The Supportive

Supportives are: -indirect in the way they communicate

-good, active listeners-cooperative, excellent team players, steady workers

-warm and reliable-irritated by aggressive behavior

Supportives:- dislike interpersonal conflict- have natural counselling skills- focus on building trust- tend to be the most people-oriented of all the four styles- seek security- take action and make decisions slowly because they want to avoid risky situations

Strengths - relating to and caring for others

Weaknesses - unassertive, overly sensitive and easily bullied

Ideal occupations: - social work- teaching- psychology- nursing- parenting- counselling- human resource development

Supportives like others to be: - courteous- friendly- and accepting their share of responsibility

To develop behavioural flexibility they need to:- attend to the completion of tasks without oversensitivity- learn to say “no” when necessary- set goals that may involve risks- delegate to others

The Reflective

Reflectives are: - indirect- controlling- concerned with analytical processes- systematic problem solvers - security conscious- perfectionist- serious- orderly

They can be seen as – aloof- picky- critical

Reflectives - have a high need to be right- rely on data collection – ask many questions about specifics- focus on the details- rarely miss a deadline- could be better decision makers- become irritated by surprises- like organization and structure- dislike too much involvement with other people- work slowly and precisely by themselves- prefer an intellectual work environment- like to see things in writing- prefer formality and distance - a cool handshake and a brief phone call- irritated by disorganized, illogical people- want others to be credible, professional and courteous

Their actions and decisions tend to be slow and they are:- critical of their own performance- sceptical

Their emphasis is on compliance and working with existing guidelines to promote quality.Strengths: - accuracy

- dependability- independence

Weaknesses: - procrastination- conservative (overcautious)

Ideal occupations: - accounting- engineering- computer programming, systems analysis- the hard sciences (chemistry, physics, math)- architecture

To develop behavioural flexibility they need to: - show concern and appreciation of others - adjust more readily to change - improve timely decision-making

The EmotiveEmotives are: - direct

- supporting- intuitive- lively, fast paced- spontaneous- seldom concerned about facts and details, trying to avoid them- idea persons- entertainers (they love an audience and involvement with people)- stimulating- talkative

They - have good persuasive skills (influence others and shape their environment by bringing others into alliance)- think quickly- seek approval and recognition- irritated at boring tasks- like to take risks- work quickly and enthusiastically with others- do not like being alone and not having access to a telephone

Strengths - enthusiasm- persuasiveness- sociability (willingness to make contact)- openness- warmth

Weaknesses - getting involved in too many things- manipulative- excitable- impatience- short attention span (become bored easily)- disorganized

Ideal occupations: - sales- entertainment- public relations- hotel business- trial attorneys

To develop behavioural flexibility they need to: - control their time and emotions- spend more time checking, specifying and organizing- take a more logical approach to projects and issues- develop a more objective mindset

The Directive

Directives are: - controlling- direct- oriented toward productivity and goals- concerned with bottom line results- competitive with others- independent- fast paced and impatient with delays- formal

Directives - accept challenges- take authority

- demand maximum freedom to manage themselves and others- use their leadership skills to become winners- tend to take control of others and have low tolerance for their feelings and attitudes- exhibit firmness in their relationships with others- have administrative and operational skills- work quickly on their own- keep their distance physically and psychologically

Weaknesses: - stubbornness- impatience- toughness- tendency toward workaholism- inflexibility- poor listening habits- failure to take time to “smell the flowers”

Strengths - leadership- decision-making ability

Ideal occupations: - CEO- independent consultant- newspaper reporter- stockbroker- army officer- monarch

They like others to be decisive, efficient, receptive, quick, assertive, and intelligent.

To develop behavioural flexibility they need to: - practice active listening- develop patience, humility and sensitivity- show concern for others- participate more as team players- use more caution