Strengthen Relationships - Personality Styles Part 3 of 3

In the last 2 blogs we discussed identifying your own style and then identifying the dominant style of others.  By recognizing our dominant style and developing the ability to identify traits in others, we can change our behaviors to interact with variety of personalities and tendencies.  Knowing our styles is the most important element to help reach across barriers and connect with others.  We need to identify our own strengths and weaknesses in order to take control of effective approaches to build collaboration.

“When dealing with people, remember that you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotions.”  Dale Carnegie

This discussion will focus on adapting our style so that we can adjust our tendencies to better connect with others.  We all have to be ourselves, we’re not suggesting that you try and be someone else but rather once you know your style and have identified the style of others you can adjust.

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when working with the 4 different styles.

Driver – control, ambition, results-oriented

·        Get to the point quickly

·        Involve them in the decision-making process

·        Challenge them

·        Use facts when confronting them

·        Clarify their role/authority

·        Don’t waste their time

·        Give them recognition

If this is your style:

Realize that others need time to adjust to your quick decision-making style, balance your drive to get results with an awareness of your effect on others, in your attempt to get immediate results, do not lose sight of the long run, spend additional time checking the small details, learn to pace yourself better, be willing to delay your individual work to assist others, understand before you speak; let others finish speaking, avoid sharp criticism of others, involve others in the decision-making process, remember to listen to others more often and heed their concerns, try to develop more informal relationships, be considerate of the thoughts, feelings and experience of others

Expressors – social influence, positive expectancy, expressiveness

If this is your style:

Remember that even the most exciting task has its share of plodding details, guard against becoming so enthusiastic that you lose perspective, accept the importance of completing tasks according to priority, learn to be more organized, do not over-commit; be realistic in what you can  and cannot do, don’t overestimate ability to motivate others or to change their behavior, remember to move forward productively and with focus, become involved in the development and implementation of changes, listen to others.

·        Be friendly and personable

·        Include them in projects

·        Help them set goals

·        Communicate frequently on the status of a project

·        Find ways for them to use their verbal skills

Amiables – Patience, composure, team player

·        Chitchat often – be friendly and personable

·        Communicate changes and give them time to adjust

·        Ask them about themselves

·        Encourage them to speak up at meetings

·        Give them recognition

 

If this is your style:

Try new approaches and be willing to adopt those that are effective, avoid becoming so guarded that you lose touch with your creativity, try not to fear unpredictable change, move forward with a project while making adjustments along the way, accept conflict as a motivator for change and progress, remember to acknowledge the accomplishments of others, look for more innovative solutions to problems, don’t be afraid to take some risks in solving problems, look for solutions that a little flair to them, discuss your feelings about issues, stay focused and productive during a change process.

 

Analyticals – Precision, analytical, quality orientation

·        Get down to business quickly

·        Present facts and data

·        Ask them for their opinion

·        Define their role and responsibility

·        Encourage them to speak up at meetings

·        Let them know it’s okay to make a mistake

If this is your style:

Avoid becoming bogged down details, over-thinking decisions, look for shortcuts to make processes more efficient and productive, avoid becoming so guarded that you lose touch with your creativity, avoid becoming defensive to comments from others, accept that everyone makes mistakes, recognize that occasional failures must be accepted, learn how to handle the reality of unexpected change, consider listening to others more and developing more flexibility, learn to recognize that emotions can serve a purpose, be the first one to speak up; don’t worry about editing your ideas.

Take some time to use these concepts with someone that you know or work with that you want a better relationship with.  Identify their style and adjust your style to better communicate, connect and see how the relationships changes.

 

I’d love to hear how it goes!!

If you would like to have our style assessed, give me a call and we can complete for you!