Continue reading with Headway app
Continue reading
Summary ofĀ Surrounded by IdiotsĀ
Short summary
In life, meeting people is inevitable. We meet new people daily as we go about our activities. While communication is easy with some people, it can be complicated with others. This is because the different people in our lives have different temperaments that make interactions tricky. This summary aims at revealing the different behavior types and how you can effectively communicate with them.
Thomas Erikson is an author and expert in the field of communication. He focuses on working with developing organizations from a leadership perspective. In the past 18 years, Erikson has successfully trained over 5000 executives. In this summary, he explains how effective communication can change your life and why you should begin now to learn.
āSince I began studying how people function and intentionally strove to understand the differences in the way we communicate, Iāve changed. Iām not as categorical anymore, judging people just because they are not like me.ā ~ Thomas Erikson
17 min
11 key points
10 insights
Table of content
- Summary of Surrounded by Idiots
- About the author
- What is Surrounded by Idiots about?
- Who should read Surrounded by Idiots
- Topics in Surrounded by Idiots
first key point
There is no universal behavior type; people are built differently and we must accept that
Listen the first key point
00:00
00:00
In high school, Erikson noticed that he interacted better with some people rather than others. He also began to wonder why some conversations flowed naturally and some others didn't. Since Erikson had no explanation at the time, he assumed that there was something wrong with people who didn't understand him and he began to avoid those people.
When Erikson was 25, he met a man named Sture. Sture started his business from scratch and had built it for many years. Erikson had to interview him for a project and through their discussions, he discovered that Sture felt he was surrounded by idiots who didn't understand him. This incident planted a series of thoughts in Erikson's mind. Sture was a successful businessman but still couldn't understand his employees even though he communicated with them regularly. Erikson decided he didn't want to be like Sture and began to study how to understand people who initially seem difficult.
In the course of his research, Erikson discovered The DISA method ā a way of describing human interaction and classifying behavior. Bill Bonnstetter and his son David created a software system based on this method and this is what Erikson uses throughout this summary. Bill and David successfully ran their company, TTI Success Insights, using this method. DISA stands for Dominance, Inspiration, Submission, and Analytic ability/Compliance. These 4 terms represent the primary behavior types and explain how people see themselves in relation to their environment. These 4 behavior types are also associated with different colors: Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue.
When Erikson was 25, he met a man named Sture. Sture started his business from scratch and had built it for many years. Erikson had to interview him for a project and through their discussions, he discovered that Sture felt he was surrounded by idiots who didn't understand him. This incident planted a series of thoughts in Erikson's mind. Sture was a successful businessman but still couldn't understand his employees even though he communicated with them regularly. Erikson decided he didn't want to be like Sture and began to study how to understand people who initially seem difficult.
In the course of his research, Erikson discovered The DISA method ā a way of describing human interaction and classifying behavior. Bill Bonnstetter and his son David created a software system based on this method and this is what Erikson uses throughout this summary. Bill and David successfully ran their company, TTI Success Insights, using this method. DISA stands for Dominance, Inspiration, Submission, and Analytic ability/Compliance. These 4 terms represent the primary behavior types and explain how people see themselves in relation to their environment. These 4 behavior types are also associated with different colors: Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue.
Research alone doesn't make you a good communicator. You get better when you use your knowledge to develop real steps.
āSurrounded by Idiotsā aims at revealing human potential. It also offers practical advice on communicating with different kinds of people and helps you see āidiotsā as people worthy of respect and understanding.
Keep reading to find out the differences in the 4 behavior types and how you can use these differences to your advantage.
Keep reading to find out the differences in the 4 behavior types and how you can use these differences to your advantage.
second key point
It is essential to understand that communication usually happens on the listener's terms
When you talk to someone, they filter your message through their biases and preconceived ideas. What remains after that process is the message they understand and this is why it is possible for someone to misinterpret your message. You have little control over this process and no matter how much sense you are trying to make, this will always be one of the many challenges of communication.
Full summary is waiting for you in the app
third key point
We are the way we are because of our genes and environment
fourth key point
People exhibit the traits that are peculiar to their behavior category
fifth key point
People communicate with others based on their existing perceptions about them
sixth key point
Learning is a cycle that goes on throughout life
seventh key point
Adaptation is a necessary skill for human survival
eighth key point
Like almost everything else, delivering negative feedback requires skill
ninth key point
Some people donāt just get along even when they try, and itās not their fault
tenth key point
Anger is a common emotion but every behavior type expresses it differently
eleventh key point
Conclusion
What is Surrounded by Idiots about?
Who should read Surrounded by Idiots
Topics in Surrounded by Idiots
Enjoy summarized nonfiction bestsellers
Grasp the bookās key ideas in less than 15 minutes
Get startedGet new knowledge easily
Letās check how many titles you can finish in a month with Headway! Tell us how much time youād like to spend on reading:
Everything you need to be motivate, to learn & to self improves is all here. I actually do appreciate the reminders because otherwise this wouldnāt work for me. Thank you
Headway is the answer! No longer accumulating books I never read. With Headway, I initially chose the areas important to me such as productivity, time management, etc., and each day I'm provided several book summaries from which I devote 20 minutes or more each day reading. All of this on my phone! My life has improved with Headway. Truly my most useful app.
An excellent concept, executed well. Headway can help you retain what you've read while introducing you to the essential core of new information. It's an easier way to stay inspired, and to be reminded of the mental tools you've learned
In todayās world, we rarely have time. Between our jobs, our families are social obligations, when do we have time to grow and develop ourselves? Headway is an excellent app that gives you that time it gives you those little snippets of information that you need to direct your focus in on your life. Headway gives you a chance to find out the meat of a book that you might want to purchase and read or listen to in-depth without wasting a lot of time trying to figure out is this book for me? I highly recommend the app.
The selections are on point and the summaries are excellent! I listen while I walk my pup š¶ and have in turn, ordered a few selections! REALLY loving the app, itās layout, daily selections and features!
I've gotten multiple books out of the library with the intent to read them, but always have a hard time finding the time. This app has helped me finally be able to get to them. Summarized, yes, and thank goodness too! Just short enough I can finish one on my way picking kids up from school/practice, or while I'm cooking dinner. I can't wait to listen to them over the summer when we visit the beach!
It amazed me! There is the possibility to highlight the most important points of each book and instantly translate unfamiliar vocabulary. With the ability to review the searched words. It's a great way to learn more about English as well. The price is great.
Iām enjoying what Iām learning on headway.each summary comes with quotes at the end which you can save to help you remember key points. You can listen or read, Iāve found that reading puts me to sleep before I can finish but the listening feature keeps me engaged and I can finish in a brief amount of time if not one session.
The app itās so easy to use. I use it while driving or cooking and is great. I love the fact that the chapters are short, so you can finish them quickly. Very knowledgeable.
The best app for self development.It helps to keep pace with your reading and also suggests the kind of reading material you might like.It is fun as you can switch from reading to listening and vice-versa as per your convenience .Just get started and partake of the treasure of knowledge at your fingertips .I feel lucky to have spotted the app.It has helped me become self-disciplined and much better informed.The audio track is excellent.
Exactly what I need! I always have booklist to read, but can't committed enough to finish/start bc of too much pages. Headway is really helpful and concise with their summary. What I love the most is that the essence of the book is well crafted, so I don't only read the key points, but also there's the story and how personality of the author still well shown through the summary. Well done!
This is outstanding best app ever and honestly whoever came up with is my app is an absolute genius kudos my gratitude definitely goes out and Iām only on my first week free trial and Iām certainly going to purchase this app annually. Now that I have it, I canāt even imagine living without it.