Description

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Every team can benefit from diversity. Ideally you want to surround yourself with powerful, intelligent and committed individuals who each possess unique characteristics, viewpoints and personal strengths. But how do you know who the right people are for a team that you will be leading? This activity that follows is part assessment tool and part recruitment strategy.

Which one of the following profiles do you identify most with? Assessing yourself self and your strengths is the ideal way to learn in which areas others can support you.

Decisive Director

o      Fast paced, business-like manner; brief and to the point

o      Direct, emotionally cool and impatient; wants it done right and right now

o      Logical, likes facts (hates detail); highly organized and decisive

o      Goal and action oriented; a calculated risk taker who wants immediate results

o      Takes charge; will compete and strives to win

o      High ego involvement; visionaries who believe their ideas are superior

 

The Decisive Director needs others who:

o      Weigh the pros and cons

o      Calculate risks

o      Use caution

o      Structure a more predictable environment

o      Research facts

o      Deliberate before deciding

o      Recognize the needs of others

o      Respect rules/policies

 

Inspiring Socializer

o      Fast paced, socially engaging manner; interactive and playful

o      Persuasive, passionate, deeply optimistic and motivating

o      One-sided; prefers facts, is unorganized and an impulsive decision-maker

o      People oriented (not task oriented); takes risks but is undisciplined about time

o      Influences others and thrives on involvement in variety of contexts

o      Socializes and seeks alliances with others

 

The Inspiring Socializer needs others who:

o      Concentrate on the task

o      Seek facts

o      Speak directly

o      Respect sincerity

o      Develop systematic approaches

o      Use logic

o      Demonstrate individual follow-through

 

Steady Relater

o      Slower paced; can be an indirect communicator

o      Indirect and open; possesses a warm, relaxed demeanour

o      Waits for your commitment to see what they will do; seeks security

o      Asks questions (seeks detail); a great listener who is highly team oriented

o      Demonstrates patience and desire to help others

o      Performs in a consistent manner and likes developing specialized skills

o      Calms excited people by creating a stable, happy work environment

 

The Stable Relater needs others who:

o      React quickly to unexpected change

o      Stretch toward challenges

o      Become involved in more than one thing

o      Are self-promoting

o      Apply pressure on others

o      Help prioritize work

o      Work comfortably in an unpredictable environment

o      Are flexible with how things get done

Cautious Thinker

 

o      Slower paced, business-like manner; cautious and precise

o      Self-contained and direct; questions ability, preparedness, and consistency in others

o      A total perfectionist; takes pride in gathering the facts and being accurate

o      Serious and controlled; provides details, rules, policies and procedures

o      Likes efficiency; thinks analytically and weighs pros and cons before making decisions

o      Uses subtle or indirect approaches to conflict; is very diplomatic with people

 

The Cautious Thinker needs others who:

 

o      Delegate important tasks

o      Make quick decisions

o      Use policies only as guidelines

o      Compromise with the opposition

o      State unpopular positions

o      Encourage teamwork

o      Initiate and facilitate discussion

 

(Adapted from Leading Self: Toward Effective Collaboration by Kristle Calisto-Tavares.)

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Task

1. Review each primary profile and select the one that you identify with most.

2. Once you have identified your primary profile, review the needs of your preferred style.

3. Design a recruitment strategy for your next team using the characteristics and strengths identified in this tool.

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Learning Objectives

Through this activity, you will learn how to identify the strengths, talents, skills and assets needed to both contribute to others’ initiatives or organizations while also building the foundation for those leaders who plan to engage others in their own events, projects, and so on.  Featured skills and competencies include: relationship building, leadership, negotiation, being persistent, analytical skills and oral communication.

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