The Four Personality Styles Part 4

Have you ever wondered why it is that some people attract us and others repel us? For example, think about someone who you once met where you felt an immediate connection. What was it that caused you to feel this way? Was it their positive character and personality? Their sense of humor? Their charm and good looks? And what about the opposite experience where you immediately clash with or take a dislike to the person you have met. Are they really difficult and undesirable or might some other factor be at work to explain the bad chemistry?

Understanding human personality has been a hot topic ever since the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates attributed people’s moods, emotions, and behaviors to an excess or lack of certain body fluids. Thankfully, behavioral researchers have advanced our knowledge of such things since then, and have identified four personality styles and four accompanying communication styles. The four styles are:

• The Supporter
• The Socializer
• The Analytical
• The Director

Everyone has a communication style which determines how you present yourself to others and how you are perceived by others. Another way of looking at it is to say that 75% of the population has a different style than you – not better, not worse, just different. Your communication style affects your ability to connect with others – whether family, friend, or co-worker. Communicating effectively with others depends on being able to identify their behavior style and then responding appropriately to it.

Our individual differences are what make us collectively stronger! That is because these differences will challenge our weaknesses and provide diversity in our thinking. Each one of us has a preferred behavioral pattern. Each of us has within us these four behavioral styles, but our core style has been within us since an early age.

Now, let’s consider the final type of behavioral style – the Director.

The Director

The Director is task-oriented (vs. people-oriented) and direct (vs. indirect).

Being task-oriented means these individuals make decisions based on facts rather than other people’s opinions or emotions. They like to focus on the job in front of them and they work well independently.

Directors are also, well, direct. They are outgoing and ready to express their opinion whether or not you’ve asked for it! Due to the combination of task-orientation and directness, Directors are decisive and determined “doers” who are comfortable being in charge.

You might be a Director if you are:

• Confident
• Fast-paced/impatient
• Independent
• Like taking charge
• Competitive
• Risk taker
• Expressive
• Resolute

Understanding the Director

“Here’s what I think. Now let’s get this done!”

Here are some essential things to know to help you understand and communicate effectively with a Director:

• Their priority: power and control
• Their pain point: loss of control or respect
• Their typical questions start with “What?”
• Performs best: when they are in control and able to work with facts, not feelings
• Be efficient! Don’t waste their time
• Be businesslike and factual with them

That   is the last piece of our discussion of the four personality types. Hopefully it will help you identify your dominant style, and help you recognize the personality styles of your friends and coworkers too! We all have the opportunity to inspire and empower the people we work and live with every day, by understanding how they tick and using that knowledge to get on the same level!

 Remember the platinum rule: “Treat people the way they want to be treated.”

Meg Soper is a motivational humorist speaker who can help you learn to laugh along the way of life as you take on life’s stressors. Get in touch with Meg today!

Why does Meg get booked for speaking events again and again? Find out!

More posts? Bring it on!

• 8 Strategies for Effective Conflict Management in the Workplace
• Why Use Humor as a Motivational Tool in the Workplace?
• Generations & the Workplace: “Now Let’s All Just Get Along!”