So how do the Dimensions of Behaviour Work?
Combining the dimensions I mentioned in my last article, we see a model emerge with four primary social styles: analytical, driver, amiable, and expresser. Each primary quadrant contains four additional sub-styles, creating a model with sixteen behavioural dimensions. These clusters were referred to as social styles. The four behavioural techniques from the collection are explained below.
Analytical Social Style
The top-left quadrant represents the analytical people from the Merrill social styles model. This group of people is thoughtful and cautious. They generally want to ensure they have all the necessary information before getting into something. Their favourite approach to problems and issues is risk minimization by considering all possible options. Others view this group as calm, cautious, serious, precise, objective, rational, and sometimes distant.
Analytical people love facts. They work accurately, orderly, and methodically and follow standard procedures, rules, and best practices. Other characteristics of this group include:
Expressive Social Style
The -bottom-right quadrant represents the group of expressive people from the Merrill social styles model. These people are adventurous and move fast in life. Expressives like to share new ideas and plans. Their favourite approach to a problem or issue is to create a vision for the future and seek support from others by emphasizing the advantages. They are experts at making others feel energetic, working enthusiastically, using humour, and taking risks. Others view this group of people as impulsive, creative, and convincing. Other characteristics of the group of expressives include:
Amiable Social Style
The bottom-left quadrant represents the group of amiable people from the Merrill social styles model. These people are thoughtful, kind, supportive of others, and take their time to build good relationships with others. They prefer to approach a problem or issue by reaching a consensus. They often play a mediating role in such situations. Amiable people believe that the best solution is a solution that brings all stakeholders on board. Others view this group as kind, friendly, and self-deprecating. Other characteristics of this group include:
Driver Social Style
The top-right quadrant represents the drivers from the Merrill social styles model. These individuals are highly assertive and have low responsiveness. They are known as the “A-type personality” because of the model’s alpha-numeric mapping scheme. The people in this category make decisions quickly, are impatient, and get angry when others can’t keep up. Their favourite approach is acting swiftly based on the available and relevant information and course-correcting later if necessary. These people are specialized in pragmatism, staying calm under pressure, and completing tasks quickly. Others view this group as task-oriented, efficient, and demanding. Other characteristics of this group include:
Sixteen Social Sub-Styles
Research indicates that the people closest to you know your behavioural style most. They work with or socialize with you daily and see many facets of your behaviours, such as how you work with people, your preference for working alone or with others, and your reactions to stress, confrontations, triumphs, frustrations, etc. Each primary quadrant of the Merrill Social Styles Model contains four additional sub-styles, creating a model with sixteen different behavioural dimensions. As with many other behavioural models, such as EQi, we are assessed by others and ourselves. ‘Flexing’ is the term we use when we move from one social sub-style to another.
Analytical Sub-Styles
While you fall into the broad Analytical style quadrant, it is just as important to be aware of your Sub-style because we still find a tremendous diversity of behaviours within each of the main Styles.
ANALYTICAL-ANALYTICAL
The goal that motivates the analytical-ANALYTICAL is the desire to be correct. Your lifestyle reflects your preference for privacy, and your interactions with people are formal and poised. As a naturally curious Analytical, you are more inclined to identify a spectrum of interests and behaviours than people of other types. With a natural talent for methodical and deliberate decision-making, you emphasize precise understanding, accurate work, proper manners, and impeccable personal habits.
Expressive-ANALYTICAL
The goal that motivates the expressive-ANALYTICAL is accomplishing goals with excellence. As a quick Analytical, you can deal with many inputs simultaneously; however, you may be slow to act. The nickname “Assessor” is based on your evaluative approach to people and tasks; you tend to have strong opinions about people and groups with whom you do not identify or agree.
Amiable-ANALYTICAL
The goal that motivates the amiable-ANALYTICAL is predictable results. You pay attention to critical processes, details, and proven procedures and relationships. Your methodical approach, thoroughness, and dependability make you a valued employee in many kinds of organizations, especially those that involve highly specialized and focused work. Although you are not opposed to change, you want to be sure that the difference is attainable and will result in the desired improvement.
Driver-ANALYTICAL
The goal that motivates the driver-ANALYTICAL is to increase opportunities for unique and significant personal accomplishments. You express yourself more by what you do than by what you say. Consequently, you need to choose your goals and work independently. As an idea-generator and developer, you seem to have little interest in dealing with implementation details.
Expressive Sub-Styles
While you fall into the broad Expressive style quadrant, it is just as important to be aware of your Sub-style because we still find a tremendous diversity of behaviours within each of the main Styles.
Analytical-EXPRESSIVE
The goal that motivates the analytical-EXPRESSIVE is to win with flair. However, you do not want to win at any cost or hurt others’ feelings. Taking shortcuts seems like cheating to you, so you avoid such behaviours. You can become impatient with those who procrastinate about getting started. You can sometimes get so involved with getting a job done that you stretch the truth a bit.
EXPRESSIVE-EXPRESSIVE
The goal that motivates the EXPRESSIVE-EXPRESSIVE is social approval from others. You naturally tend to meet people, and others feel comfortable with you. You speak freely about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences and expect others to do the same. You show your acceptance of others by eye contact, touching, and words. You are very receptive to change and adjust well to diverse ways of doing things.
Amiable-EXPRESSIVE
The goal that motivates the amiable-EXPRESSIVE is friendship. You naturally dislike pressuring others or telling them what to do. You seek close, personal relationships rather than popularity and have many friends and acquaintances. You communicate in a low-key, casual style of caring and sharing. You are deliberate and patient in your approach to tasks. You are extremely sensitive to criticism and allow it to affect your relationships.
Driver-EXPRESSIVE
The goal that motivates the driver-EXPRESSIVE is influencing people. You enjoy symbols of authority and prestige. You feel uncomfortable with any confinement or restriction of freedom. Your high level of self-confidence enables you to withstand criticism from others. Each new person and situation interests you, so life seems fresh.
Aimable Sub-Styles
While you fall into the broad Amiable style quadrant, it is just as important to be aware of your Sub-style because we still find a tremendous diversity of behaviours within each of the main Styles.
Analytical-AMIABLE
The goal that motivates the analytical-AMIABLE is to specialize: to do only what you know and know only what you do. You prefer to focus on your interests and avoid getting involved with crowds or high-profile situations. The best conditions for you are those that are stable and allow for steady, incremental gains. Generalists compliment you; you each take on tasks the other dislikes.
Expressive-AMIABLE
The goal that motivates the expressive-AMIABLE is the acceptance and approval you gain from helping others. You want to be a person who is wanted and needed by others. You remember birthdays and anniversaries, and you sincerely appreciate thoughtfulness from others. As a good listener, you function better as a sounding board for venting frustrations than a problem solver. I want you to know that your interest is more in helping others to make do with the current situation than in suggesting change.
AMIABLE-AMIABLE
The goal that motivates the amiable-AMIABLE is personal stability. Any change or risk that might jeopardize relationships or surroundings is threatening. Therefore, you focus on giving others what they want and avoiding conflicts. Before you act, you think and plan; you follow proven procedures in an orderly manner. You prefer dealing with concrete situations and data rather than theory, trends, or conjecture. You are most comfortable in a work environment that is pleasant, friendly, and non-competitive.
Driver-AMIABLE
The goal that motivates the driver-AMIABLE is a desire for a steady flow of more accomplishments. You can be very direct in task-focused situations despite your somewhat indirect nature. Your ability to think through a project makes you an excellent short-term planner; you can identify the roles, resources, and timelines needed to complete a project successfully. Your search for results leads you to be self-reliant rather than depend on others to achieve the quality you want.
Driver Sub-Styles
While you fall into the broad Driver style quadrant, it is just as important to be aware of your Sub-style because we still find a tremendous diversity of behaviours within each of the main Styles.
Analytical-DRIVER
The goal that motivates the analytical-DRIVER is being in a position to direct and redirect task accomplishments. You tend to focus more on the future than the present or the past. A quest for unique achievements drives you, and you avoid boredom. Although you are cautious and calculating, your ability to think quickly enables you to act quickly when the situation requires it. As an agent of change, you do not like to leave things as you found them.
Expressive-DRIVER
The goal that motivates the expressive-DRIVER is dominance and independence. Consequently, you are wary of people exploiting or beating you to a plan. Because of your results-oriented nature, you may sometimes sacrifice quality for quantity. Your innate sense of self-importance enables you to make mistakes and still feel favorably about yourself. You do not mind confrontation and are willing to challenge others.
Amiable-DRIVER
The goal that motivates the amiable DRIVER is accomplishing more significant and better goals according to an internal timetable. You prefer to be involved in your chosen activities from start to finish, and you resist people who are obstacles to your achievements. Your ability to produce makes you highly valued in situations where an efficient, dependable, or incrementally improving production rate is desired.
DRIVER-DRIVER
The goal that motivates the DRIVER-DRIVER is new opportunities. You are less concerned about what other people think than many different styles; therefore, you are willing to speak your mind and take more risks. You often question authority and prefer to arrive at your conclusions based on the facts. Rather than deal with limitations such as the status quo, you tend to ignore them or deal with them and their consequences later—if at all.
In my next article we will learn how to identify different styles.