Birkman Method

Behind Performance Adjectives Series: Narcissistic

How do we get past labels and deal with the root causes of performance issues? When a label like narcissistic is applied, too often that is the end of it. I think it is the potential for a much richer conversation that could shift and individual and a team to a different place in terms of trust and performance. The Birkman Method can help with that conversation. Here are a few tips for moving from a label to a conversation.

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Assessments for Individuals – How they stack up

Talent management is about great conversations. In order for it to work, an individual needs to bring an awareness of who they are so decisions made can reflect the needs of the team, the individual, and the organization. Assessments are helpful in giving the talent (people) in your organization a baseline of information to build that self awareness. Here is my opinion of how those assessments stack up.

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Assessments: 4 Traps and 1 Truth

Assessments in talent management – whether it is selection, high potential development, career development, leadership development, or any of the other pieces – is important. Here are 4 traps and a truth around using asssessments so you can make a good buy instead of being sold something that will not work.

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Choices. (career and talent management)

Career development planning is about choices. It is about thinking about what we want to be doing in the future, and preparing ourselves to meet a goal for prepare ourselves for a different path. At the heart of talent management is preparing the individual to bring an awareness of self to this conversation and helping the leader listen, guide, direct, challenge, and ultimately partner. Talent management is about great conversations, and at the heart of those conversations is ultimately a choice.

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Leadership: The Power (And Trap) Of Non-Verbals

Leaders need to understand non-verbals, and they need to be comfortable and competent in using that information to have a richer conversation. The Birkman method is one reminder/tool I use to help leaders see that what is happening on the outside is not necessarily what is happening on the inside.

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Quick trU Tips: 4 Destructive Myths

Here is a quick learning activity for a leadership team. Tony Schwartz talked about myths that live in organizations that are destructive. Leadership development is about awareness first, and these points help leaders examine some myths that might be getting in their way. Use this at your next leadership team meeting, or around an examination of talent management.

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5 Habits To Build a Trust Savings Account

Truth and trust are the two areas that all leaders need to focus all of the time. Here are 5 Habits to build a Trust Savings Account (aka: Emergency Fund). The Birkman Method is a great tool for helping to understand the individual needs of your people. This is s cornerstone of both leadership development and the development of the culture of your team.

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What the mirror says . . .

Leadership and team development involves looking in the mirror on occassion. The Birkman Method is a great tool for creating self Awareness for the team and for the leaders. The Birkman Method helps see the natural style, the stress style, and the needs that have to be met in order to help the natural style of the leader be present more often.

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Nobody Behaves Well In The Corner

When people are under lots of stress because of life/work, they start action ‘strange’. When I hear labels, I automatically think of the Birkman Method and what it captures and shares. A cornerstone of leadership development is self awareness of what is normal behavior, what our needs are, and how to deal with stress.

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Why People Don’t Hear – 3 Actions To Help

Listening is not always THEIR problem. Leaders need to be clear and people need to have time to digest either positive or negative news. Too often there is confusion and surprise. Here are 3 steps for leaders to make sure the news is heard and it makes a difference.

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Silence and Resilience

Silence is not equal to doing nothing. Silence in resilience is about cleaning the lists off the mental whiteboard and only putting one or two things on it for a short time so they get attention. The Birkman Method is a great way to review how we need or should use silence.

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