Businesses are navigating unprecedented levels of change. In response, leaders have increased responsibility and greater pressure to ensure business success amidst such change.
As a result, business leaders must work as effectively as possible. This means not only utilising their strengths but also identifying growth areas and blind spots.
However, as the name suggests, blind spots are notoriously difficult to notice.
One of the most effective ways to address this is to decode behaviour.
As a result, business leaders must work as effectively as possible. This means not only utilising their strengths but also identifying growth areas and blind spots.
However, as the name suggests, blind spots are notoriously difficult to notice.
One of the most effective ways to address this is to decode behaviour.
Verbal Behavioural Intelligence
Everyone has a natural way of behaving, with particular strengths and weaknesses.
It is common practice for organisations to use psychometric tools to help leaders understand their predominant behavioural styles. However, despite the growing prevalence of such tools, there are limits to the value of the insight they reveal when used alone.
For this reason, Verbal Behavioural Intelligence (VBI), a model developed by OnTrack International after thousands of hours of observation, combines behavioural insight with a method of behavioural change.
As well as identifying how someone typically behaves, VBI reveals the consequences of this style of behaviour on an individual’s effectiveness. It produces a road map for what they need to do differently to improve their ability to lead.
It is common practice for organisations to use psychometric tools to help leaders understand their predominant behavioural styles. However, despite the growing prevalence of such tools, there are limits to the value of the insight they reveal when used alone.
For this reason, Verbal Behavioural Intelligence (VBI), a model developed by OnTrack International after thousands of hours of observation, combines behavioural insight with a method of behavioural change.
As well as identifying how someone typically behaves, VBI reveals the consequences of this style of behaviour on an individual’s effectiveness. It produces a road map for what they need to do differently to improve their ability to lead.
How does it work?
Taking an example from common psychometric tool DISC, a business leader might learn that they have ‘Driver’ behaviour preferences. This means that they are assertive, decisive, and good at convincing people to work towards a goal. It also indicates that they are typically resistant to being influenced by others. The Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) psychometric tool describes this character type as a ‘Snowplough’, able to push through action.
While insightful, this information does not provide the individual with a sense of the consequence of their behaviour on others. These methods, therefore, have limitations in helping leaders adapt their behaviours to successfully lead.
By holding up a ‘quantifiable mirror’, VBI provides powerful, real-time insight into these consequences. For instance, the Driver or Snowplough character type may achieve their goal, but in doing so, have alienated other members of the team, shut out new ideas, and become less approachable.
While insightful, this information does not provide the individual with a sense of the consequence of their behaviour on others. These methods, therefore, have limitations in helping leaders adapt their behaviours to successfully lead.
By holding up a ‘quantifiable mirror’, VBI provides powerful, real-time insight into these consequences. For instance, the Driver or Snowplough character type may achieve their goal, but in doing so, have alienated other members of the team, shut out new ideas, and become less approachable.
It is helpful to remember author Steven Covey’s observation that “we judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behaviour”.
The Driver believes their intention is good. But by being unaware of the impact of their behavioural style, they may have not been able to utilise their character type as effectively as they could.
VBI offers a clear set of actionable steps to better develop their capacity to engage others, fuel curiosity and enable growth among their team. In this example, it would encourage the Driver to learn how to bring in other perspectives, listen and learn to others and keep colleagues engaged in the journey.
VBI offers a clear set of actionable steps to better develop their capacity to engage others, fuel curiosity and enable growth among their team. In this example, it would encourage the Driver to learn how to bring in other perspectives, listen and learn to others and keep colleagues engaged in the journey.
Why is this so important now?
The challenges businesses face today require new solutions and creative thinking. However, at times of stress, people tend to revert to their predominant behavioural styles.
Business leaders who are stuck in familiar patterns of behaviour, will evoke in their teams equally tried and tested behaviours. No one is growing or learning from each other.
Imagine a business where the leader is not valued by the team because of their domineering behavioural style. Using VBI, an experienced L&D professional can highlight what the leader is doing that is unhelpful and help them to learn more helpful behaviours.
In addition, L&D professionals can also create ambassadors within the team to support the required growth.
Business leaders who are stuck in familiar patterns of behaviour, will evoke in their teams equally tried and tested behaviours. No one is growing or learning from each other.
Imagine a business where the leader is not valued by the team because of their domineering behavioural style. Using VBI, an experienced L&D professional can highlight what the leader is doing that is unhelpful and help them to learn more helpful behaviours.
In addition, L&D professionals can also create ambassadors within the team to support the required growth.
Someone who is more inclined towards behaviours such as testing understanding can step in, modelling what is needed in that moment.
VBI increases the pace of learning and change by making the necessary insight immediately apparent and relevant. It provides clear and actionable steps to adjust the verbal behaviour to achieve a better result.
Show your workings
VBI is not designed to change leader’s habitual behavioural styles, but to allow them to add in their less utilised behaviour to better connect and engage their colleagues.
By highlighting why verbal behaviour is so important, VBI can quickly reveal blind spots that can transform how even the most successful leaders navigate dramatic change.
By highlighting why verbal behaviour is so important, VBI can quickly reveal blind spots that can transform how even the most successful leaders navigate dramatic change.
