As someone who falls near the line between introvert and extrovert, my natural tendency to proactively engage with others varies. Yesterday, the sun was shining in Rochester and the temperature soared into the 60’s. It certainly did not feel like March. Maybe it was the weather; maybe it was just me, but I found myself reaching out to people—helping an elderly woman return her shopping cart, joking with a cluster of Wegmans managers who seemed to be guarding the steamed rice. I noticed people and our eyes connected. There was a lot of smiling.
On others days, I have to push myself to engage–to make eye contact, to participate in small talk with strangers, to motivate others. According to the DISC model, I am likely “to influence people by being direct, friendly and results-oriented.” But I can also be “impatient with others” and place “too much focus on job instead of relationships.” These statements (and many others) continue to help me examine and adapt my behavior.
I embrace interpersonal relationships as one of the most important components of life. How can I grow and help others thrive if I don’t consistently make an effort to build that connection? Recognizing my tendencies to be impersonal when stressed and uneasy in new situations has helped me become a better communicator, collaborator and motivator.
When things are bright and sunny, it’s relatively easy to put forth our best selves. But there can be a lot of dark days (especially in Rochester!) when tools like DISC or MBTI can serve as a shining light on behavior–helping us understand our tendencies and adapt them to serve us better.
