Common Vocabulary

At the end of an email to Mark this week, I wrote: "My opinion. And, if it's the unchosen alternative, I'm completely willing to murder it myself". I was referring to this cast, about professional subordination: http://www.manager-tools.com/2010/12/professional-subordination-part-1. As I wrote it, I realised how useful it is to have a common vocabulary.

One of the best things about a team learning DiSC is that you have a way of talking about the way people behave. There's a shortcut: "would you talk to Dave about doing the project briefing - he's a high I so he'll be great but you'll need to remind him".

The thing we forget though, is that new people don't have the same vocabulary. They have to be told that the MTP report covers the 'Management Transition Plan' (if indeed it does). And we think that because we told them once, they'll remember. But when you're learning a new language, it's hard to remember everything first time. So if you have someone new on your team, take time to explain, and take time to remind them a few times when the conversation becomes peppered with acronyms. You were new once too.