First, let me say emphatically that I DELIGHT in Christmas! But between our relentless COVID-19 foe and our often-unrealistic expectations of Christmas, there seems to be an inordinate amount of stress in people’s lives this year. Just check in with FaceBook or Twitter to see strong emotions and frustrations spilling out of folks everywhere!
I know there is an inordinate amount of information on Stress. But I’d like to add some insight and offer a different way of approaching the subject.
As I’ve mentioned before, this blog is based on my “Ideal Person in the Ideal Place” workshop that I give to orthodontic residents and dental groups.
Usually this section of my workshop comes much later – after understanding the DISC Styles and which Office Roles are best filled by which Styles. Then there is all the fun (Truly!) of my “No-Fail-Disaster-Proof Hiring Method” which I promise to get to in the New Year. THEN we talk about Office Dynamics and how to utilize the DISC in dealing with Stress, Time Management, Communication and Motivation.
But insight and understanding can go a long way to relieving stress. Today I want to distill it down to just 3 Main Steps.
Before I understood the DISC and how it relates to Stress, I confess I held two major misunderstandings – first, expecting and assuming that if I was stressed by something, everyone else should be, too. Then I learned we all have different levels of “stress tolerance”.
But the second misunderstanding- and even more dangerous- was my assumption that others would respond like I did to stress. And it still took years for me to recognize “stress markers” in my own life.
I admit that even last week, I had an incident that stressed me, just talking with a friend on the phone. I was surprised at my emotions that came bubbling up and how I responded – until I started writing this blogpost and had an AHA! Moment… of course that is how I would respond… it is all right there in the list below!
Step 1: Understand the DISC Styles Basics:
See either my blogpost from 12-8-20 on “If There is One Magic Key, What Does It Unlock?” OR the free DISC Styles Infographic – available through the form below.
Step 2: Understand how each DISC Style responds to stress:
Since each Style is quite unique in their strengths and qualities, it is no surprise that each Style’s response to stress would also be unique. Remember as you read over the following list that these words describe how each Style tends to respond.
Another important factor is that each of us is a combination of the Styles… but we will get to that blogpost in January. For now, take note of the main ways each Style responds and seek to increase your understanding, your awareness and your empathy. Special thanks to Extended DISC, Inc., for their insights:
- D-Style: Impatient, aggressive, blunt, demanding
- I-Style: Seeks attention, overly dramatic, very emotional, overvalues others’ opinions
- S-Style: Withdraws, overly cautious, stubborn, resistant to change
- C-Style: Questions everything, overly prudent, withdraws, fears the worst
Step 3: Be aware and notice others’ stress responses as well as your own and choose how to wisely respond:
That list has quite a variety of reactions! Can you use this understanding to heighten your awareness of when you are experiencing stress as well as when those around you are demonstrating these reactions?
My blogpost next week will be about each DISC Style’s preferred way to alleviate their stress, and no… it’s not always with chocolate… but hopefully, it will continue the process of growing in our understanding and empathy – whether we are at home, with office mates, in our neighborhoods or simply with friends.
QUESTION: Do these Stress Response Descriptors sound like how you respond? Or how someone near and/or dear to you tends to respond? I’d love to hear your thoughts and observations. Please share with me in the comment section below.
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