It’s been a few years since I discovered this short YouTube video about PCM perceptions. And I still love it and share it sometimes with the participants in my PCM training.
In it, Nate Regier, PCM Certifying Master Trainer, deconstructs breakfast table miscommunication through the lens of Process Communication. He and his wife, Julie, have different perceptual frames of reference and two very different ideas of what it means to share an orange.
It’s such a simple but such relatable situation. And I bet you can remember several such simple and “innocent” situations that got you in trouble :). You’re not the only one.
In PCM, we talk about Six Personality Types that we all have in us, in certain order, and for which we show different preferences.
One of them defines our preferred filter through which we naturally perceive and process the world around us, how we prefer to talk and express ourselves and how we prefer that people use when they address us. That is our main PCM Perception.
The Thinker Personality Type uses the perception of Thoughts
This means that they value facts, data, clear information and they view the world by identifying and categorising people and things.
The PCM Perception of Thoughts is recognisable in the words and expressions they choose to use: “I think”, “What options”, “Does that mean”, “Who?”, “What?”, “When?”, “Where?”, “facts”, “information”, “data”, “time frames”, “analysis”, “strategy”, “it makes sense/it doesn’t make sense”, “it’s logical”, etc.
The Persister Personality Type uses the perception of Opinions
This means they value trust and view the world by evaluating people and situations through a belief system. They prize loyalty and commitment.
The PCM Perception of Opinions is recognisable in the words and expressions they choose to use: “In my opinion”, “I believe”, “we should”, “respect”, “values”, “admiration”, “commitment”, “dedication”, “trust”.
The Harmoniser Personality Type uses the perception of Emotions
This means they value relationships and view the world by feeling about people and situations. Family and friendship are of high importance to them.
The PCM Perception of Emotions is recognisable in the words and expressions they choose to use: “I feel”, “I’m comfortable with”, “I care”, “happy”, “sad”, “I love”, “close”.
The Imaginer Personality Type uses the perception of Inactions/Reflections
This means they value direction and view the world by reflecting about what is happening. Their privacy and their own space are very important to them.
The PCM Perception of Inactions is recognisable in the words and expressions they choose to use: “Need time to reflect”, “Wait for more direction”, “Hold back”, “Easy pace”, “Own space”, “Don’t want to rock the boat”.
The Rebel Personality Type uses the perception of Reactions (Likes/Dislikes)
This means they value fun and view the world by reacting to people and situations with likes/dislikes. They prize spontaneity and creativity.
The PCM Perception of Reactions is recognisable in the words and expressions they choose to use: “Wow!”, “I like”, “I don’t like”, “I hate”, “I don’t want” + they’ll use/create fun expressions and slang phrases.
The Promoter Personality Type uses the perception of Actions
This means they value initiative and view the world by experiencing situations and making things happen. They prize adaptability and self-sufficiency.
The PCM Perception of Actions is recognisable in the words and expressions they choose to use: “The bottom line”, “best shot”, “make it happen!”, “Go for it!”, “Enough talk!”.
Well, where do you find yourself? You can see that you are familiar with several of them – that is absolutely normal. And maybe some of them don’t sound familiar at all. That’s also normal.
Talking to someone by using their favourite perception is one of the key ingredients for better connection and communication. So why not pay some attention and listen to the PCM Perception that the other use, and offer it back to them?
You might be surprised by how much faster you’ll connect with them!
Stay happy! 🫶🏻
My PCM Training Courses
If you want to get your own PCM Personality Profile, as well as a host of amazingly insightful information about yourself and others, come and join me for one of my Open PCM Training courses (see more info below) or find out if we can collaborate for an in-house PCM Training for your teams.
We go into the subject of PCM Personality Types and what they means for your communication and stress management, as well as many more interesting themes in my PCM training courses. I normally deliver PCM in-house, face-to-face or online, for organisations around Europe and the world.
However, twice a year (in early spring and autumn), I organise Open PCM Training Courses, in English, where anyone can sign up. These are for all those who want to know themselves better and improve their relationships, their communication and their stress management.
The Open PCM Training Courses are organised as a 5-week programme: we meet online every week for 4h to learn and practice and then we have homework from one week to another to “play the detective” and practice again what we’ve learnt. If this interests you, check out the Open PCM Training Programme presentation page or schedule a virtual coffee with me to learn more about it.
PS: A big reason I write is to meet people so feel free to say Hi! on Linkedin here or follow my Instagram here, as I’d love to learn more about you.
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