News Feature | November 5, 2015

Don't Get Frustrated When Looking At New IT Hires, Get MAD (Make A Difference)

Christine Kern

By Christine Kern, contributing writer

Don’t Get Frustrated When Looking At New IT Hires, Get MAD (Make A Difference)

What do lions, camels, turtles, and monkeys have to do with your employees? They are descriptive types in the Make a Difference (MAD) system, based on the book, Make A Difference, by Dr. Larry Little, that helps you visualize your employees’ personality types and recognize why they may respond the way they do.

Business Solutions Magazine attended HTG Peer Groups meetings earlier this year where the system was referenced throughout the meetings, and was contrasted with the DISC assessment that helps classify personalities with a combination of the traits: dominance, inducement, submission, and compliance. Instead of letters, the MAD system associates an animal with a personality type, which can more quickly remind you what traits the person possesses.

Little identifies the following categories of individuals in the MAD system:

  • Leading Lion: big picture-oriented and concerned with the bottom line
  • Competent Camel: process-oriented and concerned with details
  • Tranquil Turtle: laid back, people-oriented
  • Fun-Loving Monkey: full of energy and like to have a good time

According to the system, individuals can express traits in more than one area, and there is no “right” mix for a person or position. And every team usually requires a mix of personalities, as well.

The basis of the MAD approach is in the power of relationships and understanding your own personality and the personalities of those you lead in order to create more effective communication. It has proven to be a successful model for corporations, organizations, and government officials of all sizes both nationally and internationally.