Birkman Learning System

How to lean on other components when this one is not working for you.  We often target a specific score as being ideal in a given situation whether regarding leadership, mitigating conflict or executive coaching but our client may simply not possess that particular behavior.  In addition to behavior borrowing, we will offer substitute components to leverage similar actions from other components.   What does Compensatory Strength mean? It’s about finding another natural strength than can help achieve the desired results when my first component choice isn’t getting me there There are times when a behavior typically associated with a specific component is desired. For example, let’s say my job responsibility requires me to be authoritative, visibly taking charge; yet my 4 on Usual Assertiveness doesn’t help me a great deal in this area. Even if I stretch to behaviors that are a little higher I may not be able to model the desired behavior to get the job done. So what can I do? Look elsewhere within my Birkman report! Perhaps I have another Usual behavior that I can pull from to get similar results. For example, leveraging my high Usual Insistence score could be a way to come from another angle. Instead of using the power of dominant conversation I can rely on the procedures and structures (Insistence) to get the results I desire. Instead of saying “I am giving you the responsibility to manage this project and nothing should stand in your way of getting it done” (Assertiveness), I can now say “Here’s the timeline we are operating under. According to this plan we will meet for status updates twice a week in order to stay on track to deliver by our deadline” (Insistence). Think of it like substituting an ingredient in a recipe - oops, I’m out of baking soda. What can I use instead? The flavor may not be exactly the same but it’s close enough to deliver dinner! Read more

Facilitator: Lynn Greene Have you ever wondered whether the difference between Usual scores and Need scores matters?If you’re like most certified consultants, you probably don’t pay a lot of attention to that “gap,” tending instead to focus on the actual scores.This is quite normal and natural.However, there are times when the gap is more important – or at least more informative – than the scores themselves.Surprise you? If the answer to that question is “yes,” then you should consider signing up for this webinar, where we will explore the significance of gaps and learn how to incorporate gap dynamics into our understanding and ultimate application of The Method. We will address such questions as: “When (and how much) does Need influence our Usual behavior (other than when distressed)?” “Is a large gap better (or worse) than a small one?” “What about negative gaps?”(Yes – there are such things.) “Does the gap signal a potential blind spot?”   Read more

Change has become a constant in today’s workforce and an organization’s ability to manage change can be the deciding factor in success or failure. Data is abundant to analyze systems and structures yet it is the human element that is necessary for sustained and lasting change efforts. Understanding and aligning the human resources to strategic efforts provides a critical element to ensure change efforts are successful and lasting. This session will focus on how The Birkman Method® can be used as a tool in strategic change efforts to align behaviors with desired outcomes using applied techniques. Topics will include: •Differentiating organizational and relational analysis •Aligning resources to meet strategic goals •How Birkman is used to understand an organization’s core values •Linking behaviors to desired performance criteria •Performing gap analysis to structure appropriate interventions Facilitator: Stacey Petruszka Read more

The new format of the Signature Report is not just the change of a few words and updated graphics. It signifies a whole new outlook from Birkman on what your interaction with the respondent looks like. Join Dan Perryman as he helps you move from “interpreting” someone’s report, to having an insightful conversation about them – not the instrument. For newer practitioners, this is a great opportunity to establish positive routines early in their career with Birkman. For those that are more set in their ways, having an open mind will allow you to discover new ways to look at your process and determine if your style is really better or you, as opposed to better for your client. This “new” conversation is framed by the Birkman Conversation Model, which powers a discussion that moves beyond informational to inspirational. Created specifically for the Signature Report, the model will help you have more effective sessions that result in actionable insights. The webinar will also help you understand the decision to de-focus the emphasis on Stress Behavior, explore new language around Usual Behavior and Needs, and introduce you to new anchor words that will help you connect behaviorally to the respondent’s mindset about self and others. This webinar is designed to challenge you to break some less-effective habits, which many Birkman Professionals have developed. If you are willing to explore new ideas and are open to reframing your mindset of feedback, interpretation and debrief this will be a timely investment into your career. Read more

Wondering what to offer after an individual Birkman conversation? While there are many different ways to apply Birkman data, often the challenge lies in discovering where to start. In this webinar, we will explore different methods for applying The Birkman Method beyond the initial conversation. Whether you are looking to boost productivity with a team building activity or are planning an enterprise-wide Birkman series, this interactive conversation will provide the architecture needed to maintain momentum and successfully integrate Birkman into an organization.  Through a discussion of real-life business applications, you will also gain the confidence to build upon your existing understanding of The Birkman Method and develop a menu of options that can provide support and education across an organization. Read more

This Birkman Learning Event reveals how Birkman reports can tell their own story when the Birkman professional takes an artistic rather than a scientific approach. The purpose of this Birkman Learning Event is two-fold: First, we introduce a creative approach to the interpretation of Birkman Method reports. Second, we introduce a comprehensive method of Birkman analysis designed for those few especially difficult Birkman reports to interpret. It will certainly depend on how much time and how many years you have given Birkman interpretation as to the “value added” nature of this discussion. We hope it helps those who may benefit the most and reinforces the basics for those who have many years of consulting experience. In one sense, you interpret tricky Birkmans in the same way you would interpret any Birkman report– but with much more preparation, situation analysis, in-depth confirming dialogue, and by applying a creative, open-ended, and flexible interpretation method. Simply stated, you do what you usually do, but you do it better. Our suggestion is that you use this approach and modify it to fit your style and your clients. Consider this approach for its heuristic value rather than a verbatim feedback script. Get ready to have some fun! Read more