TTI Success Insights Archives

Introvert, Ambivert, or Extrovert — Do You Know Yourself?

By Dustin Hebets

In my work as TTI SI’s Cognitive Behavioral Research Analyst, I focus on the how and why of human behavior. Why do people do what they do? How does the lens of a behavioral style help us understand each other? Why do some people prefer to communicate in one method over the other?

These questions can get technical in research, but the answers are the true key to successful communication, engagement, and productivity in the workplace. Not everyone knows what their DISC type is, but most people know if they’re an extrovert, introvert, or somewhere in between. Here are the skills each type naturally excel in, areas of improvement, and what you can do to understand each type better.

What do you REALLY want?

The ONE Thing That Can Change Everything…

By Patrick Ensign

What do you want most for your business, your family…and you? How do all of these wants align with the actual work you do and the decisions you are making for your company?

Asking yourself these questions is the first step to gaining clarity. When you have clarity about what you are working towards, you are able to both prioritize and naturally align with those life/business practices that are effective in achieving your goal.

Whether you are a business owner, leader or professional at any level, you have heard the stats by Forbes:

40% of people are planning on switching jobs next year.
69% of employees are searching for a new position while on the clock with your organization.

Does it sound like these employees are effectively serving customers, crushing company goals, or engaged in the organization’s culture? Seeing that people are the single greatest factor in the success or decline of an organization, it would seem there is a big problem.

How to Harness Originality and Great Ideas in the Workplace

By Dave Clark

Have you ever had a great idea, but were afraid to express it for fear of being thought of as being “out there?” Or, have you ever been exposed to ideas at work that you just knew were destined for failure, but you didn’t say anything as to not rock the boat?

At some point in our careers, the majority of us have experienced both of these things. While it seems so simple to speak up, we often don’t. Why is this?

Many factors will hold us back from voicing our true opinions. Fear of having our ideas rejected is one. Fear of a perceived disagreement may be another. All ideas come from people, and people take ownership of these ideas. When ideas are challenged, the owner of that idea can often times get defensive. Ego is a natural part of life and not all leaders take negative feedback as well as others. Because of this, many brilliant ideas go unspoken and many less than brilliant ones don’t get challenged, simply because they originated from someone who outranks us.

My Personal Civil War: What Happens When Behaviors or Motivators Clash

By Dave Clark

Some people call it an internal struggle. Others call it a “me-me” conflict. I like to call it my personal civil war. Many of us have one (or more) of these internal conflicts and they tend to cause us mental anguish, often on a daily basis.

This “me-me” conflict comes when either primary behaviors or motivators are contradictory to each other and clash. These conflicts make us want to go in more than one direction at the same time, creating internal discord. Learning to manage these internal conflicts is necessary in order for us to maintain our sanity, let alone be productive.

These conflicts explain why some people want to win the lottery but won’t buy a ticket. Or, why others who pledge to get in shape in the morning are spotted at the donut shop and fast food restaurant by lunchtime. With these opposing mental forces pushing and pulling us in different directions, we often concede to the behavior or driver that is strongest.

10 Things Successful People Do Every Day

By Dave Clark

Have you ever wondered if there is a secret formula for being successful? Why is it that some people seem to have a Midas touch while others struggle to get by? American historian, best-selling author and keynote speaker Kevin Kruse recently interviewed more than 200 highly successful people, a group that included seven billionaires, 13 Olympians, and accomplished entrepreneurs from many walks of life. One simple question provided a tremendous amount of insight. The question was: “What is your number one secret to productivity?”

Several consistencies emerged from the answers of this highly accomplished group. Ten common themes are found below. Read More

5 Characteristics of Great Leaders

By Dave Clark,

The hope of every employee is to work for a leader they like and respect. While each person may have their own definition of what constitutes a “great leader,” we can agree there are certain traits that appeal to the masses.

If you are a leader and you possess these five traits, you are probably quite successful. If you don’t think these traits describe your leadership style, working on one or more of these areas would be a great place to start in order to build a better rapport with your teams.

7 Traits Typically Found in Highly Emotionally Intelligent People

By Dave Clark,

Emotional intelligence (or EQ) is a hot button topic these days, especially in the workplace. It is widely believed, and rightly so, that individuals with high emotional intelligence tend to better manage the rigors and stresses found regularly in the workplace. Some people even argue that having a high EQ is more important than having a high IQ.

After reading an article by Matt Valentine of Goalcast, he suggests there are seven traits that are common among emotionally intelligent people. Being able to harness these traits and utilize them daily can help a person succeed where others come up short. According to Valentine, these highly emotionally intelligent people…

5 Tips for Onboarding New Employees

By Dave Clark

We all know that it’s an employee’s market and candidates are becoming much more picky on where they decide to work. They know what they want and today, they demand more out of an employer than they ever have in the past.

With fewer candidates available in the marketplace, hiring the right ones the first time – and keeping them – is more important than ever. What can your company do to complete a successful onboarding process with its new employees? Keeping these five keys in mind will ensure your employees stay engaged and feel like they are becoming a part of your organization during their onboarding period.

5 Tips for Onboarding New Employees

By Dave Clark

What Companies Need to Do to Attract Top Talent in 2019

By Dave Clark

The employment landscape has changed significantly over the past few years. Gone are the days of employers having hundreds of candidates to choose from with employees scrambling to land any job they could get. Today, the employees have the upper hand. This shift took place the moment that job openings surpassed hires. That trend continues to rise so it appears that it will continue to be an employee’s market for the foreseeable future.

For an organization to grow in this environment, it will take a more concerted effort of attracting and retaining great employees. Companies will need to take a much more proactive approach in seeking out great talent. In a sense, it’s a role reversal with the company now needing to sell itself to the candidate.

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