and your business.  Call us TODAY to find out more.

Everything DiSC® - Take Two!
Answers to your questions!

I've had a number of conversations about Everything DiSC since my last newsletter and wanted to answer questions that people are asking.  (NOTE: In the paragraphs that follow, click on the underlined links to view sample reports of each type.)

What do you mean "free" reports?

The Customer Interaction Maps that are part of completing the Sales Profile are FREE (without charge).  Use as often as you like, profiling as many people as you like.  You can even go back and edit Interaction Maps you've already created.

The Comparison Reports are FREE and can be run after completing any one of the Everything DiSC Profiles (Management, Sales, Work of Leaders, Workplace).  These are some of the most powerful reports since they allow two people to compare their results in six (6) key areas with suggestions on interacting more effectively with one another.

Which profile is best for me?

That depends on what information you are seeking.  If you want to guide the efforts of others, then the Management Profile.  If you want to influence or sell to others, then the Sales Profile.  If you lead an organization or a significant area of the organization and want to learn how to more effectively cast Vision, bring about Alignment between resources and objectives, and guide Execution of the vision, then the Work of Leaders.  If you want to help frontline personnel better understand the implications of their operating style, then the Workplace Profile.

How does this relate to the DiSC assessment I completed previously?

It is likely you completed the Classic Disc.  Everything DiSC is a revised assessment that is more accurate and visually more informative - putting the results on a circle-view that allows you to see how you relate to others much more easily than with the old line graphs.

How can this be used throughout an organization?

Start by having each person complete the appropriate profile (see above).  Then use the Comparison Reports to help pairs of team members better understand and relate to one another.  They can do this themselves or with the help of a third-party facilitator.  The 363 for Leaders takes the typical 360° and expresses the results within the context of one's DiSC style, clearly organizing the comments and feedback, while providing specific recommendations for growth.

The key is that your team members can use a unified language and framework for looking at the central functions of the organization (Leadership, Management, Sales, Work).

Are these reports expensive?

They are incredibly cost-effective.  The Management Profile, Sales Profile, and Work of Leaders are $83.75.  The Workplace Profile is just $50.25.  The 363 for Leaders is $167.50.  The Customer Interaction Maps and the Comparison Reports are FREE.  Of course, training and professional interpretation of these reports are additional.

Contact me TODAY for more information - to find out how you and your organization can benefit from this amazing toolEverything DiSC® - it's all in the reports!

Thanks for reading.

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Remember, I'm committed to your professional and personal success!

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Dr. Stephen Julian

Julian Consulting
 
www.julianconsulting.org

 

Promoting healthy teams: The right people with the right fit, enjoying right relationships.

 

447 Greensboro Drive
Dayton, OH 45459
(937) 660-8563
(937) 660-8593 (fax)
 
stephen@julianconsulting.org

 

All content © 2011 by Stephen Julian, PhD

 

 

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Everything DiSC® - Take Two!
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