The Power of Social Styles

James Cooper and Scott Morrison discuss the concept of social styles. They explain the four different social styles: driver, expressive, analytical, and amiable. They also discuss the benefits of understanding your own social style and the social styles of others. Finally, they share some tips for working better with people of different social styles.

The concept of social styles was first developed by David Merrill and Roger Reid in the 1960s. They identified two dimensions of social behavior: assertiveness and responsiveness. Assertiveness is the extent to which someone is comfortable taking charge and making decisions, while responsiveness is the extent to which someone is comfortable interacting with others and sharing their feelings.

Merrill and Reid identified four social styles based on these two dimensions:

• Driver: Drivers are assertive and low in responsiveness. They are task-oriented and results-driven.
• Expressive: Expressives are high in assertiveness and high in responsiveness. They are enthusiastic and creative.
• Analytical: Analyticals are low in assertiveness and low in responsiveness. They are detail-oriented and logical.
• Amiable: Amiables are high in responsiveness and low in assertiveness. They are people-oriented and supportive.

The different ways that social styles are measured

There are a number of different ways to measure social styles. One common way is to take a social styles assessment. These assessments typically ask questions about your communication style, your decision-making style, and your work style.

Another way to measure social styles is to observe someone's behavior. Pay attention to how they interact with others, how they make decisions, and how they approach tasks.

The challenges of working with people of different social styles

When people have different social styles, it can sometimes be challenging to work together. For example, a driver might clash with an amiable because the driver is more task-oriented and the amiable is more people-oriented.

Here are some of the challenges of working with people of different social styles:

• Communication problems: People with different social styles may have different communication styles. For example, a driver might be direct and to the point, while an amiable might be more indirect and subtle.
• Decision-making problems: People with different social styles may have different decision-making styles. For example, a driver might make decisions quickly and decisively, while an analytical might take more time to gather information and weigh all the options.
• Conflict resolution problems: People with different social styles may have different conflict resolution styles. For example, a driver might try to resolve conflict head-on, while an amiable might try to smooth things over.

Understanding your own social style can help you to:

• Communicate more effectively with others
• Make better decisions
• Resolve conflict more effectively
• Build stronger relationships
• Maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses

Here are some tips for working better with people of different social styles:

• Be aware of your own social style and the social styles of others.
• Be flexible and willing to adapt your style to the situation.
• Communicate openly and honestly.
• Be respectful of others' opinions and feelings.
• Be willing to compromise.

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