PCM : PROCESS COMMUNICATION MODEL® Process Communication Model® (PCM) is a relationship management tool. Its principle? To understand how we work so that we can better understand our relationships and interactions with others. Applied to the business world, the Process Communication Model enables team members to get to know each other better so that they can work together more effectively. As an accredited PCM coach, I support all teams based on the precepts of this tool, as its scope of application is extremely broad. Here’s a look at how it works. Origin of PCM PCM is a model for discovering and understanding your own personality and that of others. ‘Designed to be as profound as it is simple, it opens up avenues for reflection and progress in order to be better with oneself and with others’ – Taibi Kahler Taibi Kahler, an American psychotherapist and transactional analyst, is the creator of the PCM model. He designed it based on the first observations he made in the 1970s, which he then modelled in 1982. The applications he made of it, during the 90s, with NASA and the Clinton administration have made it an essential tool in personal development and team coaching. A TOOL USED BY VIP’s NASA and the Clinton administration are two examples of VIP users of PCM. In the 1990s, the tool enabled them to harmonise relations between members of teams overseeing major missions. Piloting shuttles and remaining confined in space in the service of space research for one, and deciding the fate of an entire country, or even the world, for the other. That’s what it’s all about! PCM’s 6 Types of Personality PCM identifies six Personality Types, each representing a unique facet of human nature. These profiles, represented by colours, combine in a unique way in each individual, creating a veritable kaleidoscope of behaviours. Each Personality Type has : Character Strengths; Perceptions; Management Styles; Channels of Communications; Personality Parts; Psychological Motivators/Stressors; Degrees of distress. rofiles are made up of all personality types and are characterised by a Base (the foundation of our personality) that is unique to us. It constitutes our mode of Perception and reflects our Channels of Communication. This is how basic people are, Thinker are organised, responsible and logical. They excel at managing projects, organising tasks, planning, etc. They are good at summarising. Persister are rigorous, conscientious, committed and able to assert their opinions and beliefs. They assess people and situations according to their opinions. Harmonizer sare caring, warm, compassionate and sensitive. Attentive and concerned about the well-being of others, they are the glue that holds the team together. They foster harmony and cooperation. They feel things first, perceiving people and situations through their emotions. Imaginer are calm, thoughtful and imaginative. They like to explore new avenues and challenge conventional wisdom. They take the long view. Gifted with a capacity for introspection, they are generally very good at work requiring dexterity and imagination. Rebel sare creative, playful and spontaneous. They are the driving force behind innovation, because they love new ideas and stimulating projects. Energetic, direct and daring, they like to shake things up and are often the instigators of radical change. They are able to see things with a sense of humour and appreciate the present moment.. Promoter are dynamic, charming, resourceful and adaptable. They are results-oriented and driven by competitiveness and action. Gifted with the ability to take decisions quickly and to be firm and direct, they enjoy taking on challenges and achieving their goals. Understanding these specific characteristics means you can adapt your behaviour to suit the person you are talking to and foster more effective communication. Base and Phase The result of a PCM personality inventory takes the form of a coloured house with six floors. Each colour corresponds to a specific personality profile. The more a colour is present, the more pronounced the associated character trait is in the individual. The base of the house represents the foundation of our personality: that which is built up in childhood and changes little over the course of our lives. This is ‘The Base’. It defines our fundamental way of functioning, the one that influences the way we perceive the world and interact with others. Another characteristic of our profile is what PCM calls ‘The Phase’. It reflects our current state, our psychological needs. This aspect of our personality is evolutionary and can change over the course of our lives, depending on our experiences and our environment. During our team-building sessions, we analyse these individual profiles in detail. This gives us a better understanding of each person’s strengths and needs, as well as how they interact within the group. The aim is to improve interpersonal communication by learning to adapt our behaviour to the profiles of our colleagues, particularly in stressful situations. The PCM model reveals that : We all have Personality Types within us. We hear and communicate with our Base. Our Phase reflects our need for motivation (psychological needs). Resource and supply mechanisms Each personality profile has its own resource and nourishment mechanisms, i.e. elements that enable it to recharge and maintain an optimal energy level. For example, people with an Analyzer base will find their resources in organisation, planning and carrying out meticulous tasks. They will feel valued when they have completed a task flawlessly (perfectly). Conversely, a Promoter Base person will need novelty, challenges and autonomy to feel stimulated. An overly structured environment or repetitive tasks can quickly demotivate them. Understanding these mechanisms is essential to creating a working environment where everyone feels valued and motivated. WHEN THE MASKS COME OFF When we are under stress, our defence mechanisms are triggered and we tend to adopt more instinctive behaviour. In the PCM world, we call these ‘Masks’. They reveal aspects of our personality that we don’t usually use and that can sometimes be at odds with our usual behaviour. Typically, a person with a : Thinker may become fussy, no longer accepting delegation and over-controlling. Persister may become critical,
PCM : Process Communication Model®
