Goals of this Module

• Describe the different ways in which people prefer to work together, using a helpful model of four social styles;
• Explore how these influence different approaches to teamwork onboard and why sometimes people find it hard to work together;
• Know that adapting to other people’s preferred style can improve teamwork.

It is useful to identify your social style, the way you prefer to work with other people. It will help you understand why sometimes people find it hard to work together.  This is not because they dislike each other, but that the ways that they each like to work are different. 

When you know that, it means you can adapt to each other’s preferred style, and use the different approaches to improve teamwork.

The ways we like to work are linked to our personality and there are lots of different ways of measuring them.

Whats my style 

Q: Which style best describes you?

Style 1

You are fast moving and adventurous

You like to come up with new ideas. Your favoured approach is to create a vision of the future and then get others’ support by selling the benefits of your vision. You specialise in energy, enthusiasm, humour, and risk-taking. Others tend to see you as persuasive, full of ideas, and impulsive.  You like freedom to explore new things.  When you have done something you like to receive praise.

Your strengths are: 

Stimulate creativity A sense of fun Energy and enthusiasm Focus on vision

Promote team spirit Willingness to try new things, break new ground Encourage the team to be the best

Style 2

You are thoughtful and cautious

You like to make sure all of the details are in place before moving ahead. Your favoured approach is to minimise risk by looking at all the options before making a decision. You specialise in correctness, caution, and proof. You are balanced, and don’t get over-excited, but remain rational.

You devote a lot of focus and skill to getting things right. If enough information and time is provided, you will not only deliver excellent work, but with all the backup and contingency plans anyone could ever want!

Your strengths are:

Objectivity Precision Thoroughness Attention to detail

Systematic thinking Emotional consistency Willing to explor alternatives Encourage the team to think carefully and rationally

Style 3

You are fast paced and decisive

And you can be impatient with those who don’t keep up with you. Your favoured approach is to act quickly, based on the information you consider relevant – and to make any necessary corrections later. You specialise in being practical, telling it how it is, being cool under pressure and completing tasks quickly. Others tend to see you as work-focused, efficient and demanding. You can tune out distractions and focus on delivering results.

Your strengths are:

Decisiveness Efficiency Tell it how it is Results focused

Practical Tough Willing to take risks Encourage team to make fast decisions and take action

Style 4

You are considerate and supportive

You like to take time to build good relationships and to focus on team results. Your favoured approach is to find common ground and to gain general agreement. You believe the best solution is generally one where everyone involved is “on board.” You specialise in compassion, loyalty, and building trust. Others tend to see you as kind, skilled with people and teams, and somewhat humble.

Your strengths are:

Decisiveness Show empathy Loyal Team focused

Concern with others development Willing to share recognition Encourage the team to look for win/win solutions

There are no rights and wrongs, and as you can see, each style has considerable strengths.

These styles can be grouped into people who will stand up more for what they want and what is best for them, and people who do not generally put their needs first. And those who are more strongly influenced by fact versus feeling.

   

As this diagram shows, people who are Expressives and Drivers tend to put their needs first, where people who are Analytical or Amiable tend to put other people first	Expressive and Analytical people tend to be more interest in facts and data, whilst Driving and Amiable people tend to be more motivated by feelings and emotions.

Q: Do you think this sounds like your usual style?

Q: Imagine that you are planning a big holiday – somewhere far from where you live. 

?Quickly write down the first few things that you need to do.

 

Q: Why do you think it is useful to understand your particular social style at work? 

People with different social styles may not approach situations in the same way. 

You may need to adapt your style to the person you are working with or explain your approach.

 

Q: Choose one style that is not your own and make a list of possible weaknesses

You may also want to make a note of how others see the weakness of your social style.

Scenario 4

Q: Read the following scenario and think about the social styles of the different people.

The Second Engineer (2/E) was in a very good mood.  Everything on the Daily Work Plan had been done ahead of schedule. 

He called the Fourth Engineer (4/E) over and said, ‘Let’s show the Chief Engineer (C/E) how lucky he is to have us on his team.  I’ve hidden a pack of cigarettes and a sum of money somewhere in the engine room.  But you will only find it if you clear up that area.  OK?’ 

The 4/E raced from the room.  He knew there were piles of garbage and filters that needed incinerating and he was sure that the money would be hidden in there.  He grabbed an oiler on his way there, instructing him to drag the garbage bags and start to throw them into the Atlas Incinerator. 

Ten minutes later the Oiler was standing by the incinerator. The 4/E said, ‘what are you doing?  We’re meant to be searching!’

The Oiler said that an oil filter had jammed in the sluice door and he was reading through the manufacturer’s incineration manual for guidance.  The 4/E rolled his eyes and told the Oiler to go and find something to push the filter down.  The Oiler put the instruction manual back when it was kept, then went over to a plan on the wall.

‘What are you doing now?’, the 4/E shouted.

‘Trying to work out where I might find the right sort of tool for pushing an oil filter...’  The Oiler didn’t get a chance to finish.  The 4/E stuck his arm into through the main chamber door and managed to release the oil filter.

?What social styles at work were shown by the 2/E, the 4/E and the Oiler? Discuss with a partner.

?Think of a time when you had a work-related problem that was solved successfully by a team of people.  What social styles did they demonstrate?
Describe the event to your partner.

Be proud of your own social style at work – it has many strengths, but also there are potential downsides, particularly when you are working with others who have a different preferred style of working.

Summary of module 1, volume 2

Q: Take a moment to write down what you will remember from this session and what you want to do as a result.

In this module we have seen how people tend to prefer different styles of working alongside other people.  We called the styles expressive, driver, amiable and analytical.

We saw how each style had strengths, but also some potential weaknesses.

We considered how an awareness of these different styles can create stronger more diverse teams.