Speak First Newsletter - May 2006

Creating an Impact - Surviving the Corporate Jungle

How good are your relationship skills? When was the last time you or your colleagues evaluated how well you get on with your clients and colleagues? Many people lack good interpersonal skills or a framework for understanding why differences of style and understanding occur. Focusing on behavioural types can help us survive the corporate jungle.

We have synthesised research into core personality types and to make it more accessible, have re-labelled the types as different animals. We've used this model in a couple of our Impact and Communication courses and are struck by how useful people find them and how easily they recall them afterwards. The animal metaphor has the specific advantage of generalising and softening what might otherwise seem like criticism. It helps people gain insights into strengths and weaknesses, understand why others act the way they do and feel motivated and upbeat to make changes in their behaviour.

Click here to find out which animals are in your office. Guess which type you are. Do you roar like a lion or do you just tend to monkey around? Give a copy to colleagues who may want to better understand personal styles and conflicts at work. Find out how to increase your behavioural flexibility and how to deal with other animals. In today's busy business jungle you will have a real advantage if you can easily spot and handle the animals around you.

Click here and scroll down to find out which animals are out there in public life.  We match the animals to some famous celebrities.