Building the right team . . .

How motivated are your team and how do they behave when in conflict situations? When we recruit staff we use a variety of methods from CV to interview, skillset, psychometric tests, social media checks, recommendation or just plain gut instinct! One important oversight often made is how your new recruit will fit in with your culture and how their personality will fit with his/her new colleagues. Equally important is not to ignore personality fit by judging on skills alone. A team of head strong people may get things done, but harmony may be the casualty - equally a team of altruistic, nurturing people may be harmonious and nice to be around - but may be missing a leader. In an earlier blog we talked about emotional intelligence, how we behave and the impact it has on those around us. We use a methodology called 'Strength Deployment Inventory' (SDI) . . . SDI is based on Relationship Awareness Theory and is a tool that enables individuals to increase their self-awareness and the awareness of others in how they relate to each other by effectively understand the motives behind behaviour. The Theory (and the psychometric test SDI) was developed by psychologist, clinical therapist, educator, and author Elias H. Porter. Using the SDI gives teams and individuals the awareness and skills they need to build more effective personal and professional relationships. It helps them to sustain those relationships through understanding the underlying Motivational Value Systems™ of themselves and others under two conditions: 1. When things are going well2. During conflict It is a powerful way of looking at human relationships that helps build communication, trust, empathy, and effective, productive relationships. The theory itself is founded on four premises: 1. Behaviour is driven by the motivation to achieve self-worth2. Motivation tends to change in conflict3. Strengths, when overdone or misapplied, can be perceived as a weakness4. We tend to judge others’ behaviours based on our own motivations and values Motivational Value Systems™ Relationship Awareness Theory identifies seven general themes or clusters of motives known as Motivational Value Systems (MVS). Relationship Awareness describes them in terms of positive strivings for self-worth by adults in relationships.Altruistic–Nurturing (Blue): Concern for the protection, growth, and welfare of others.Assertive–Directing (Red): Concern for task accomplishment and concern for organization of people, time, money and any other resources to achieve desired results.Analytic–Autonomizing (Green): Concern for assurance that things have been properly thought out and concern for meaningful order being established and maintained. SDI brings a common sense reality to the saying “try to see it from the other person’s point of view”. Beyond Behaviour Relationship Awareness Theory is a Motivational Theory which addresses the motives that are behind every-day behaviour when we are relating to others. It assumes that there is meaning behind all behaviour. By shifting our focus from only looking at behaviour to looking at the motive behind the behaviour, we can gain a clearer understanding of ourselves and others.