Communication isn’t the only reason I’ve become so fascinated with Behavioral Style. As it happens, another Great Reason for understanding the Behavioral Style of yourself and those around you, is that your behavioral style also determines to a huge extent the kinds of things you’re likely to be good at – or enjoy – and the kinds of things you probably wont be very good at, and wouldn’t enjoy. Said differently, if you know the things you are behaviorally suited to, you can concentrate on those things, and maybe figure out ways to leverage the rest! I’m talking now about the different Roles that we might play in our work, our relationships, our community, our friendships, everywhere. We all have a role we fit best.
Generally speaking, there are 8 kinds of people, or eight basic Roles.
Conductor
Persuader
Promoter
Relater
Supporter
Coordinator
Analyzer
Implementer
As it happens, most entrepreneurs fall into the conductor/persuader role, while accountants are usually coordinators and analyzers, which we find on the opposite side of the wheel. As a born Conductor/Persuader, I am behaviorally unsuited to being a Coordinator/Analyzer. I don’t like going to that side of the wheel. I’m not comfortable over there. A human resources manager or psychologist will likely fall into the the Supporter/Relater category, and so forth. A Supporter/Coordinator, on the other hand, might make a great personal assistant or office manager. Some people – a very small percentage of people – have what’s called a “Pure Style,” which means that their style is pretty much all in one category. Less than 2% of the population have a “Pure Style”. My wife Liz is a Pure Supporter. She is behaviorally geared towards being helpful and empowering to the people around her. As a pure supporter, she hates the spotlight, but she loves to see me there. I, as you may have guessed, am considerably less shy about being noticed. Donald Trump is a Pure Conductor. An extremely dominant guy. You probably already know what I mean. The Donald likes to be in charge. He likes to give orders and he’s not particularly interested in your opinion once he’s made up his mind. He’s the Donald, after all. Pure Donald. Pure Conductor.
Most of us have 2 of these roles as our Primary Roles. This means that we end up being more productive and more fulfilled if we’re in a role that suits us. Our two primary roles are almost always right next to eachother on the list. I’ve mentioned that am a Conductor/Persuader. I am most comfortable when I’m directing an activity, or a company, or a group, that’s the conductor part, and when I’m able to communicate my vision or ideas to those around me such that they enroll in my beliefs, ideas or opinions. That’s the persuader part. Said differently, I am a born leader and a born communicator.
This means, by the way, that unlike the Donald, I want to direct things and lead people, but I also want them to subscribe to my belief systems. I like for people to feel like they’re doing something for good reasons. For their reasons. I like people to agree with me.
