JAN. 10 MEETING REPORT: WHAT'S YOUR BEHAVIOUR STYLE?
by Karen Majerly

Who knew that I would have the same behaviour style as the famous Donna Papacosta, and some other guy named Donald Trump?

HPCA members found out all this and more at the January 10 meeting, facilitated by Paula Hope of the Referral Institute Peel-Halton.

Paula told the group that there are many models dealing with behaviour styles and personality types, but the model she likes has four main categories: Director, Socializer, Thinker and Relater.

Now, if you think about communications, and getting a message across, it means that about 25% of the people around you are like you, and you probably know how to communicate with them. That also means that 75% of the time, you might be getting it all wrong.

I learned that there is such a thing as the "platinum rule," which goes beyond the golden rule of treating others as you like to be treated. We need to treat others as they like to be treated. Paula says it's about doing business by connecting with the human side, or appealing to both sides of the brain.

The four main behaviour styles can be divided into two main groups: fast-paced (sometimes thought of as extrovert) and slow-paced (introvert). The fast-paced folks are those who talk fast, often loudly, and always seem to be on the move. The slow-paced take their time and speak in a lower tone. There are more slow-paced people in the world than fast, but it's the opposite at a networking event. The fast-paced folks are the ones really creating the buzz in the room.

Here's a quick look at the four types:

1. Director, or Driver: fast-paced and fact-oriented, start-up energy, entrepreneurial, forward-moving, "let's do it now," strong willed, productive, competitive.
Dealing with this person: Be brief, be bright, be gone!

2. Socializer, or Influencer: fast-paced and people-oriented, "all about me," likes recognition, positive, casual, creative, group-oriented, promoter.
Dealing with this person: Involve me, engage me.

3. Thinker, or Compliant: slow-paced and fact-oriented, precise, inquisitive, detailed, reliable, takes a while to earn their trust.
Dealing with this person: Give me details.

4. Relater, or Nurturer: slow-paced and people-oriented, loyal, sensitive, thoughtful, peace maker, indecisive, "let's keep things the way they are."
Dealing with this person: Show me you care.

Paula told the story of her own experience working in a job that required her to greatly adapt her behaviour style. She says dong so pulls on energy you don't have, and you can't do it forever without affecting your health. Behaviour styles are hard wired.

In the end, we had lots of laughs and learning, got to know each other a bit better, and developed a better sense of what makes our fellow humans tick.

FEB. 10 MEETING: ENCORE IMPROV

Building on the success of the first HPCA Improv Night in the spring of 2009, we are thrilled to be able to offer an encore event in 2010. Those of us who laughed ourselves silly when working through the exercises, are eagerly waiting for the February 10 event. For those who missed it, this will be your chance to learn how to respond in the moment, spark your creativity, sharpen your listening skills and strengthen your teamwork. And is there a greater way to banish the winter blahs than through some brain-tingling exercises?

Joan Patch and Tracy Bradley have studied improv with Second City. They will present us with a variety of challenges, games and exercises that will teach, inspire and make you laugh. Whether you are negotiating, meeting with a client for the first time, or fielding questions, being quick on your feet is an essential business skill for independent communicators.

Space is limited to 30 people. Please confirm your attendance with Mary Harvey.

Free for members, $20 for non members. Networking and light refreshment at 6:30 p.m. Places, please, at 7:00 p.m. Curtain call 9:00 p.m.

Encore Improv will be held in the club house at the Peel Village Golf course (NOT Brampton Golf Club). It's within easy reach of Hwy 410 and Steeles Ave in Brampton Turn west on Steeles when exiting 410 and left again on Hartford Trail.

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS

HPCA:

March 25: Social gathering hosted by Joanna Turlej
April (date TBA): Ergonomics in the home office
May (date TBA): Understanding web statistics

IABC:

February 25, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Successful Communications in a 2.0 World:
Using new tools to motivate, engage and educate your audiences

How many of you have been bored with your external or internal communication stories as you're writing them? If this sounds familiar, you need a dose of Steve Crescenzo, one of the U.S.'s leading experts in employee communications, and "creative" communications. Equipped with dozens of case studies and best practices in Creative Communications from both small and large organizations throughout Canada and the U.S., our seasoned employee communication expert will teach you how to start using multimedia tools, such as podcasts and video, right now - without blowing your budget . You'll also learn five things you can do to turn your intranets and web sites from electronic wastelands to powerhouse communication tools.

Location: Sutton Place Hotel, Stop 33 room, 955 Bay St.
Cost: Member early birds to January 31: $40
Regular member $45
Non-member $65.
Register: <<http://toronto.iabc.com/events/eventdetails.asp?EventID=96>>

PWAC:

February 2 to March 30 (Tuesday afternoons) in Oakville
or
February 4 to April 1 (Thursday evenings) in Mississauga
Welcome to Creative Writing - 9 weeks of growth and discovery

This course will open the door to all kinds of creative writing. We'll visit short story writing and personal writing, children's writing, memoir writing, and just-for-fun writing. You'll get a shot of inspiration every week and an (optional) assignment to keep you going till the next class. Best of all, this class will provide a zero-pressure, totally safe environment, where your words will flow and flower.

Location: St. Cuthburt's Anglican Church, Oakville or Sheridan United Church, Mississauga
Cost: $120
Contact: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

MEMBER PROFILE: ADISESHAN SHANKAR
by Meriel Simpson

Adiseshan Shankar is one of HPCA's talented photographers. He has been a professional photographer since 1990, and some of his recent assignments include an annual report and intranet photography for government agencies. His photography business evolved with the advent of micro-stock agencies, which are smaller companies that sell stock photos to clients who need generic photo shots. He still sells stock photos through two agencies, in addition to his assignments and projects.

Something one might not expect is the other side of his business. When not working as a professional photographer, Adiseshan creates and implements web sites. His web development handiwork can be seen on HPCAOnline.com, where his considerable expertise contributed to HPCA's new intranet. Yet another facet of his business is multimedia, DVD and CD creation and duplication.

Adiseshan says that working as a professional photographer has equipped him with the necessary skills to successfully do web design. Since he started in web design in 2004, he's learned to be flexible to juggle between photo shoots and web design clients. Currently, his client base is split 50/50 between photography and web design.

In addition to membership in HPCA, he is also a member of the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communications (CAPIC), the Mississauga Arts Council and is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society in the UK.

Spontaneous testimonials are his favourite form of reward and recognition, like the one he received from Charles Waud, WaudWare, upon completion of a web project with Craig Fairley: "This process has been most professionally run, and the result is outstanding."

In the future, Adiseshan would like to offer solutions that meet the requirements of a spectrum of web site clients, rather than be specific to each client, and he would love to start work on photography projects for art galleries.

To learn more about Adiseshan Shankar, go to www.asap-webdesign.com.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Being a member of HPCA allows us to share our ideas, desires, goals, successes -- even our failures -- with colleagues who care. Tell us what you've been up to by sending an email to Sue Horner (while Deborah Serravalle is out of the country).

Joanna Turlej was quoted in an article by Dave McGinn for The Globe and Mail's Dec. 19 issue. The article, called "You'd like this story even more if the headline were yellow,"talks about the psychology of colour.

"I was thrilled to be in such good company as the subject experts he quoted," says Joanna. "I asked the reporter how he found me and he said he googled 'OCAD' and 'graphic designers.' I tried it myself and I come up on the first page in Linkedin. Oh, the power of social media! Even more reason to do your social media efforts -- because you can be found."

Alan McKenzie is now a Laird of Glencarin Estate, Scotland on the banks of Loch Riddon (longitude 265 and latitude 361, plot number 33349), a title given as a Christmas present from Alan's son in England. Alan's great grandparents were from the Highlands, so he's proud to claim a wee bit of Scotland. We're waiting to see the photo of Alan in a kilt, which he and 13 others wore at his daughter's wedding two years ago.