| 'Communication
Style' - is part of the way people relate to one another.
At one end of the spectrum, people may be described as extrovert,
which means socially outgoing, uninhibited, talkative and
good at making and maintaining interpersonal contacts. Extroverts
are generally happier when they are with other people and
they need to be able to communicate with others as a part
of their routine.
Those
at the other end of the spectrum would be described as introvert,
which means they will prefer to be on their own. They are
quieter, more reflective and do not need constant interaction
or communication with others to be effective or to feel fulfilled.
They may also be less socially skilled, as a result of having
less experience in dealing with others.
'Emotions'
- also play a key role in determining behavior. At one end
of the emotional scale, people are described as calm, relaxed,
unemotional and secure. They are happy to work under pressure
and cope well with high levels of stress - indeed some even
find it stimulating. They find it easy to take charge and
make decisions.
At
the other end of the scale, people are more apprehensive,
finding it more difficult to make decisions as pressure on
them increases. They tend to worry more, especially when they
are in charge of something, and are slower to decide on a
direction and act upon it. They also tend to find it more
difficult to cope with stress and are more susceptible to
short-term situational pressures, which can cause problems.
'Drive
and Determination' - looks at how motivated we are to achieve
success. Highly motivated individuals are quality driven,
conscientious, competitive, independent and decisive. High
achievement is also often found in those who do well academically
and in those who perform well at work.
People
with lower levels of drive are less exacting and are generally
much less committed to a conventional career. This often has
a very positive consequence, in that they tend to be more
willing to question traditional values and assumptions and
look for different ways of solving problems.
'Relationships
with people' - measures how individuals relate to each other
and focuses on how we reach decisions. Some people prefer
the consensus approach to decision-making, involving those
around them and consulting with them; others prefer to make
their decisions independently, putting personal and business
goals before the needs of others.
A
strong orientation towards the needs of others might be more
appropriate in a sales and service, or customer-facing role,
while a more independent goal-focused approach might be seen
as more important in managerial roles, though generalisations
can be misleading.
'Thinking
Style' - people at one end of the scale are seen by others,
and themselves, as more original, less rule-bound, more open
to change, more assertive, more independent of social influences,
more achievement-orientated and more radical. They have a
creative thinking style and are often seen as individuals
capable of generating innovative solutions to problems and
finding new ways of doing things.
At
the opposite end they tend to have a more conserving attitude
to change and a more adaptive thinking style. They are more
conscious of, and influenced by, precedent, more sensitive
to social influences, more cautious of change and less personally
achievement-orientated.
The
final section of the report gives an overview of personality
style and strengths in two distinct areas, Relationships with
Others and Accomplishing Tasks. With each strength identified
by the report, advice is given on how we can better balance
the approaches we take in order to increase our personal effectiveness.
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