The half-day training session was over with the non-profit organization that brought me in to do some team building.
We had trained that morning on the DISC Behavior Profile. If you’re not familiar with this profile it assesses individuals on how they see the world because of how they are wired as well as gives one insights on how others see the world.
I love working with this tool because it often is such an eye-opening experience for people. I remember the first time I took the assessment about 27 years ago. Up until that time I thought that if you didn’t see things the way I did you were simply wrong and needed to get with the program. DISC was a solid whack on the side of my head and dramatically changed how I dealt with people.
As I cleaned up my training materials and put my computer away I had some nice conversations with some of the people that were part of the class. They shared some of their insights and looked forward to applying what they had learned.
Walking down the hallway and heading for the door to leave I heard a voice behind me, “Dave,” she called out in a barely audible voice. I’m guessing she was in her early to mid sixties. White hair, dressed very inconspicuously, not wanting to draw any attention to herself. Again, not surprising based on her assessment.
She hadn’t said much at all during the course of the session. Again, no big surprises with her observable behavior. As she approached she glanced around as though she was looking to see if anyone was watching her coming to speak with me. She started to speak in her very quiet way and began to cry at the same time.
“You are the very first person in my entire life to tell me that it’s okay to be me,” she said through her tears. “All my life people have told me I need to be more assertive and to work faster and to stop being so sensitive and I could go on and on,” she continued. “My parents, my husband, my siblings, bosses, even my children have continually berated me.”
She held up the assessment and exclaimed, “This tells me that it’s okay for me to be the way I am! I have value in the way I was made! Thank you!”
Reading this article on the importance of being yourself in the workplace brought back the memory of this lady’s story.
I know I have too often tried to fit into the mold of what I thought someone else wanted. In doing so, I have not given them my best or given myself the best opportunity to be successful.
How about you? Do you try to be something you’re not for others? Are you frustrated in the workplace because you’re trying to fit someone else’s mould for you?
How about you as a leader? Do you have the courage to let people be themselves so you can get their best? Do you lead your people in their position to be successful? As a leader are you being yourself or are you being what you think a leader should be?
Do you have the courage to examine your leadership style?
More often than not people lead the way they have been led, people manage the way they have been managed and people parent the way they were parented.
Do you have the courage to see if there might be another way?
Have a STRONG and COURAGEOUS day!
Looking for a speaker for an upcoming event? I’d love to be that guy. You can reach me at dave@cultivatecourage.com or 952-200-7499.
You can now buy the book “Cultivate Courage” on Amazon! https://amzn.to/2N2PBVJ
This post originally ran on Sept. 4, 2014.
Love the DISC profile!
It is a great tool and I’m glad to hear that you are familiar with it, Sundi Jo! It’s so fun to work with companies and individuals and see the self-discovery that happens through DISC!
Hey Brother! Thanks for this post. This is a truth I see ALL the time with my clients. I love that look of freedom & joy KNOWING that it is ok to be…..well…authentically THEM!!!!
Thanks, Anthony! The power of self-discovery is amazing! You are fortunate to work in a field where you get to see it often but also get to see those who are unwilling to see themselves as they really are!