A_Plan_for_Positive_Influence

A Plan for Positive Influence Working together as a team can be challenging. For a team to work well together, it is most beneficial for the team members to realize each other’s personalities, and how they can work together. Each team member needs to be aware of his or her personality and how he or she will fit into the team, and how the personality characteristic correlates with the other team member’s personalities. Learning Team A has five team members. Each member recently took the DISC Platinum Rule Behavioral Style Assessment. Four of the team members have the Interactive style; the fifth member has the Dominance Style characteristics. The Interactive style is strong in people and communication skills and they are idea-people and dreamers who can influence others to become excited about their vision (Alessandra, 2010). The Dominance Style is goal-oriented go-getters who like to be in charge of people and situations (Alessandra, 2010). Once all team members revealed their results, it was understood why the team does work well together. With four members possessing the same style, they understand reactions from the team members, and they tend to have the same respect for the tasks at hand. The Dominance style person brings in the leadership characteristic for the group, along with keeping the team on track. Some characteristics of the Interactive Style may work against the Dominance Style’s personalities. The Interactive Style tends to be a social-butterfly, whereas the Dominance Style is more down to business. The Dominant Style individual will assist the team with staying on task if the Interactive Style individuals divert the attention of the group off the task at hand. During meetings, the three Interactive Style team members need to keep their socializing to a minimum and keep to the business at hand. The Dominant Style needs to recognize the social characteristic of the Interactive Style, and allow some socializing to take place. Allowing the Interactive style individuals to discuss their experiences will enable them to build a rapport with the team. Agendas will need to be made for meetings to ensure everyone stays on task and will give a preset guideline for the flow of the meeting, and keep the meeting on track. A positive characteristic of the Interactive Style that works well with the Dominance Style is completing the work assigned to them. With the team built of three Interactive and one Dominance Style, they all know they can depend on each other to complete tasks that are assigned to each team member. This value allows the team to trust one another. Trust between team members is an important characteristic for a team to have. Each style takes the business at hand seriously. Both styles want their ideas supported or acknowledged. When a team member presents an idea each team member will need to acknowledge the idea so as not to upset team members. Team members will need to be respectful of each other’s ideas, and determine which will be best for the project. Internal conflicts are bound to happen between team members. Each style needs to be aware of the best way to interact with each other so these conflicts do not interfere with the project. The Interactive style is emotional by nature, and Dominance style individuals are not. The Interactive Style individuals will need to avoid arguing with their feelings about the conflict, and stick to the facts of the conflict. The team may need to give in to the Dominance style during a conflict to move past the conflict, as the Dominance style is not likely to take a back seat to others. The Interactive Style individuals are good communicators both with individuals and in a group setting. This characteristic will benefit the team when an idea or project is brought to management’s attention. The Interactive style individuals can use this characteristic to assist management with becoming excited about the idea or project. The Dominance Style and Interactive Style are two traits that have characteristics that can balance each other out and work together well in a team. The Dominant Style can assist the Interactive Style with staying focused on the project at hand, so the team can accomplish the task at hand in a timely manner. The Interactive Style excels at communication and is able influence others to see their vision and why it is important to the project. Both styles are cognitive of deadlines and ensure the tasks assigned to them are complete in the time allotted. This benefits the team so the project can be completed on time and does not have any delays.