Idea Swap

Taking a Blended Approach to DiSC Training         Thankfully, there are now many resources that will help you provide a rich DiSC learning experience and yet save on actual in-classroom time.  To begin with, the online DiSC assessment through EPIC can be done as pre-work so that class time is not taken up with responding to and scoring the profile.  And using technology to learn DiSC does not have to stop there! They Loved DiSC and Want More         Where do I go next?  A very common question when a new DiSC practitioner conducts his or her first basic workshop using the DiSC profile.  More times than not, the participants want more.  And, there is so much more.  In this article Dee Clarke answers this question as it was posed by a client and gives a great suggestion for taking those next steps. Biology of Learning         The Transfer of Training has been an important issue at The TEAM Approach for years.  Recent ventures into the study of brain physiology have had an impact on how we approach training.  This article is a good example.  Contributed by Gary Trota. Power of DiSC in Conflict Resolution         A simple case study, such as this one offered by Dee Clarke, might encourage readers using the DiSC Classic 2.0 profile to dig a little deeper and get creative.  The application of DiSC goes beyond the classroom! Discerning & Comprehending the Five Listening Approaches         The Personal Listening Profile can be a powerful tool to help people enhance their communication skills.  This article, provided by Dee Clarke, is an answer to a question from a facilitator of the Personal Listening Profile.  If you are not currently using this tool it can be a good introduction to the idea of listening approaches.  Perhaps you never knew there was more than one way to listen! Facilitating the Discovering Diversity Profile         Diversity can be a difficult topic for any organization.  The Discovering Diversity Profile is an excellent place to start a diversity initiative.  But it is possible that participants uncomfortable with the topic will "push back" a little and question the instrument.  This in-depth reply to such a situation, prepared by Dee Clarke, is a great resource for anyone using this instrument.  It is also helpful information for facilitators using any instrument as it lays a foundation for explaining the role of instrumentation in learning. Enhance the Transfer of Training - ASTD InfoLine         How do you get classroom training to result in behavior change on the job?  This ASTD InfoLine addresses the issue. Pit the Pairs         A simple but powerful technique for creating a priority list. Teaching the Importance of Feedback         A simple exercise to illustrate the importance of feedback and coaching. Team Meeting Time         In honor of Take Back Your Time Day we offer these tips on Team Meeting Time. Of course, they are good to review with your team every month, not just in October. Your Best Team Experience         Everyone has had a "best team" experience. The collective characteristics of such experiences can help us get a better grasp of this thing we call "team". What Brought Us Together?         Sometimes asking this question at a team meeting can refocus the team's efforts and enhance commitment. Calming the Irate Customer         This simple process comes from the Customer Service Excellence Program and it works every time! Teach your team to use these steps to turn a difficult situation into mutually satisfying one. The Elements of Trust         In our practice we work with a model that helps teams discuss the essential elements of trust and their correlation to behavioral styles.  Here are the four elements.  Asking your team how well they are doing in each area and how they can improve can go a long way toward increasing team performance.  Team Leader Behaviors         If your organization is asking it's leadership to take on the role of "team leader" you may find this list of behaviors helpful. We use it as the foundation of our Team Leader Assessment. Give it a try at our FREE online Team Leader Checkup!  10 Tips for Coaching Excellence         Raise your right hand. Now, pat the top of your head with your hand. Now, put your hand on your right ear. Now touch your nose. Now touch your chin. Now put your hand down.  Were you able to easily comply with my instructions?  Why? The Animals Go to School - A Fable         This wonderful fable can be used to talk about strengths and weaknesses and why it makes sense to focus on strengths.  A great story to read at the beginning of a management development program or in a discussion of behavioral styles. Why Can't Everyone Be Like Me?         A short article originally publised in Today's Lancaster Women describing the humerous aspects of the four different behavior styles that we draw on in work, social situations, and family life. Reprinted with permission.   Accountability Partners         The accountability partner technique has many variations. Please add yours to the comment area. The Parable of the Rushed Samaritan         This short piece can be used to supplement training in Time Management. Transfer of Training         Are you the only one responsible for the success of a training event? This book would suggest otherwise. Self-Development Book List         In our Adventures in Attitudes program we ask participants to recommend books that reinforce the interpersonal skills we are developing. This is an evolving list. Please suggest your favorite and we'll add it to the list. Challenge Sites         Each month we link to a "challenge site".  This is an opportunity to see a bigger picture in our daily work lives and perhaps connect to a larger community.  We hope they will be both challenging and provocative.  In this section all the previous challenge sites will be posted for your review.  (The current challenge site is found at the top of our Links list), Lighten It Up!         Can people do their best work if they never have any fun?  Fun and work can exist simultaneously, and, as it turns out, the more that people enjoy their work, the higher their productivity, work quality, and  productivity...read on.      Team Check-Up - Simplified         Our Team Check-Up is available as a free online assessment as well as an in-depth enhanced version that includes team member comments.  This PDF format of the assessment can be used for team discussions. Behavioral Syles: Good Books         There are many good books to help you understand and apply the concepts of behavioral differences. In our practice we use the DiSC Model of Behavior as found in the DiSC® Classic Profile. Here we offer some of our favorite books that are either based on DiSC or easily related to that model. If you'd like to suggest one for inclusion in our list, please contact us. Are You An Employer of Choice?         Business's small and large struggle with how to attract and keep the best talent as loyal productive members of the team. This article gives you tips for building and keeping a winning team. Team Leader as Facilitator         More and more, anyone in a supervisory position or team leader role will need to develop skills as a facilitator. There are some key skills this role will require. Word, Words, Words         This short team exercise is designed to illustrate the problem with "words". When two people use the same word but have different definitions, problems can result. Time Management - The Jar Lesson         This story has been around the internet for a while. If you know the original source please let us know. I believe Stephen Covey has demonstrated it as well as many others. We have used it with the Time Mastery Profile as an object lesson.