Making promises and decisions when you are emotional can have negative or unintended consequences. Who here didn't promise something when they were extremely happy, only to find out later that you didn't think it through? Or did you make a hasty decision that you later deeply regrets?

We often confuse our preferences with rules. We think that because we like something or would do it a certain way, everyone else should too. This is not only false, but it can also have some very negative consequences. To be better people and better communicators, we need to learn to analyze our criticism before issuing it. The next time you have an opinion about how someone did something, ask yourself these questions: Is my preference really a rule? Was the result the same regardless of how it was done? If so, then my review is unfounded!

If you want to be an effective leader, it's important to understand how your natural behavioral style affects group dynamics. DISC is a model that describes four different behavior styles: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Stealth. Knowing what style you naturally fall into can help you better understand how to interact with other people and lead a team more effectively. We'll discuss the DISC model in more detail and explain how understanding your natural style can help you become a better leader!