EVERYONE HAS A UNIQUE BEHAVIOR STYLE Each person's perspective is built into how they are wired. Some people call it “personality” and some refer to it as “behavior style.” Ever notice how different your family and friends can be from you? If you are like me, you have asked yourself, "Why did they do that?" or "What were they thinking?" The starting point to understanding your KEYS is to realize and accept one simple fact: EVERYONE IS NOT LIKE YOU! • Have you ever said the same thing to two people and received two totally different reactions? • How can saying the same words produce such different results? • Each person “heard” you differently based on his or her personality style! • You said the same thing, but what they heard was different. Different is not bad, it is just different! A lack of understanding of others and self can lead to real problems. This includes tension, disappointment, hurt feelings, unmet expectations and poor communication. As you probably know, it is very hard to work out a problem, especially if you do not understand what is going on inside the mind of the other person. THERE IS A SIMPLE WAY TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE! We call the concept “The KEYS Model of Human Behavior.” This concept will allow you to unlock the mystery behind developing good people skills and creating better relationships. You will be able to use what you learn in this introduction to reduce conflict, improve productivity and relate more effectively with others. Building on a "Wellness" Model Many behavioral models focus on what is wrong with a person in order to identify "personality disorders." The KEYS model is based on normal behavior, not abnormal behavior. KEYS is a "wellness model" that is objective and descriptive rather than subjective and judgmental. Therefore, KEYS is a practical way to understand yourself and those around you in the settings you commonly find in everyday life. A Positive Approach The KEYS wellness model is a good framework for understanding people. KEYS should always be used in a positive way to encourage a person to be his or her best – not as a way to “label” someone. Healthy, positive relationships come from having an accurate understanding of yourself and others. KEYS is a powerful tool for obtaining a new appreciation for our personality styles and their effect on our everyday lives.