Dealing with Difficult People by Thomas Miller from productcampRTP

On average, two people have about a 40% chance of experiencing a good personality match based on how their personality styles naturally fit together. That means that, most of the time, two people are likely to have a built-in challenge in relating well with each other – UNLESS they understand each other’s personality styles. Today Thomas Miller from his session provided a basic understanding of your personality style and the personality style of those around you that help you lead and connect with others in a more effective manner. In this session we learned how to identify and capitalize on their strengths, reduce struggles based on blind-spots and implement strategies for a more effective approach to organizational leadership.

​Here is a recap of some of the top wisdom points shared:

• Identify patterns in people to better understand them, lead them, and influence in a positive way.
• Remember there are patterns for people that can be observed in a quadrant form. Consider the DISC method.  People are either more Dominant, Influential, Steady, or Compliant personality mindset types. Ds are about the what? Is are about the who. S are about the how. And C is about the why. Measure twice cut once!
• Ds seek results. Active. Multi-tasker. Like to win, plan for future, like new ideas, and be own boss. Greatest Fear: Being taken advantage of. When communicating with a D be brief and direct! Ask what not how questions. Focus on results and discuss problem and outcome.
• Is seek friendly environment. Like to be liked, being in front of groups, like recognition, and activities. Greatest fear for Is is rejection and loss of approval. When communicating with Is don't do all the talking. Don't ignore ideas and allow time for socializing and follow up with details in writing. Four short 10 minute discussions are better then long 40 minute discussion.
• Cs enjoy environment that honors logic and facts. To be right, like clear expectations, and patterns. Appreciate instructions, finishing what is started, and organizing things. Their greatest fear is Criticism. For maximum communication with a C provide a lot of details and use validated facts. Be precise and specific. Answer any questions and follow up with additional data if requested.
• Ss seek a team environment and very loyal. Like teamwork and cooperation. Enjoy sticking with what works and harmony. Their biggest fear is loss of security and confrontation. To best communicate with Ss create friendly tone for discussion and show interest in them as a person. Don't be overly aggressive and minimize potential for confrontation.
• If you know people fall in general pattern shapes you can better understand how to deal with them to best serve their personality types to better serve your communication aims.
• People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Show interest first and ask questions to show your care to build rapport.
• You have to be good under authority in order to be good in authority. Be able to serve well in order to lead well.
• Nice to be important, but more important to be nice. Be mindful of what you say and how you say it!
• You may actually HELP people by saying no. You can't say yes to everything. If it's not in the other persons' best interest or yours its good to say no.
• It's ok to build the plane while in their air. Take some risks and try new communications.
• Remember all successful communications is about connecting!
  

Thank you for great talk and session Thomas! Special thanks to productcampRTP for wonderful conference!