A quick overview of the effective Social Styles model. Increase group performance by learning how to deal with Analysers, Drivers, Amiables and Expressives.
1. Group 4 Social Styles Professional Development Fulltime MBA Group 4 Lars Crama Susan Davis Angela Fink Timothy Mruttu Sean Pienaar Jaco Le Roux NaushaadSuleman
2. What is a social style? a social style is a “pervasive and enduring pattern of interpersonal behaviours” (Bolton & Bolton, 1984).
3. The Social Styles Model is based on two dimensions of interactive behaviour… assert iveness responsiveness Source: Darling, J. and Walker, W. 2001. Effective conflict management: Use of the behaviouralstyle model.
4. …resulting in 4 social types Driver (Action-oriented) Strengths: Independent, forthright, efficient, pragmatic determined, decisive. Weaknesses: Controling, dominating, insensitive. Analyser (Process-oriented) Strengths: Logical, dilligent, critical, systematic, prudent, serious. Weaknesses: Demanding, tough, inflexible. Amiable(People-oriented) Strengths: Cooperative, loyal, supportive, diplomatic, easy-going, respectful, frienldy. Weaknesses: Conforming, permissive. Expressive(Idea-oriented) Strengths: Imaginative, outoing, enthusiastic, excitable, spontaneous, persuasive. Weaknesses: Undisciplined, unrealistic, disruptive. Source: Darling, J. and Walker, W. 2001. Effective conflict management: Use of the behaviouralstyle model.
10. References Bolton , R. and Bolton D. 1984. Social Style/Management Style. American Management Association: New York. Darling, J. and Walker, W. 2001. Effective conflict management: Use of the behavioural style model, Leadership & Organisation Development Journal, 22(5) 3-17. Retrieved on 3 August 2009 from Emerald database. Drucker, P. 1999. Managing oneself, Harvard Business Review, pp.65-74. Retrieved on 3 August 2009 from EBSCOHOST database. Merrill, D. and Reid, R. 1981. Personal Styles and Effective Performance. Chilton Book Company: Radnor. TRACOM. 2005. Multi-Rater Social Styles and Versatility Profile. Retrieved on 3 August 2009 from http://www.tracomcorp.com/training-products/profiles/profiles.html TRACOM. 2006. Self-Perception Guide and Questionnaire. Retrieved on 3 August 2009 from http://www.tracomcorp.com/training-products/profiles/profiles.html
Editor's Notes
Group 4 believes it is very social. We drink beer, we go to parties and we hang out with the cool people, like Thomas and Patrick.Unfortunately, that does not have much to do with social styles.And social styles have nothing to do with animals either. Yet, in the next 10 minutes I will give you an introduction of the Social Styles Model.A model that can help you with three things:Determine your own social type of behaviourUnderstand different types of social behaviour from othersMake more money by flexing your social type.
A social style is a “pervasive and enduring pattern of interpersonal behaviours” (Bolton & Bolton, 1984, p. 3). It is not the beliefs and values parts of your personality but the part that can be observed by others – it is what you say and do.
First, as I said this is an interactive presentation, I would like to ask 4 people to help me with a little animal experiment. First, the analytical type. Have you ever have a cat staring at you? That’s because their analysing.They take the time to think, and have great care for detail. Bayley, what sound does a cat make?.... Right! Because they love so much detail, analysers can come across a bit demanding or inflexible. Second, there is the driver. I would like to think that the typical driver in the animal world would be a horse. So let’s hear what a horse sounds like? Jon? .... Thank you. Independent, strong, determined. That’s the action-oriented driver. Ofcourse the danger of all that is that a driver can become to dominating and too controlling.And then we have the cute bunny, the amiable type.Naushaad, what is the sound that a bunny makes? Right. Very amiable, don’t you think? But all this aimiableness might come at the price of too much conformation.And finally we have Expressive. Or as Barry Standish calls them: Jack Russels. Laurents, what sound does a dog make? Very expressive indeed! The expressive type is imaginative, outgoing and likes to have a lot of fun. But in all excitement it might be difficult to keep them in order and realistic. That’s why jack russels usually need to be kept on a leash.Now, what all is this good for?Well, simple: when you go back into your syndicate rooms or workplaces, just try and find out what kind of social types your colleagues have. Because if you find that out, you will understand why they act the way they act, and more importantly: how to adjust your own behaviour in order to approach them. By knowing your own social type and knowing someone elses social type, you can ADJUST your behaviour.So the cat can learn how to bark, and the horse can learn to carress the rabbit. Does that make sense?
For the scoring of our group, we used an excel based test that has been used by a well known consultancy firm. Why do we like it?Understanding behaviour in many situationsMeasurableTeam performancePractical once you know itWhy don’t we like it?Rank issues (Drivers are better than amiables)Influence of evaluatorPop psychologyAccuracy?Conclusion: every MBA should…. (next slide)
It doesn’t hurt and it only takes a few minutes.Free tests are available from Helene or one of our group members.And for those of you that would like to read more, you don’t have to read the whole document, just download this presentation which contains 2 additional slides that describes how to recognize and how to deal each individual social style.So get tested before you start your next group project!