Two of my favourite TV programmes at the moment are “Mary Queen of Shops” with Mary Portas and “The Hotel Inspector” with Alex Polizzi.
The shows contain lots of tips on ways to improve businesses as well as an insight into how poorly some are run in the first place.
They’re interesting also from a DISC point of view. I continually learn more about behaviour by watching real people as opposed to characters. These two programmes for me highlight combination profiles.
The business owner that we meet initially is adopting the style of behaviour he/she feels necessary for meeting Mary or Alex and featuring on television. Sometimes they might be the somewhat aggressive high ‘D’, perhaps the over-the-top gregarious high ‘I’, seemingly reluctant high ‘S’ or the fussy high ‘C’.
As Mary and Alex probe deeper and ask more questions, the other high style of the business owner shows through and often as not, it is the characteristics of the high ‘S’. Things in the business are what they are because the business owner doesn’t like change or know how to. There is often a reluctance to change when Mary or Alex suggests improvements but these ladies usually win through by the end.
It would be interesting to visit all of the businesses in say 12 months time to see if the changes are still in place. It’s hard to change if you have lots of ‘S’ and old, comfortable ways can slip back in.
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