Guest Blog Sharing an Activity for the FIRO-B or FIRO- Business instrument

Readers have submitted questions over the past few months asking for new activities to help create those wonderful "a ha" moments during training. Specifically, one reader asked for help with the FIRO instrument. Because she is certified to administer the MBTI, she is also qualified to purchase and administer the FIRO-B and new FIRO Business tools.

I've asked Sherrie Hayne, a consultant with CPP, to share one of her favorite FIRO activities, and she was kind enough to agree. Sherrie is a MBTI Master Practitioner and is also a MBTI Certification Trainer. She has had extensive experience delivering the MBTI and FIRO instruments to large organizations as a one-on one coach, workshop facilitator and trainer. I'd like to thank Sherrie for sharing this activity with everyone and I hope you will find it useful.

Firo-B or Firo Business Exercise

Click or Clash?

Evaluating Firo scores alongside another person can shed light regarding how well your wishes align with another’s behaviors. While scores alone do not guarantee there will be conflict in an otherwise healthy relationship, it is a great way to predict potential red flags for new team members or help diagnose the root cause of existing conflict. For the sake of this example, Firo Business terminology is used, but if you are a Firo-B user, just substitute the terms with Inclusion, Control and Affection.

Instructions:

Compare person A’s wanted score to person B’s expressed score. If they are within the same range, they click! If however, they are not in the same range particularly if one is high and the other is low, they may clash.

Example:

Person A’s wanted Involvement score is high. Person B’s expressed Involvement score is low. Person A wants to be included in meetings and work activities and enjoys receiving recognition. Person B only includes others when it is critical and tends to keep to himself. Person A sees B as ‘aloof’, person B sees A as ‘too intrusive.’

This comparison can be done in the reverse, as well as for Influence and Connection.

Keep in mind if the two people already have a healthy working relationship the data may help them be alert of areas for potential disagreement or they may have already addressed the issue. For existing conflict, this is often an AH HA moment. Many individuals are able to clearly see the root of their disagreements. An action plan should be defined in which both individuals agree to specific behavioral changes. For new team members, prevention is the key! This data can bring to the surface areas to be aware of to reduce the potential for misunderstandings in the future.

And finally, if several team members have very compatible profiles with each other but clash with one person, there is much potential for isolation and ultimately derailing team behaviors.