Style Library

The 4 Styles

Every style is valuable and every style is needed. Here's what each one brings, what motivates it, and where it grows.

Dominance · Results · Direct · Competitive

Places emphasis on results, the bottom line, and confidence.

Motivated by: Challenge, winning, new opportunities, and visible results
Strengths: Decisive, direct, driven, willing to take risks and challenge the status quo
Under pressure: Can come across as impatient, blunt, or insensitive to others
Fears: Being taken advantage of or appearing vulnerable
Growth areas: Patience, listening well, showing sensitivity, slowing down for details and deliberation

Influence · Enthusiasm · Friendly · Optimistic

Places emphasis on persuading others, openness, and relationships.

Motivated by: Recognition, group activity, relationships, and freedom of expression
Strengths: Enthusiastic, optimistic, persuasive, creative encourager
Under pressure: Can be impulsive, disorganized, or talk more than listen
Fears: Rejection, disapproval, being ignored
Growth areas: Following through completely, researching the facts, staying focused, listening more

Steady · Sincerity · Patient · Modest

Places emphasis on cooperation, sincerity, and dependability.

Motivated by: Helping others, sincere appreciation, and a stable, supportive environment
Strengths: Calm, patient, loyal, dependable, excellent listener and peacemaker
Under pressure: Can be indecisive, overly accommodating, or resistant to change
Fears: Sudden change, loss of stability, offending others
Growth areas: Adapting quickly to change, saying "no," confronting when needed, promoting themselves

Conscientiousness · Accurate · Cautious · Contemplative

Places emphasis on quality, accuracy, expertise, and competency.

Motivated by: Gaining knowledge, doing things right, and showing expertise
Strengths: Careful, analytical, systematic, diplomatic, provides steady "reality checks"
Under pressure: Can be overcritical, over-analyze, or withdraw
Fears: Criticism and being wrong
Growth areas: Delegating, making quicker decisions, being open to change, joining in celebrations, keeping the big picture in view