According to a recent Harvard Business Article, retail salespeople who subtly mimic customers’ speech and behavior are more successful at selling (based on an experiment by Céline Jacob of the Université de Bretagne-Sud in France). Among customers who solicited salespeople for information about an MP3 player, 78.8% bought such a product from mimickers, compared with 61.8% from non-mimickers. Additionally, customers who had been mimicked were more positive about the salespeople and the store.
That’s why it is critical to learn DISC (which measures an individual’s observable behavior or “HOW” someone does what they do) and how to identify a person’s behavior style. This is a significant “A” Player ability.
Here are the four behavior styles with links to more detail about improving communications with each of the behavior styles:
- (D) Dominanceis a measure of “How” you respond to problems and challenges.
- A High D: New problems solved quickly, assertively, actively. Gets to the bottom-line quickly.
- A Low D: New problems solved in a controlled, organized way. Thinks before acting.
- (I) Influenceis a measure of “How” you influence others to your point of view.
- A High I: Meets new people in an outgoing, talkative manner. Gregarious and emotional.
- A Low I: Meets new people in a quiet, controlled, reserved manner. Emotionally controlled.
- (S) Steadinessis a measure of “How” you respond to the pace of the environment.
- A High S: Prefers a controlled, deliberate work environment. Values security of situation.
- A Low S: Prefers a flexible, dynamic, changeable environment. Values freedom of expression.
- (C) Conscientiousnessis a measure of “How” you respond to rules and procedures set by others.
- A High C: Likes things done ‘the right way,’ and says, “Rules are made to be followed.”
- A Low C: Works independently of the procedures and says, “Rules are made to be bent or broken.”
Invest the time to learn your behavior style and how to communicate effectively with the other behavior styles. I absolutely agree with the article and believe this investment of time will increase your results by at least 20% and probably much more!
Interested in taking a professional DISC profile and having a debrief with an executive coach? Contact us today and indicate you are interested in learning more about DISC!
You’ve identified someone as a “High C” DISC behavior style…what now? You adapt your behavior style to communicate in a manner which is preferred by that person. How?
Here are some tips for making communications with a “High C” DISC behavior style (slow-speaking, analytical, cautious, deliberate, etc.) more effective:
- Be neat, organized and thoroughly prepared.
- Be direct and straightforward.
- Have a logical, systematic approach.
- Provide details, facts and statistics, as well as pros and cons.
- Take your time. Be persistent, but be sincere.
- As with “High S’s”, minimize risk by providing guarantees.
- Be realistic…don’t oversell!
- Follow-up and follow-through as agreed upon.
- Start early and anticipate a longer sales cycle, as they will be deliberate and thorough with any decision.
Remember, this is not about conning and manipulation. It is about adapting your behavior/communication style in an effort to have the most effective communications with another behavior style and achieve a win/win outcome.
Ready to incorporate assessments into your hiring process? Call or email us today!
You’ve identified someone as a “High S” DISC behavior style…what now? You adapt your behavior style to communicate in a manner which is preferred by that person. How?
Here are some tips for making communications with a “High S” DISC behavior style (passive, patient, easy going, deliberate, etc.) more effective:
- Be sincere!
- Break the ice with a personal comment.
- Be non-threatening.
- Slowly draw out their wants and needs.
- Ask open-ended “how?” questions.
- Discuss feelings versus facts.
- Minimize their risk with guarantees.
- Be an active listener.
Remember, this is not about conning and manipulation. It is about adapting your behavior/communication style in an effort to have the most effective communications with another behavior style and achieve a win/win outcome.
Ready to incorporate assessments into your hiring process? Call or email us today!
You’ve identified someone as a “High I” DISC behavior style…what now? You adapt your behavior style to communicate in a manner which is preferred by that person. How?
Here are some tips for making communications with a “High I” DISC behavior style (extrovert, friendly, talkative, people oriented, lots of gestures, etc.) more effective:
- Don’t rush!
- Save plenty of time for personal chit-chat.
- Skip the details when possible, but get them in writing and get commitment to action items.
- Provide ideas for implementing action.
- Support their dreams and ideas.
- Be upbeat and optimistic.
- Ask for their opinions/ideas regarding people.
- Openly share information.
Remember, this is not about conning and manipulation. It is about adapting your behavior/communication style in an effort to have the most effective communications with another behavior style and achieve a win/win outcome.
Do you know your behavior style? Are you ready to incorporate assessments into your hiring process? Call or email us today!
You’ve identified someone as a “High D” DISC behavior style…what now? You adapt your behavior style to communicate in a manner which is preferred by that person. How?
Here are some tips for making communications with a “High D” DISC behavior style (extrovert, task oriented, fast-paced speech, controlling, etc.) more effective:
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Pick up the pace of your conversation and stick to business, unless they offer social chit-chat.
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Be brief, concise and to the point. Value their time!
- Be well-organized and prepared.
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Present the facts logically and efficiently.
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Support their goals and objectives.
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Take issue with facts, not the person, if you disagree.
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Read the body language – look for impatience or disapproval.
Remember, this is not about conning and manipulation. It is about adapting your behavior/communication style in an effort to have the most effective communications with another behavior style and achieve a win/win outcome.
Do you know your behavior style? Are you ready to incorporate assessments into your hiring process? Call or email us today!
