Making the Best of Trainings

Personality and strength tests. I have gone through four different trainings over the summer with four different strength tests.

The upside: I am consistent across the board. At least I know the tests are accurate.

The downside: Many times we did these in larger groups and were unable to take the time to really dive into how these strengths and the strengths of others can work together as a team.

This makes the idea of taking these tests incredibly frustrating… at least for me. These tests are meant to help you understand how and why you respond in certain ways, both in the workplace and in your personal life.

I find the tests fascinating and helpful but only if I can better understand what my colleagues and friends are like. It doesn’t help me in the workplace much if I know what I respond best to but have no clue how others I work with do.

Basically, I don’t like learning information without knowing the application for it. What is more frustrating is knowing what the application is but then not getting an opportunity to use it.

At the very least, you can take what you learn and be introspective with the information. Here are a few tips that will help around the office.

Examine how you communicate with others

How do you communicate with others? Are you best with email or in person? Are you direct? Do you share too much information? Examining how you communicate is the first step to understanding why you communicate certain ways.

Understanding why may help you to communicate better with others and help you to explain how they can better communicate with you.

Not everyone can read your sarcasm.

Listen!

Some people are direct with letting their work style be known but many are not. In either case, listening to what and how people say things can help a lot in bridging the communication gap between coworkers.

I am guilty of not being the best listener and this skill is something I constantly work on. My biggest hurdle was learning to truly listen and not simply wait to speak.

How do you share/collect information?

Are you an old fashioned note taker with pen and paper? Do you prefer your laptop or tablet? Do you want a print out or would you rather have it electronically?

This isn’t necessarily a generational thing, it can be just the way a person processes information. This goes for everyone around you as well. Pay attention to what others bring to meetings. Do they bring a laptop or a notepad? Do they bring both?

The first step is self examination then you see how your style plays with others and adjust accordingly. Without proper guidance, this can be more difficult but if you are able to be introspective about your communication and learning styles, it will benefit you and those around you.