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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Tag Archives: Margaret Smith Minneapolis career coach

February 14, 2024 Improve Team Dynamics with Insights

You know it when you’re a part of it. A team with a great working relationship communicates well, respects each other, and has a great balance of creativity and strategy. This type of team has excellent rapport, and everyone feels as though they have a voice and their perspectives are respected. When you partner with a team like this, the work seems effortless and you tend to be highly productive.

How do you achieve such a “dream team”?

What can you, as a leader, do to foster the type of environment that produces great teams?

Excellent teams can be built in a number of ways, but in my experience, the very foundation of creating a great team involves getting to know your people at a deep level, and figuring out how they mesh with one another. This may seem like a daunting task, but there is actually a relatively simple tool you can use to develop this type of deep understanding of your team members: Insights® Discovery.

Insights® is a science-based program that helps people gain an intimate understanding of their personal thought patterns, behavioral tendencies, communication preferences, strengths, and more. The data gathered through assessments is analyzed and explained using a very approachable methodology: four colors. The main idea of Insights® is that we all have the capability to embrace all four colors (i.e., personality types), but we tend to prefer one or two colors over the others.

The colors are:

  • Cool Blue (analytical, thoughtful, data and strategy driven)
  • Sunshine Yellow (social, creative, idea and relationship driven)
  • Fiery Red (confident, commanding/natural leader, to-the-point)
  • Earth Green (empathetic, inclusive, pensive)

Though this is an oversimplification of the program, this gives you a general idea of the four colors and how they are associated with personalities (read more about Insights® and communication in this past blog post).

How does Insights® relate to team dynamics?

A person’s Insights® profile not only provides information and insights about how that individual functions (and their ideal environment), but also tells us how individuals relate to others. For example, we might learn that one person tends to embody many “Sunshine Yellow” qualities—they are gregarious, social, and more enthusiastic about idea generation than analytics or strategy. This person might work with someone who leans toward “Cool Blue” and is fairly quiet and reserved, likes to fully analyze the numbers, and wants to explore many options before making a decision.

If these two people do not understand A) how they, personally, tend to operate or B) how their teammate operates, they might start to clash or become frustrated with each other. On the other hand, if these individuals are fully aware of how each person tends to think, behave, and communicate, they can lean into each other’s strengths instead of clashing. Different people can be assigned different roles within the team (don’t put the Sunshine Yellow person behind a desk, crunching numbers all day; and don’t make the Cool Blue person lead a creative brainstorming session!), so everyone can shine.

I have been a Licensed Practitioner of Insights® for about a decade, and I can attest to its effectiveness. Communication and understanding improve, and suddenly teams are talking to each other using the Insights® color language (“My ‘red’ side is really anxious to get this done, but I think we should hear what the ‘blues’ have to say” or “I know this is very ‘green’ of me, but I think we should bring Becky into the conversation and see what she has to say”).

By acknowledging your own tendencies and understanding the thought patterns and preferences of others, you can begin to build a harmonious team that capitalizes on each other’s strengths and recognizes potential trouble spots. If your work team needs to improve its dynamics, consider taking a closer look at Insights®.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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January 31, 2024 5 Terrible Communication Approaches (and what to do instead)

Photo by Headway on Unsplash

There are some people who are expert communicators. They are inspirational, motivational, and they have a knack for getting people to understand exactly what they want to convey. These individuals inevitably build trust and make people want to confide in them. We should all strive to become such excellent communicators.

Part of becoming a great communicator means knowing what to avoid–the pitfalls that make others close up or respond poorly to you. Let’s talk about five communication approaches that rarely work (and what to do instead).

Steamrolling Ideas

Good leadership means compromise, and sometimes that involves letting go of some or your ideas or letting others have a say. If you’re especially enamored with an idea or solution, it can be tempting to steamroll over others in order to get your way. However, this approach rarely leads to successful communication or collaboration.

Instead: Try to adopt a more open-minded and collaborative mindset. Listen to others’ perspectives and be willing to embrace alternative ideas. This not only shows respect for others’ opinions but also fosters a sense of teamwork and creativity.

Being Indirect

When communicating, being indirect can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. Indirectness can also be interpreted as a lack of self-confidence or uncertainty about the topic at hand. Instead of beating around the bush or using vague language, it’s important to be clear and direct in expressing your thoughts and intentions.

Instead: Be straightforward and concise in your communication. Clearly state your message or request, and provide any necessary context or details. This will help to eliminate any ambiguity and ensure that your message is understood correctly.

Interrupting and Dominating Conversations

Interrupting others or consistently dominating conversations can hinder effective communication. No one likes to feel small or unimportant. This communication style can make others feel unheard and disregarded, leading to a breakdown in communication and relationships.

Instead: Practice active listening and give others the space to express themselves. Allow others to finish speaking before responding, and show genuine interest in what they have to say. This promotes healthy dialogue and creates an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

Using Jargon and Technical Language

Using excessive jargon and technical language can alienate others who may not be familiar with the terminology. This can lead to confusion and a lack of understanding, defeating the purpose of communication. It’s important to use language that is accessible and easily understood by the intended audience.

Instead: Use clear and simple language that everyone can understand.

Oversharing and Gossiping

Oversharing and gossiping can negatively impact communication and trust within a group. Sharing personal information that is unnecessary or irrelevant to the conversation can make others uncomfortable and can divert the focus from the main topic at hand. Gossiping about others can also create a toxic environment and erode trust among team members.

Instead: Focus on the topic or issue at hand and avoid sharing personal details that are not relevant. Be mindful of what you share and consider the impact it may have on others. Avoid gossiping or spreading rumors, as it can damage relationships and create a negative work or social environment.

To become an excellent communicator, it is important to understand what you need to avoid. Do you let any of these pitfalls slip into your everyday communication? If so, it is important to recognize these missteps and work on correcting them. Few people were born excellent communicators, but many can get there with a little time and intentional effort.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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January 24, 2024 Escape Your Winter Rut!

Image by kinkate from Pixabay

This can be an odd time of year. The holidays are long over (with all the togetherness and cheer that tends to come with them), and we’re now forging ahead into the new year. By now, your new year’s resolutions might be growing a bit stale, and your motivation might be slipping. It’s too early to think about spring, or your next summer vacation. It’s just…mid-winter.

If you’re finding yourself in a rut, or a mid-winter slump, that’s okay! It’s normal. Millions of Americans experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is characterized by difficulties concentrating, listlessness, low motivation, and other symptoms that are reminiscent of depression. And even if you do not suffer from SAD, you might find yourself in a bit of a lull during the winter months.

What can you do? How can you pull yourself out of this rut and move forward with renewed energy and spirit? I suggest trying any of the following:

Plan a Fun Event

It is said that planning a vacation can give a person just as much (if not more) joy than actually going on the vacation. So get planning! You might start planning for a beach holiday, a long cabin weekend, a friends’ night out, a dinner party–anything to help get the wheels turning and your planning muscles in gear. Even if the event is months down the road, it’s nice to have something to look forward to–a special treat to help break up the monotony.

Work in Sprints

If you need to temporarily boost your productivity, try working in sprints. This involves setting a timer for a few minutes (try 15 or 20 minutes at first) and working on ONE project for the allotted time. Don’t multitask! Don’t attempt to tackle several different projects. Just close out of social media and any other distractions, and do your sprint. When the time is up, do something different for a while and then try another sprint. You might be amazed by how much you can accomplish.

Move!

Part of your winter lethargy may come from not moving around much. In warm weather, we are more inclined to go outside, take a walk, go on a bike ride, or any number of activities that keep us active and engaged. This doesn’t necessarily come as naturally in the winter, so you may have to make a concerted effort to fit in some physical activity, be it outdoors (skiing, snowshoeing) or indoors (a gym workout, yoga). It is well known that exercise can help boost your energy and keep you sharp, so get moving!

Embrace the Season

Year after year, the Scandinavian countries are found to be among the happiest in the world. Despite long, bitterly cold winters, the Scandinavian people find ways to get cozy and embrace the winter season. The Danish word “hygge” is a concept that essentially means getting comfortable and cozy, and having good cheer. You, too, can embrace hygge! Buy a new winter sweater and some blankets, prepare warm winter beverages, take a sauna (in MN, it is possible to rent a mobile sauna or buy some time in a stationary sauna), invite friends over for a dinner party, watch a favorite movie…the list goes on!

Refocus

Sometimes, we need to take a few quiet minutes to refocus and replan for the path ahead. It’s possible your new year’s resolution isn’t working out, and it would be beneficial to tweak it somewhat. Or, your current work might not be going as planned. Instead of pressing ahead, I recommend taking the time to think about the big picture (remember Forest Thinking?) and re-strategize. Plan some concrete goals for yourself, break them into realistic pieces, and don’t forget to reward yourself along the way. A simple refocus can help get you back on track and renew your energy.

If you’re feeling caught in a mid-winter slump, it is usually possible to pull yourself out. Try some of these strategies, be kind to yourself, and keep going. And if you truly need some additional support, do not be afraid to seek the help you need. This could come in the form of a mentor, a good friend, a licensed therapist, or a trusted co-worker. We’re all in this together and, undoubtedly, spring will come again.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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