How effective is PCM, really? Our effectiveness survey has the answer!
Since we have been working with the Process Communication Model® for many years now and introducing it to others in our seminars, we were interested in finding out whether it is also effective in the long term. For this reason, we launched a cross-national project in the fall of 2020: the 2020 PCM Effectiveness Survey. A total of 539 people participated, the majority of whom live in German-speaking countries (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), while about a quarter of the participants came from the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand. But what insights did this survey provide?
Goodbye, seminar effect!
We now know that the often-cited “seminar effect”—namely, forgetting the content or failing to apply it shortly after a seminar—is negligible in the case of PCM seminars. In fact, 79% of respondents report using PCM frequently or sometimes. 75% of respondents use at least one of the PCM concepts once a week. And more than three-quarters of those respondents who say they actively apply PCM concepts report using PCM at least once a week, even after more than a year. In particular , they apply personality types, communication channels, and psychological needs several times a week or even daily. This surprised even us. Now we have it in black and white:
Fortunately, PCM has been used regularly in everyday life by the majority of people for years.
PCM as a Multi-Tool
Of course, we were also interested in the contexts in which the Process Communication Model® is applied. 67% of respondents use PCM in both their professional and personal lives. The majority (66%) use it to actively shape their own communication in general, while in a professional context it is used in particular during conflicts (61%), within teams (57%), and also for leadership work (43%). This confirms what we have been observing for years:
PCM is useful in a wide variety of contexts—and serves as a complement to other models and theories, for example, in leadership, team development, self-management, parenting, relationships, and conflict and stress management.
PCM Promotes Diversity
As we all know, people are very different—and it’s not uncommon for us to want to understand the reason behind the behavior of those around us, which can seem so different and is sometimes even perceived as “difficult.”
This is where PCM comes in: Not only do respondents report that they understand their own behavior better (71%) since learning about PCM, but it also helps them better understand the behavior of those around them (72%). In addition, PCM makes an important contribution to accepting other people in all their diversity (65%) and thus fostering successful cooperation. This is arguably one of the most rewarding findings of the PCM effectiveness survey!
The “Human Black Box” is and remains fascinating
When asked which PCM concepts they remembered, respondents primarily cited aspects such as personality types (100%), stress patterns and how to deal with them (79%), and communication channels (73%). However, when we take a closer look at which concepts are actually being actively applied, the personality-related concepts clearly stand out. A consistent theme in the respondents’ feedback is that communication-related aspects simply require practice to feel confident in their application. So the motto remains the same—both for the design of our seminars and for participants after a seminar: practice, practice, practice.
Would you like to learn more about these exciting results from the PCM Effectiveness Survey? Get more insights in the following report:
- Download the Reportin German
- Download Reportin English
