Part 5-THE BASICS OF TEACHER TEAM BUILDING-UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE
UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE & WORKING AS A TRUE TEAM PLAYER
*Note: Few people realize how important our individual personalities are to team/staff functioning. Many of the problems associated with team development stem directly from the interplay between the various personality types.
Every one you know has a unique personality. Each person and child’s perspective is built in to whom they are. Some people call it personality. Some refer to it as temperament. I am sure that some of your family and friends are VERY different from you. If you are like me, you have often asked yourself, “Why did they do that?” or “What were they thinking?” or “What were they NOT thinking?”
The starting point of understanding people is to realize and accept the fact: Everyone is not like you!
Have you ever said something to one person and received a certain response, then said exactly the same thing to another person and received a totally different response? The basic reason they respond differently is that people have different personality styles! You said the same thing, but what they “heard” was not the same.
Different is not bad, it’s just different! A lack of understanding of others and us can lead to real problems such as tension, disappointment, hurt feelings, unmet expectations and poor communication. As you know, it is hard to work with a problem, especially if you do not understand what is going on inside the mind of another person.
Here is the Good News! There IS a way to understand people – if you know the model of human behavior! There is a simple key to understanding how people behave and how they are motivated. This key will allow you to unlock the mystery of why people act the way they do. It will teach you the power of good relationships! It will also show you how to reduce conflict, improve productivity and relate with others in ways that are more effective! The bottom line is that healthy, positive relationships come from having an accurate, healthy, constructive view of yourself and others.
THE MODEL OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR
The model of human behavior is based on 2 foundational observations about how people normally behave:
Observation #1: Some people are more outgoing, while others are more reserved. You can think of this as each person’s “internal motor.” Some people always seem ready to “go” and “dive in.” They engage their motor quickly. Others tend to engage their motor more slowly or more cautiously.
Observation # 2: Some people are more task-oriented, while others are more people-oriented. You can think of this as each person’s compass that guides him or her. Some people are focused on getting something done; others are more tuned-in to the people around them and their feelings.
With both observations, just want to emphasize that these behavioral tendencies are neither right or wrong or good or bad. They are just different. We are simply identifying normal behavior styles. People have different styles and that is okay.
So basically, we have 4 behavioral tendencies to help us characterize people:
- Outgoing
- Reserved
- Task-oriented
- People-oriented
Everyone has some of all 4 of these tendencies at different times and in different situations. However, most people typically have 1 or 2 of these tendencies that seem to fit them well in their everyday behavior. And, on the other hand, 1 or 2 of these tendencies usually do not fit them well and these tendencies may even seem “foreign” to their approach to life. The balance of these 4 tendencies shapes the way each person “sees” life and those around them.
Thus, 4 basic personality traits emerge:
- PEACEMAKER: Reserved and People-oriented
- ANALYZER: Reserved and Task-oriented
- DIRECTOR: Outgoing and Task-oriented
- SOCIALIZER: Outgoing and People-oriented
Next posting: Part 6 – THE ELEVATOR TEST: WHICH TYPE ARE YOU?