BEHAVIOURAL PROFILING Understanding how to positively get along with others By Ken Goldstein
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’m a Certified Professional Behavioural Analyst (CPBA). Chances are you’ve never heard of a CPBA! I have a great job. Let me tell you about what I do. But first, here are some questions for you. Are you the type of person who walks into a room full of people you don’t know and makes a quick judgment about the others in the room based on what you see and hear? Do you think you are a good listener? Do you really hear what others say? Have you ever had a disconnect with someone and you couldn’t understand why? Did you ask yourself, “what’s their problem”? Behavioural Profiling (DISC) can help you understand others better and change your answers to these questions. One of the greatest challenges we face as people is trying to understand who we are. We are often so busy trying to figure everyone else out, that we don’t even try to figure ourselves out! If the subject of what I do comes up when I meet someone and I tell them I’m a Behavioural Profiler (CPBA) they often respond with the same two questions: “Are you like the guys on Criminal Minds?” and “Are you profiling me now?” They think that all profiling is like what they see on television and they don’t realize how their business or workplace, or they themselves can benefit from Behavioural profiling..
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Behavioural Profiling (DISC) helps you understand how people consistently behave. A person’s behaviour is a fundamental, ingrained and important part of who they are. How often when you meet someone new do you make the decision whether you like them based on your initial perception? And what are your perceptions based on, if not your own behaviour? We tend to filter the behavior of others through our own behavioral traits. I began using DISC 11 years ago. I used another tool before that, but DISC is the one I’ve chosen to use because for me it provides the format and approach, I think is most helpful in my work. Since I started using DISC, I’ve completed over 1000 Behavioural Profile Assessments for business clients, friends and other individuals trying to figure themselves out and find better ways to communicate and interact with those they come into contact. Something important to remember before I go any further - DISC profiling deals with someone’s behavioural patterns, not their psychological makeup. I can’t tell you how many times people who complete a profile are amazed at how accurate their profile report is. Sometimes they realize
