How Advanced Communication Skills Changed My Life

Written by Niki Kerr

When I first set up Great Futures in 2011, it was off the back of almost a decade working with, and training others to work with people on the very edge of society.

Over the years I became an expert in teaching soft skills and am further licensed to deliver DISC advanced communication training, but it wasn’t always like this…

The book that started my own journey was aptly called:?People Skills?by an author called Robert Bolton. At the time I didn’t really like myself. My anxious parenting, low self-esteem and introvert nature had created someone I really didn’t recognise, and I’d picked this book in the hope that I could just learn how to be a ‘nicer’ person.

Little did I know that it would kick start a journey backed by countless hours reading psychology, observing behaviour, mindful practice, numerous behavioural change courses and teaching qualifications. And all the time absorbing the journey my own students had travelled while I helped them unpick their addiction to substance abuse and other high risk behaviour.?

By the time I was delivering qualifications in the prison service, assessing the competency of the drug and alcohol support workers I was a very different person… Often sat next to people who had been convicted of horrendous crimes, I was the fly on the wall listening as they shared their own complex and often very sad life story.?

Mastering the art of people skills was not what I set out to do, but when you increase your exposure to the real life experiences of others with a desire to learn and understand you naturally develop empathy and compassion and with further training in coaching I could even hear what was going on behind the vail of what they chose to share.? ?

And it was during my training to become a coach that I discovered personality profiling, The Coaching Academy who was delivering my qualification taught us to use the DISC model so we could build instant rapport with our clients, and it blew me away!

So much so that when they offered the opportunity to train as a licensed DISC facilitator I was on it straight away.?

Because now it was time to move away, move away from the sector where I had honed my skills, learned so much about my self and human behaviour in general. Because now, and rather like William Marsdon the founder of the modern DISC behavioural system, I wanted to work with the behaviour and emotions of ‘Normal People’ (and please excuse the 1930’s language here) .?

I’d recognised how much I would have gained had I known about DISC years ago, had I understood how to respond, react and generally interact with different personalities.? I do wonder if I would even be divorced, I’d certainly have had more confidence to stand my ground, to smile and appreciate difference. I’d have understood my strengths which I now see as my superpowers. I’d have known to ask for information in advance instead of feeling embarrassed that I always came up with great ideas, just a bit too late to add to the discussion.?

And I couldn’t resist taking this into schools, watching the quiet geeky one’s grow with pride as I told stories of where their conscientious, cautious approach to life could lead them…

The noisy corner who loved it when I smiled at the teachers and said it was fine, one day they would find their stage, where no one wanted them to be quiet

The huddle of warm chatterers helping each other fill out the exercise sheets, exampling the very nature that would shape their future contributions creating harmony, stability and anchors for life.

And the curious corner, with their direct questions, assertive opinions furtively glancing their phones, surely we’ve spent long enough on this topic…??

For all my studies in behavioural psychology… Before learning about DISC I had no idea that there are four distinctly different personality styes, that people are not awkward or strange, annoying, difficult or the likes. The fact that by learning how to read different communication styles I could predict and flex the techniques I use to increase the effectiveness of all my personal and professional communication.

And if you are where I was on this subject all those years ago it could be time to take a look and see how the power of DISC can propel your story, your career, your personal and family achievements.

If this subject fascinates you and you want to grow your influence, your ability to address the very foundations of relationship building, engagement, popularity, trust, or just gain a more intelligent approach and appreciation of others you may be interested to hear that a few times a year, I share these skills in person, and have just released the date and exciting venue for our next public in person event.

Seats will be limited so don’t miss the opportunity to unlock the secret to instant rapport in any personal or professional relationship.