Culture Shift – Human Synergistics and the LSI process
Posted 16.03.2023
I firmly believe that the way we behave influences our working culture through our daily interactions, and the way we feel moulds our leadership.
About 10 years ago I went through a ‘culture change’ programme through Human Synergistics called Lifestyle Inventory (LSI). LSI is an organisational tool that uses both self-assessment and colleague feedback to identify individual thinking and behavioural styles. By providing insights into strengths and areas for development, it empowers people to embark on their own journey of self-awareness. The results and any recommendations are then presented to the individual in a comprehensive, confidential report.
Whereas I had been through various feedback models in the past, this programme gave me a much deeper understanding of my thoughts and behaviours, not only within my working environment, but also my personal life.
Whilst I thought that I had excellent self-awareness and emotional intelligence, the 360 feedback I received, said differently. For example, what I interpreted as me being passionate about certain things, was actually coming across as oppositional. This knowledge helped influence change in my behavioural pattern and had a positive influence in how I interacted with people and ultimately how I lead my team.
Instead of just succumbing to the urge of rejecting something straight away, I asked thoughtful questions and really listened to the answers. Accepting the fact that others may not see things the way I do, and considering their thoughts and opinions objectively, allowed me to see things more clearly and ultimately become a better leader.
Roll on 10 years and I recently completed the LSI again, this time with a different organisation. The comparative profiles were significantly different. My constructive thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are more prevalent, and whilst you can argue that “it’s because I’m with a different company” or “different people completed the feedback” my family and friends have remained the same and they have noted some key changes in my behaviours that have also affected them in positive ways.
Of course, this wasn’t an overnight change. LSI only provides a snapshot in time. It requires a long-term commitment to change the way we think and behave. Whilst we all have different backgrounds and life experiences, to develop a successful working culture, we need to work in synergy with one another. As an organisation we need to operate to a set of shared values that are rooted in integrity, diversity, teamwork and respect.
Due to shifting working practices within my current business, and around the world, initiated by the pandemic, I thought this was the perfect time introduce this experience to our leadership team. There are new challenges to leading a team remotely and we need to ensure we are doing this in an insightful and collaborative way in order to maintain a positive and healthy working culture.
How it works
The LSI has three parts:
- LSI 1 (self-description): The individual self-assesses their thinking styles, personal effectiveness and satisfaction at work and home.
- LSI 2 (others’ descriptions): Up to 12 of the focal individual’s peers, managers and/or subordinates provide feedback on their behaviour and effectiveness.
- The data collected in these surveys is processed electronically. The results of the two are compared to identify the individual’s confirmed strengths, unrecognised strengths, blind spots and stumbling blocks.
The results and any recommendations are then presented to the individual in a comprehensive, confidential report.
I went through an intense accreditation process with Human Synergistics to enable me to guide individuals through the findings of their report and help them to develop a strategy to change the way they think and therefore behave. It has enabled me to understand the circumplex in more detail and provide thoughtful feedback to our leadership team. Allowing them to develop not only on a professional level but also personally.
By using LSI as a yearly tool, we can continue to identify shifts in attitudes and behaviours, helping to make sure the organisation continues to operate to the same set of values.
Click here for more information on Human Synergistics and the LSI process.
