MBS at AlliedSignal – Hopewell

Vol.1 No.3 – July 1992
Allied Signal: The Hopewell Plant
Koala “T” Gazette – A Bi-Monthly Digest of Plant News and Commentary


Have you ever come across people who seemed to be insincere, lazy, abrupt, inflexible, urgent, very private or just totally obnoxious? Do you put up with, or maybe work with someone like that, or with someone who thinks you might be like that?

When dealing with people, it is easy to misunderstand their intentions because we each make decisions and try to achieve our goals in different ways. We each have different innate traits – different inner strengths. And, it is easy to be put off by other’s, especially if their strengths differ from ours.

It is important to work with others based on understanding their strengths – their temperament traits, and how they might differ from our own. There is no such thing as “bad” temperament traits. They are all positive, only different. If we understand the differences and how they relate to ours, we can reduce misunderstandings and create a positive work environment.

Management By Strengths (MBS) teaches us how to identify and appreciate temperament traits which may be different from our own. This can result in improved communication and motivation, reducing misunderstanding and stress! This can open the way for trust and better relationships. And these principles don’t just apply to coworkers – they work with family, friends and customers as well.

Having been introduced to the value of MBS on a visit by Otis Zavertnik [Hopewell’s Director of Total Quality] to Aerospace Sector’s ATAD Division in Ft. Lauderdale, we held a trial class in November, 1991. Like AlliedSignal’s ATAD in Florida and Bendix/King in Kansas, the test group felt that the training should be offered to all employees. In February, Elin Gabriel, Roger Hornberger (pictured – far left), Rob Kellis, Bruce Melvin (pictured with MBS badge – right of center), Tom Newport, Joanne Savage and Wyatt Slade received the “Train The Trainer” instruction so that we could offer MBS to all at a reasonable cost. They were the first group to develop “Team Teaching” approach to MBS T-T-T instruction, making it even more cost effective.

To date, over thirty classes have been held, covering about one-third of the people in the plant. In addition to the Hopewell Plant, some two hundred other Fibers personnel have been profiled, extending our understanding to others we work with in the Division.

When we learn to control our temperament – rather than allowing our temperaments to control us … we accomplish more, enjoy our jobs and families more, have more time – and, in general, be more successful as individuals and as a plant.