Monthly Archives: January 2019

Ceramics, coding, current events– no matter the topic, you love to learn about it. You don’t need to become the subject matter expert, acquire a wall of diplomas, or be formally recognized to validate your learning experience. These outcomes are secondary. The act of learning – and staying up-to-speed – is what matters to you. Your personal nightmare is being stuck in meetings with “know-it-alls” who insist on asserting their correctness and resist digging deeper into issues or ideas. While you don’t consider yourself to be one of these know-it-alls, your coworkers may feel differently, especially if you communicate the knowledge you learn in an authoritative or condescending tone.

Dream on, dreamer. You’re a big thinker, always imagining future possibilities. You consider yourself to be a creative visionary, and you’re on a mission to lead your company forward. You have little patience for coworkers or managers who are reluctant to embrace change and for workplace environments that are stuck in the past. At times, your passion for progress can alienate people, especially when you brush aside institutional learnings or rush forward without a well-conceived plan.

Forget the lights and the camera, you just want the action. Standing around waiting for things to happen is, quite frankly, the worst thing imaginable. While coworkers may talk themselves in circles with planning, you’re going to go, go, go until you reach your goal. Once you’ve made a decision, it’s full steam ahead to accomplish your mission. Others may consider you to be rash, and it’s true your passion for action has led you to make some missteps in the past. It’s just that you learn by doing, not pondering over a problem for days. After all, how else could you determine if a course of action will be successful if you don’t try it?

You may as well be a math book, because the more problems you solve, the better. It doesn’t matter whether these problems are in your personal or professional life– what matters is you’re able to identify what’s wrong and find a constructive solution. Sometimes you get a thrill out of encountering a challenge similar to one you’ve solved before because you know how quickly you can apply your past knowledge to fix the problem. Other times, you crave a new beast. You’re not great at “just listening”– without taking any concrete action to address the problem, you feel useless and can become frustrated or disengaged. What’s the point of talking about a problem if you’re not providing a solution?

We’ve all heard the phrase “the early bird gets the worm,” and as someone with a strong Responsibility theme, you take this to the next level. Not only do you arrive early but you’ll also often stay late– you’ve got a lot cover on your very full plate! You don’t like saying no to someone who needs your help on projects or proposals, and consequently, you can end up overcommitted. Once you’ve given your word, however, you’ll follow through– even if you’re burning the midnight oil to do so.  

NY Times best selling author, Kevin Kruse answers listener questions about leadership, productivity, entrepreneurship and more.

People who are high in “C” are more introverted and reserved, and task-oriented. They tend to be cautious, calculating, competent, contemplative, and careful. They are typically analytical, detail-oriented, and intentional. They value precision and have inquisitive natures, often appearing critical by asking many questions. Leaders who have high “C” expect everyone to follow their standards and make sure that everything is working the way it should.

The DISC profile is a behavioral assessment tool, based on William Marston’s theory that there are four major personality traits: Dominance (D), Influence (I), Steadiness (S), and Conscientiousness (C).

People who are high in “I” are extroverted and outgoing, and people-oriented. They tend to be inspiring, impressionable, interactive, impressive and involved. They are typically vocal and animated. They like to engage others in conversation. Leaders who have high “I” energize others and are usually popular because of their social skills and charm.