Motivational Maps are an ISO-accredited tool drawing on over a decade of research into human behaviour, organisational psychology, and motivation. They are not a personality test or a psychometric profiling tool, but a self-perception inventory that reveals key motivators and the level of motivation in individuals, teams, and organisations.

How do Motivational Maps work?

Motivational Maps work by analysing responses to a short online questionnaire, which generates a clear and easy-to-understand report. These reports reveal each person's key motivators and their level of motivation. Each report provides actionable advice on how to increase motivation where it matters.

Benefits of Motivational Maps

These reports offer numerous benefits. They can enhance self-awareness, increase motivation and performance, improve engagement and productivity, and provide better career and personal development insights. They also provide valuable information for individuals and teams, giving them an understanding of what motivatates them and their colleagues.

Application in Personal Development

In the context of personal development, having this information can help an individual understand their core motivators, which can guide them in setting meaningful goals and making important life decisions. In some cases it can also help overcome personal and career development issues.

Application in Business

In a business context, Motivational Maps can help organisations understand how their employees' motivators align with their values, mission, and vision.  They can also be useful to inform processes such as career and talent management and the performance management process.

Want to know more?

If you have questions or would like to know more, Amberock Training and Development are qualified practitioners for Motivational Maps and would happy to help, so please get in touch!

Insights Discovery is a powerful tool that uses a simple and memorable four-color model to help individuals understand their unique preferences. The four colours involved are Fiery Red, Sunshine Yellow, Earth Green, and Cool Blue. By understanding Insights Discovery, we can gain a better understanding of ourselves, our preferences, and the ways we operate. It also helps us to better understand those we interact with. This blog focuses on how the Cool Blue colour energy can manifest in our management style.

Cool Blue Managers: Strengths and Challenges

Managers with strong Cool Blue energy are known for their thoughtful, consistent, and methodical approach. They exhibit precision in communication and rely on logical reasoning for decision-making. These managers prefer organized environments and focus on details while adhering to guidelines.

However, under stress or pressure, the behaviour of managers who lead with this colour may appear rigid or inflexible as they cling to protocols and plans. Perfectionism or over-analysis can hinder project progress. In times of stress, they may retreat, making them seem distant or cold.

Improving Connection and Communication as a Manager

As a role model, it's crucial for managers who lead with Cool Blue energy to remain aware of their behavior and make conscious choices to connect better with their team. Here are some tips:

1. Accept varied organizational styles: Remember that not everyone is naturally organized. Support your team members in working with their own styles.
2. Share your thought processes: While you process information internally, invite others into your ideas and thought processes for better engagement.
3. Dedicate time for team members: Plan regular one-on-one sessions with your team members for brainstorming and discussion.
4. Learn to trust: Allow yourself to relax and trust your team to perform their best without imposing overly high expectations.

Explore our other blogs on Fiery Red, Sunshine Yellow, and Earth Green management styles for more insights.

To learn more about Insights Discovery and how it can create inspiring managers and exceptional teams, feel free to get in touch.

Insights Discovery is a powerful tool that uses a simple and memorable four-color model to help individuals understand their unique preferences. The four colours involved are Fiery Red, Sunshine Yellow, Earth Green, and Cool Blue. By understanding Insights Discovery, we can gain a better understanding of ourselves, our preferences, and the ways we operate. It also helps us to better understand those we interact with. This blog focuses on how the Earth Green colour energy can manifest in our management style.

Earth Green Managers: Strengths and Challenges

Managers with strong Earth Green energy are typically helpful, supportive, and empathetic. They prioritize creating an ideal environment, respecting individual perspectives, and nurturing growth. Loyalty, commitment, and trust are essential to them. They also rely on personal values, morals, and core beliefs in decision-making.

However, when under stress or pressure, Earth Green behavior may appear indecisive or submissive as they struggle to maintain peace. This can result in lost momentum and frustrations within teams. Additionally, Earth Green managers may exhibit stubbornness or resistance to change.

Enhancing Relationships as an Earth Green Manager

As a role model, it's vital for managers that lead with this colour energy to be aware of their behavior and make conscious choices. Here are some tips for improving connections with your team:

1. Acknowledge differing perspectives: Not everyone is as patient or amenable as you. Help others slow their pace and consider alternative viewpoints.
2. Trust the process: Embrace challenges and changes as important components of overall success.
3. Engage the whole team: Use your skills of connection to involve everyone in achieving goals.
4. Adapt to different work styles: Tight deadlines and interruptions may not suit your preferences but are often necessary. Create an environment that works for both you and your team by implementing processes that accommodate everyone's comfort levels.

Keep an eye out for our other blogs on how Fiery Red, Sunshine Yellow, and Cool Blue energies can show up in management styles.

To learn more about Insights Discovery and how it can create inspiring managers and exceptional teams, feel free to get in touch.

Insights Discovery is a powerful tool that uses a simple four-colour model to help individuals understand their unique preferences and behaviours. The four main colours are Fiery Red, Sunshine Yellow, Earth Green, and Cool Blue.

Businesses using this pshycometric tool have seen a measurable impact and by understanding your Insights Discovery personal profile, you can:

• Gain a better understanding of yourself and your preferences.
• Improve communication and develop more effective relationships.
• Recognize colour energies in other people, which helps you to make conscious choices about actions and behaviours.

In this article, we will focus on how Fiery Red colour energy influences management styles.

The Fiery Red Manager: Decisive, Direct, and Action-Oriented

Managers with high levels of Red energy in their profile are often:

• Focused, determined, and proactive.
• Courageous risk-takers who move towards goals.
• Clear and direct communicators who inspire action.
• Fast decision-makers focused on speed and success.

However, there are times when typical Fiery Red behaviour can be perceived differently by others, especially those under stress and pressure. In these situations, this colour energy might be seen as coercive, controlling, arrogant or simply dismissive of other people's opinions.

Balancing Fiery Red Management: Tips for Enhancing Team Relationships

If you're a manager with high levels of this colour energy in your profile, consider these tips to strengthen the relationship with your team:

• Remember that not everyone operates at your pace. Listen and ensure that everyone feels heard.
• Focus on active listening without any distractions.
• Implement regular 'pulse checks' with your team for reassurance and engagement.
• Delegate responsibility and place trust in your team members to build their confidence.

Stay tuned: There are more colour energies to come!

Explore our other blogs on Cool Blue, Sunshine Yellow, and Earth Green management styles for more tips on identifying colour energies.

To learn more about Insights Discovery and how it can create inspiring managers and exceptional teams, feel free to get in touch.

Do you ever find yourself:

• Feeling overwhelmed by details and losing sight of the bigger picture?
• Spending more time planning than actually doing?
• Working hard but not making much progress?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be getting "stuck in the weeds".

Here are some ways to recognise this issue and overcome it in your management role.

What does it mean to be "Stuck In the Weeds"

Being "in the weeds" means getting bogged down and distracted by details, causing you to lose sight of the way forward and the bigger picture. It can happen for various reasons, such as wanting to understand all the details, being scared that things will go wrong without your expert eye, or not yet trusting your team members.

However, staying in the weeds isn't ideal for your management role. It can lead to inefficient use of your time, hinder team development, and cause demotivation.

How to Get Out of the Weeds

Here are some strategies for avoiding the weeds and staying focused on your management responsibilities:

1. Delegate: Decide to take a step back and enable someone else to understand the detail instead of you. Determine who is the right person for each task and what information you genuinely need.
2. Request Summaries: Encourage your team members to provide summaries and top-line information instead of detailed reports. This helps prevent getting sucked back into the details.
3. Evaluate Your Involvement: Think carefully about which conversations and meetings you participate in. Ensure that your involvement adds real value and is necessary rather than just habit or personal preference.
4. Stay Focused on the Bigger Picture: Remind yourself to concentrate on the road ahead, including strategy and long-term goals, rather than getting lost in small details. Seek support from colleagues or mentors to help change your approach.

If you have any tips and tricks on avoiding those distractions and not getting overly involved, we would love to hear them. But if you would like more help and guidance on this matter, feel free to get in touch!

As a manager, it's natural to want to have all the answers. But sometimes, the best thing you can do is ask questions instead of providing solutions. By asking questions, you can help your team members think through issues, find their own solutions, and gain a deeper understanding of the situation at hand.

So how can you incorporate this into your management style? Here are some tips:

Keep Your Questions Simple and Open

When asking questions, aim for simplicity and openness. Question them in a way that encourage conversation, rather than just a yes or no answer. For example, "What has happened to make you feel this way?" or "What are your options?" or "What have you already tried?" or "What results have you seen so far?"

Focus on Clarity and Understanding

Asking questions can help bring clarity and understanding to a situation. It encourages creativity and builds confidence among team members because they are better equipped to deal with their challenges. By gathering information this way, you can offer more effective support rather than jumping to conclusions.

Overcoming Fear of Asking Questions

New managers often avoid asking questions because they feel it makes them look like they don't know what they're doing. They may feel the need to demonstrate their knowledge and prove why they're in charge. However, questioning things is actually a sign of effective leadership. It demonstrates that you care about understanding your team members' perspectives and helping them find the best solutions.

In conclusion, asking questions is an important aspect of your people management skills. It enables you to support your individuals and teams in a more effective way, encourages creativity and builds confidence. So next time you're faced with a challenge, take a breath and ask a question instead of providing an immediate solution. You might be surprised at the results!

Have you tried asking more questions in your management style? Give it a try and let me know how you get on…