CPA Congress 2009

Organisations that focus strongly on interpersonal skills learning are on average 27% more productive and enjoy 40% higher revenue growth than their competitors, according to a recent study by Accenture.

Ric Willmot says that his experience shows that great leadership is achieved by getting things done through others, which involves so many of the interpersonal skills that we all use every day. But, even if you can identify your own behaviour properly, you won’t change unless you’re willing.

To help companies leverage the inherent value in employees’ work styles, the Executive Wisdom Consulting Group uses the Social Style Model, a tool for understanding basic behaviours and their impact on others, and for building interpersonal skills in business settings. The Social Style Model divides human behaviour into two categories:
1.    Assertiveness and
2.    Responsiveness.

Assertiveness refers to the degree to which a person “asks” vs. “tells” during social interactions. The example Ric Willmot gives is: Do you quietly ask your colleagues, “Would you like to go to lunch?” or loudly announce, “Let’s go to lunch!”?

Contrarily, responsiveness refers to the degree to which a person is introverted vs. extroverted. If you’re angry, do you keep it to yourself or let everyone know how you feel?

Employees must not only have the ability to recognise their own work styles and those of others but be willing to change and adapt.

Ric Willmot will be sharing more about Social Styles at the Brisbane and Adelaide CPA Congresses.