As a manager, your job is not just to manage tasks and projects, but also to lead your team and help them achieve their full potential. One way to do this is to use the Take Flight with DISC Assessment, which is a tool that can help you understand the different communication styles of your team members and how to best work with them. Here are the top 5 ways managers can work better with and lead their teams using Take Flight with DISC Assessment:
Understand Your Team’s Individual Traits
The first step to working effectively with your team is to understand not only their communication styles, but also their limitations, fears, preferred tasks, and what areas they need to develop. Take Flight with DISC Assessment provides a framework that can help you identify all of these traits in an easy and memorable way for each of your teams members. The assessment categorizes people into four different types: Dominant (Eagles), Interactive (Parrots), Supportive (Doves), and Conscientious (Owls). Once you understand the style of each team member, you can tailor your approach to better suit their needs and preferences.
Flex Your Style for Results
Once you understand the styles of your team members, the next step is to adapt your own style to better suit their needs and get results. For example, if you have team members who are more detail-oriented (Owls), you may need to provide more information and data when you delegate tasks or assignments to them. Ever have an employee who asks lots of questions and needs a great deal of detail before they can move forward? That’s your Owl! If you have team members who are more outgoing and social (Parrots), you may need to have more conversations and personal interactions with them to build trust and rapport, before launching into projects and tasks. The goal isn’t to change your style as a manager, but to better understand the style of whom your speaking with to adapt and get results.
Use Specific Communication Channels that Work Best for Each Team Member
The Take Flight with DISC Assessment can also help you identify the communication channels that work best for each team member. For example, some team members may prefer to communicate via email or text, while others may prefer video chats, in-person meetings or phone calls. By understanding the communication preferences and needs of your team members, you can use the right channels to effectively communicate with them. So, a Parrot is definitely going to want to chat a bit about the weekend first thing Monday morning, where an Eagle is going to want you to get straight to the point. Know your team and know their style!
Provide Feedback in a Way that Resonates with Each Team Member
As a people leader, providing feedback is a critical part of your job. However, providing feedback in a way that resonates with each team member can be challenging. The Take Flight with DISC Assessment can help you identify the feedback style that works best for each team member.
For example, some team members may respond better to direct straight feedback (Eagles), while others may need more personalized and supportive feedback (Doves). By adapting your feedback style to better suit the needs of each team member, you can create a more positive and productive work environment. So don’t just impose on your team feedback in a manner that YOU want to receive it. Take time to think through the styles of each team member. Also, remember the fears that each of the styles have based on Tip #1 above. The better you understand their traits, the better you’ll understand that Eagles fear losing, Parrots fer rejection, Doves fear sudden drastic changes, and Owls fear being wrong. Align your feedback in these areas with these concerns for a more productive and healthy conversation.
Develop Team Members According to Their Strengths
Finally, the Take Flight with DISC Assessment can help you identify the strengths and opportunities of your team members. By understanding their strengths, you can develop them further and provide opportunities for them to grow in their areas of expertise. This can lead to a more motivated and engaged team, as team members are more likely to be invested in their work when they feel like they are contributing in a meaningful way.
For example, if there is a skill – say project management – that a Parrot needs to improve on, you’ll want to ensure that training is fun, engaging, and maybe they come back to the group to report out on the training. For a Dove to increase project management skills, you’ll want to ensure that they can incorporate the training into their current routine, and be able to help and support others with the new skill once they’ve learned it. This plays into their traits of their primary drive and strengths being interactive with others for Parrots and being supportive of others for Doves.
In conclusion, the Take Flight with DISC Assessment is a valuable tool for managers to work better with and lead their teams. By understanding their traits, flexing your style, communication styles, beneficial feedback and addressing strengths, managers can adapt their approach to better suit the needs of each team member. This can lead to a more positive and productive work environment, where team members are motivated, engaged, and working together towards success.
If you’re interested in having your team complete the Take Flight with DISC Assessment, schedule time with me here to discuss DISC for your team!
