On April 15th, the Livingston Sunrise Rotary Club took a “self-scoring behavioral assessment tool”. As members we answered questions to determine individuals’ behavioral styles and to understand other members. The following describes the groups and their characteristics.
This blog also includes unscientific observations made by the author derived from photos taken at last Friday’s meeting. Take all with a grain of salt!
Controllers
Let’s start with our group of controllers. We love our controllers. They keep us safe through law enforcement. They build our hospitals. They take charge and are decisive. Natural born leaders. What would a club be without them! When they pose for a picture, they need their own space. They choose to keep their coffee cup with them. They hang on to their cup of coffee to keep them getting results! If they forget their coffee, they fold their arms or put their hands in pockets. They have a plan. But beware, they might get impatient. They are a small group in our rotary club. Although I do wonder if some promoters are teetering on the edge of joining the controllers.Supporters
Opposite of controllers, in my opinion, are the supporters! Relationship oriented all the way. Building a consensus. Supporters want to be included. Their problem is the potential of being too agreeable. Not liking conflict. These people are our best team players. But don’t mistake the focus on relationships with lacking passion or drive. There can be some strong controlling tendencies hidden in there. When they pose for a picture, they move really close. As in holding hands, hugging and other gestures to make sure everyone is included. Supporter doesn’t mean follower. Successful in business, real estate and even law. Our current fine sheriff is a supporter.Analytical
Back to the “formal” half of the quadrants, the analyzing style is next to the controlling style. Again very fortunate as a club to have these members. Why? Because they are thorough, organized, and good planners. These members step up to the plate. They are fact based and want to feel certain. They bring logic to the club. Not distracted by emotions or controlling others, life seems good for our analytical members. This is a small group made up of a university math department chair, business consultant and artist, and businessman focused on interest rates and dollars. They see life clearly. Not overly affected by emotions. Bring a sense of the rational to the emotions that can exist in a membership group of diverse business leaders.Promoters
The largest group (by far) in the Livingston Sunrise Rotary Club. We need to understand them! According to the assessment tool, promoters are stimulating, inspirational, and generate ideas. They want to know that “it will be exciting” (President Aleia) and want to feel inspired. Understandable that most people that are drawn to a Rotary Club fit in this group. They are a passionate group who want to make a difference in the world…not just in their neighborhood. They want to yell it from the mountain tops. In their photo, they are the group that promotes that they are promoters pointing at their sign. Their excitement is easy to see along with their energy. They are our cheerleaders. Their energy boils over and they are ready to go!TIPS ON WORKING TOGETHER
Probably the most important part of the exercise is understanding each other as members of a club. For a controlling style, the focus is on results. The analyzing style focuses on data and facts. The promoting style focuses on excitement. And finally, the supporters focus on relationships. When a question comes up, they will see in through their unique lens. I took this test as part of the Michigan Small Business Development Center Academy of Business Professionals in 2008. Back then, I tested as a promoter. For eight years, that has influenced the way I saw myself. As a result, I was initially surprised that I switched into the supporter group. But after reviewing how I answered questions, I could see that in my role as a small business owner and website designer (with a focus on relationship marketing), I have crossed over a quadrant. Relationships are key to my success. Believe most members are like me. They fall into a quadrant but on another day could fall into another one. Some of the controllers might also have an analyzing style. Some of the promoters might have a strong controlling style on a different day. Self-awareness is important in our business lives and in the success of our club. Special thanks to Cheryl Ochodnicky for bringing the experience of this behavior assessment tool to our Livingston Sunrise Rotary Club morning meeting on April 15, 2016.
Written by Nancy Johnson, Owner of Nancy J Web Design, located in Brighton Michigan serving southeastern Michigan. For more information about Nancy J Web Design, go to nancyjwebdesign.com.
