Resource Guide Helps Understanding of Self and Others

“Know yourself, know others;
one hundred battles, one hundred victories.”

- Ancient Chinese saying

What is human behavior? In what ways are we similar and different? How can we successfully communicate with one-another?

My recently written reference guide “Communication Success with Four Personality Types” is an interpretation of some of the most popular personality tests used by many organizations in hiring, professional development, and performance evaluation. The purpose of the reference guide is to present an overview of four major personality types, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and provide information on how to communicate more effectively with each trait.

The four personality types are: Relater-Supporter, Initiator-Cheerleader, Analyzer-Investigator, and Driver-Leader. Most of us have a dominant personality type, with one or two secondary types. These traits can change and evolve over time.

It’s generally not too difficult to identity the primary personality type of an individual, based on her or his persona, communication style, and to some extent profession.

Here are some of the most dominant traits of each type:

Relater-Supporters tend to be “nice”, supportive, nurturing, and friendly.

Initiator-Cheerleaders tend to be energetic, motivating, persuasive, and fun.

Analyzer-Investigators tend to be detail oriented, task driven, analytical, and matter of fact.

Driver-Leaders tend to be powerful, achievement conscious, control oriented, and productive.

While the dominant personality type of most individuals tends to be fairly easy to observe, the secondary personality type (or types) tends to take some knowing of a person to deduce. Most people have one dominant, one or two secondary, and one weakest type.

Below is an exclusive excerpt on the Relater-Supporter personality type:

Common Professions: People-oriented and service professions, such as nursing, counseling, executive assistant, and customer service.

Traits: Nurturer, sociable, value interpersonal relationships and are more subjective in decision making. Their conduct is often based on values and intuition. They are emotion oriented, persuasive, take care of others and are romantic introverts.

Challenges: Personal feelings can get in the way of objectivity. They can be too passive, can’t say “No” and are conflict avoidant. They take care of the self last and make sacrifices for others at the expense of the self.

Relationship with Other Types:

Initiator positive: Admire Initiators, want their energy to rub-off and want to be part of the fun.

Initiator negative: Overwhelmed by the high energy of the Initiator.

Analyzer positive: Glad capable Analyzer can handle details of the task.

Analyzer negative: Think of the Analyzer as cerebral, cold, impersonal and lacking
human sensitivity and consideration.

Driver positive: Feel supported by the “people person” Driver.

Driver negative: Find the Driver intimidating and domineering.

Core Needs: Relater-Supporters want to be liked, accepted, and loved.

Validating Core Needs: As genuine and appropriate, remind Relater-Supporters on a regular basis how much you appreciate who they are, what they do, and the quality of the relationship.

In Summary: For a Relater-Supporter, a day without a smile, kind words, and friendliness from others is like a flower without air, sunshine, and water. The flower will wilt, just as the Relater’s heart will grieve. Love and appreciate a Relater-Supporter, and the Relater-Supporter will love and appreciate you back ten-fold.

To purchase a copy of the complete reference guide “Communication Success with Four Personalty Types”, including tips on how to successessfully communicate with each type as family, friends, and colleagues, go to www.nipreston.com/publications

________________________________________________________
Preston Ni is a professor of communication studies, Fortune 500 trainer, executive coach, and organizational change consultant. Write to Preston at commsuccess@nipreston.com, and access free resources at www.nipreston.com/publications.

© 2006-2009 by Preston C. Ni. All rights reserved.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 1st, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Comm. Success. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.