Understanding overdone and underdone behavioural traits with PRISM®

Have you ever wondered how your behavioural traits influence your everyday life, personally and professionally? We all possess strengths that come naturally and other traits that might not feel as comfortable. But what does it all mean in practical terms?

Within PRISM®, a powerful tool we’ve been exploring over the last couple of weeks, there’s a concept of overdone and underdone behaviours. Individuals can sometimes over-rely on certain behaviours, feeling at ease. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean these behaviours are always the best fit for a given situation.

Let’s take myself as an example. I scored a 95 in the “co-ordination” (blue) behaviour, which means I am naturally inclined towards involving others, promoting teamwork, and fostering collaboration. It’s fantastic in many circumstances, but what happens when a quick decision needs to be made? Do I ignore the urgency and try to involve everyone to ensure cooperation and protect feelings? This behaviour is something I can overdo, especially when feeling stressed.

However, in a situation requiring a laser-like focus to ensure a task gets done promptly, what I should ideally do is tap into the “focusing” (red) behavioural trait. Unfortunately, focusing isn’t my natural behaviour; I score a 19 in this area and tend to underdo it. In fact, I might even actively avoid such behaviours. Consequently, I may not be the go-to person for fast task completion.
 
The beauty of PRISM® lies in the self-awareness it provides. It’s not about boxing you in or suggesting you stay fixed in one mode forever. Instead, it offers a snapshot of your current behavioural preferences, giving you an awareness of how you act. With this awareness, you can decide which behavioural traits you want to develop further and which ones you want to apply more judiciously.