How To Work With Your Boss and Live To Talk About It

Working with and being managed or supervised by someone with a different way of communicating and interacting with others is challenging. You need to keep one thing in mind - you aren't going to change them. The key is to work with them the way they like. How do they prefer to communicate and receive information? How do they want to interact with others? How do they like to be managed? I believe we develop a way of communicating and interacting with others at a very young age that heavily influences how we manage ourselves and others.

Worth Remembering - "If you change the way you look at things. The things you look at will change."

Understanding yourself and the behaviours of others, especially your boss, will give you valuable insights into adapting your behaviour to be more in tune with theirs. I use a behavioural assessment tool developed by Dr. William Marston called DISC. It identifies four distinct styles of behaviour, how each type prefers to communicate and interact with others, and how they manage others and like to be managed.

Here are a few tips to help you work with your boss and live to talk about it.

D - Dominant personalities are direct, results-orientated and uncompromising.

• They prefer bullet points. Don't ramble on -keep it short and get to the point.
• Be prepared and organized - don't waste their time.
• They aren't big on small talk, so don't try to build a personal relationship.

I - Interpersonal personalities are collaborative, enthusiastic and talkative.

• Help them get organized and put details in writing.
• Provide ideas for implementing their action plans.
• Allow time for relaxing and socializing - relationships are important to them.

S - Steadiness personalities value teamwork and a settled calm environment.

• Refrain from interrupting when they are speaking.
• Show sincere interest in them.
• Ask specific questions - draw out their goals and objections.

C - Conscientious personalities are detail-orientated and meticulous.

• Approach them in a straightforward, direct way.
• Don't force a quick decision. Be clear about deadlines and expectations.
• Provide information backed by data, facts and reliable sources.

It's important to remember that you aren't going to change your boss, but you can learn to work with them and live to talk about it. If you want to learn more about DISC and how it will help you work more effectively with others, contact me at: [email protected] - Visit my website and download a Free DISC E-Book - "Understanding Behaviour and How It Impacts Performance" - my gift to you in celebration of #internationalwomensday2023 . - https://briansmithpld.com/free-download/