Terri J Radcliff
Examples of how adjusting behavior gets results.
The CEO and SVP of Human Resources
At a telecom company the head of HR and the CEO were both high in assertiveness and as a result often bumped up against each other. They both had a strong drive to be in charge; they were often forceful, decisive, and sometimes competitive. They often wanted the same thing and worked together effectively. However, when they had a different end result in mind – or different strategies to achieve the same end result - things could get heated.
After participating in an AVA leadership development workshop and subsequent one on one coaching conversations they both recognized how to work together more effectively. They learned when and how to adjust their behavior, to take turns listening and to recognize when and how to compromise. This healthier working relationship had a positive trickle-down effect on the rest of the leadership team and the overall culture.
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The Coach and the Quarterback
An NFL quarterback was high in conformity. He would do all that he could to avoid criticism; being given constructive feedback was extremely challenging. He needed to do everything right and follow all procedures to a tee. Harmony and perfection were always top of mind. When he got nervous and thought he was going to be yelled at, he’d throw bad passes. Fortunately for him, his first NFL coach understood the benefits of adjusting his coaching style with different players, depending on their need. With this quarterback the coach was very mindful about being calm, appreciative, and supportive. He knew to take this player aside for a quick one on one and whisper in his ear “you’re doing a great job, next time just….”. Eventually the player was traded to another team where the coach treated everyone the same, with a much more direct way of giving feedback and this quarterback did not respond well. He was eventually traded again, then again, and was never as successful as when he played for his first coach.