Behaviour of the month: Over-dramatic.

Here’s what has popped up for us this month.

It’s always intriguing how, in the midst of a Catalyst diagnostic feedback session, individuals can sometimes unconsciously begin modelling the very behaviours that have been diagnosed through their 360’s.

In a recent example of this, I was left intrigued by a delegate’s actions in claiming her feedback report.

Stood in the middle of our usual u-shaped arrangement of chairs she dashed up towards me in the centre of the room to whip the report from my hands. Flicking through the 30-odd pages at a hundred miles an hour until she found what she was looking for, and unknowingly still stood on her feet in front of her colleagues, she raised her clenched fist in the air to celebrate her discovery, “Yes! It’s gone down,” she announced to everyone.

Curious to know what had created such energy in her, I inquired with interest as to what had happened. She animatedly replied, “over-dramatic, it’s come down by 5 points.”

Nodding in support of her satisfaction I took a slight step back, wondering what this behaviour looked like before her modifications…

Snapshot – Overdramatic vs Natural and Authentic

There is a fine line between ‘over-dramatic’ behaviour and being ‘natural and authentic’ with others. In both, there are a lot of gestures and expressions happening with the intention of communicating something with presence, and with the former impacting others differently than the later.

Sitting in the area of ‘connected’ behaviours from our ABC model, ‘over-dramatic’ is red in nature to ‘natural and authentics’ green.

Connected behaviours are about the depth of relationship we build with others. It’s about having the emotional competence to feel the level of connection you have with someone and adapt your behaviour if necessary so to continue to foster a warmth and openness between you. Other people’s feeling of connection is based on how they feel when they are with you, so if you are over the top then they will back off.

Top Tips – how to reduce over-dramatic behaviours

To ensure that others feel no need to step back from you during interactions, we say it’s important that you find ways of being genuine, open and positive with those who you are with. In settings where you are having to engage groups with a message or communicate information in a compelling way, share both your ambitions and frustrations whilst also taking responsibility. Avoid sharing negativity or ‘blame’.