We have all been there. Feeling frustrated that people just do not understand you, that you feel like you are talking a totally different language. Wondering how some people seem to just get what they need, when they need it, when it feels like it is just so hard for you. Maybe you are looking to understand yourself a little bit more, after all, progress comes from personal development. Or maybe, like the catalyst for the title of this book, you feel like you are just “surround by idiots”. This month we are looking at Thomas Erikson’s “Surround by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behaviour (or, How to Understand those who cannot be understood).*
The human need to drive to understand people, and why they do what they do, has been around as long as it can be recorded. Interestingly, lots of these theories, from the philosophical to the psychological, have four aspects. You may have heard of the Greek physician Hippocrates describing personalities – or temperaments – being linked to body fluids! It was believed that your mood, emotions and behaviours were based on how hot/cold and wet/dry your fluids were; how these interacted would have a direct influence on who you were, and create one of four types of personalities: Phlegmatic, Choleric, Sanguine, Melancholic.
Fast forward to the early-twentieth-century and let me introduce you to William Marston. You may not know his name but you will know his work; he created the early lie detector and the Comic Book Character Wonder Woman. Marston, unlike a lot of his fellow Psychologists, he was interested in the behaviour of the general population, and from this work created the DISC Theory. Each letter represents an element of personality – Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance. See, four-types again! “Surrounded by Idiots” is based on this four-type theory, but references it as colours (Red =Dominance, Yellow= Influence, Green= Steadiness and Blue=Compliance). If you have been working with me recently, you will know I have re-introduced the DISC personality profiling tool model back into my coaching, after previously using it in my life as a Recruiter. So, you can imagine I was VERY interested to read this book!
Author Erikson is a lecturer and leadership development is his day job! Surrounded by Idiots was his first book and since it’s publication in 2018 he has released “Surrounded by Psychopaths” (about manipulation) “Surrounded by Bad Bosses” and his latest, “Surrounded by Setbacks” is currently being translated into several international languages. (Off I trot to the bookshop!) He promises that this book will uncover the four types of human behaviour, or “how to understand those who cannot be understood”!
And he delivers!
It will come as no surprise I LOVED this book – even after spending countless hours working on DISC profiles, it was a really insightful and refreshing read. It simply lays out the traits – good, bad, and ugly – of each of the profiles, and makes it easier to spot them; not just in yourself but in others. Nothing beats having an actual DISC profile (you know where I am if you need one) but this does an excellent job in showing the behaviour you will witness from each of these types and how you can manage the dynamics of your relationships. Whilst it has a business focus – he is a leadership specialist after all – there is no doubt this can also work with your personal life too.
So, in true Clara Cliff notes style, what do you need to know about Surrounded by Idiots?
- READ THE BOOK
Yes, I usually give you the tips and tricks, or the highlights, that you need to take away. But I can’t for this book.
So, READ IT
So, let’s rephrase this part to “the things you will learn when you read the book”
- Self-awareness is key
So often we go through life thinking EVERYONE else if the problem, just like the MD in the book who said that he was “surrounded by idiots” in his company. This book demonstrates that by understanding yourself, and how you behave, you can understand others. We all know what we are thinking and use that lens to judge and interpret other people’s intentions. The majority of the time, we are wrong!
- Most of the world doesn’t like change
We can often get frustrated when it comes to change. Either you want it, and others don’t. or others are pushing it and you need more information. By understanding that most people fall into the green preference -introverted, passive, reserved – you realise it is not about being difficult, it’s about the need for understanding, time and context. Such a simple revelation will help so many people!
- There is no ideal personality type
We have all be culturally institutionalised to thinking that a particular type of preference is the “best”. How many times have you discussed the need for outgoing, extroverted people, and the assumption that quiet means disinterested? Understanding the needs of each personality type and understanding more about the drivers behind behaviour and words means that you can really get the best out of each other.
In conclusion, I think you will see it’s pretty clear that I LOVE this book. It’s a brilliant starting point for anyone interested in personality profiles and getting under the skin of how each type can be a blessing and a curse
I’d love to see you in the Facebook Group, and join us in seeing how we can create a career to enjoy!
*This is an affiliate link. If you click, then buy, I may get a few extra pennies but it won’t cost you anything extra.
If you LOVED this book, and review, then make sure you check out the review of the follow up “Surrounded by Psychopaths”.
As a Trained DISC Consultant, I can bring the theory to life. Find out how the DISC profile can positively impact you life, in this blog. If you want to find out how I can use this in my 1:1 coaching, book a call here.
Clara Wilcox is a straight-talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective has a social mission, focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance. Isn’t it time to create a career to enjoy?
Clara Wilcox is a straight talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
