The 8 Agile EQ™ mindsets
From the Everything DiSC® Agile EQ™ profile
The Everything DiSC® Agile EQ™ model proposes that an emotionally intelligent person is one who:
- Recognizes which mindsets are most appropriate in a given situation, and
- Stretches to use those mindsets, regardless of how comfortable they are.
This ability to read the situation and stretch to a new approach is called agility. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a way to solve problems; agility helps you do that in real time. It’s not that a high-EQ person necessarily has better instincts, it’s that they recognize that instinct isn’t enough. You need the best possible approach, not just the one that’s easiest. And this will change with each new situation.
We all have particular mindsets that come naturally to us, so much so that they become automatic. But when you over-rely on the tendencies that are comfortable to you, it can distort the way you look at the world. And because other points of view take more effort, you might not recognize when a situation calls for them.
Agile EQ helps learners understand their own natural mindsets and see that all mindsets are valuable and needed—there’s not one that works in every situation. It provides tips and guidance for learning to stretch to responses that might initially feel uncomfortable, making learners better at navigating interpersonal and ambiguous situations.
There are eight Agile EQ mindsets you can call on to guide your interactions:
- Receptive: keeping an open mind and considering other perspectives
- Composed: appearing calm and diplomatic
- Objective: thinking rationally and clearly
- Resolute: resisting pressure to cave in
- Self-assured: projecting confidence and taking charge
- Dynamic: influencing others and taking action on new ideas
- Outgoing: building up relationships and expressing unfiltered thoughts
- Empathizing: understanding others and reaching out to be supportive
Just as there’s no one DiSC style that is better than another, there’s no Agile EQ mindset that is more valuable or effective than others. Rather, the needs of a particular situation dictate which is appropriate.
