MidWest Birkman User Group

Some sketchy notes from our January Meeting (its hard to take notes for the site when you're engaged in the conversation!)

Authority:

Authority is tied to Green on the LS Grid. 

One request was the normative measurements for the Birkman - well... here you are:

Questions we're going to be asking Birkman -

What's the impact on someone with a low need in authority and a high musical?

Do people with high challenge see more reversals than "average"? 

One secret question - we'll answer at the next meeting

Freedom Score:

The freedom score is not tied to a color on the LS Grid 

Sometimes high freedom poeple "look" a little different.

High Freedom like to get engaed, push for the individual, take initiative, and look at thing in an unusual way.

They need freedom from control, need for personal independence - if they have high authority - they "take" their freedom.

Mid to Low need freedom people may enjoy being with people who are less conventional, but need to head back to their conventional life-style. 

"Just tell me what I'm supposed to do... so I can get it out of my way and I can do my thing within those boundaries..."

A great point was made - when looking at any component and the descriptors...  When scores across the board (ie 99,99,99), the descriptors are very accurate.  The further you move away from the extremes, the less the descriptors are "always true" of you.

Increases from 90 to 99 and 10 to 1, each increment becomes more and more  pronounced.

(note at this point - Birkman produces an excellent Conflict Resolution Guide - get it at Birkman.com)

For those of you who missed this meeting - you missed a great opportunity to look at some real-life reports re: Authority/Freedom (thanks Betty).

Tips (Pearls of wisdom)

• Often, its better to sit down individually with people before you do the group session...
• CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONTEXT... what is the background of the situation?  What are the goals that you're not achieving now? What is the function of the team?  Who's problem is it that there is conflict?
• As a consultant, we need to remember  to NOT bring our own biases to a coaching experience.  When working with teams, for instance, run the "Differences to Watch" report so you can gain perspective outside your own.
• The one who's different isn't necessarily wrong!
• We don't want "Conflict" - its an unpleasant word - instead use dialogue, working things through etc...
• Ram Charan/Larry Bossidy's book - Execution - call it "robust dialogue". - but its very cultural.
• The "magic" of the Birkman is that it gives permission for differences and focuses on the contribution of each.
• Clarity of the objective and "boundaries" are so important.

How do we look at Freedom/Authority as it relates to Conflict Resolution: (opinions...)

• they can provide you with an explanation/analysis of where conflict is most likely to arise - helpfully analytical - but not on their own for resolving team functionality issues.
• Manageing conflict in a team - re-frame the conversation - it may just be differences of opinion... what Birkman does, is a way to re-frame aspects of conflict where people aren't getting their needs met. - therefore - get people to be respectful that people have different needs and we need to strive for everyone to get their needs met. -  There will always be stress with those who want authority and those who don't - a code of conduct or agreed upon strategy for teamwork allows teams to function and get all the needs... basically - set the ground rules.
• Todd pointed out that we need to take into account someone's bottom line color which refines how we see and solve problems. Mixing components like this is just a starting point.
• There was some interesting discussion over the future of Organizational Focus... hmmmmmm :)
• The minute you start to judge, your needs aren't getting met.

When someone says - I am a "blue" - they are referring to their bottom line Organizational Focus

When we're talking about LS Grid - its interests.

Org Focus is more occupational 

LS Grid = all components except challenge and freedom.

LS Grid - more about who you are personally