The Dynamics of Behavioral Style

Because of the significant differences in the four behavioral styles, there are conflicts that can naturally occur in daily interactions.  Without the benefit of understanding the different behaviors, frustration and anger can occur.  This can happen within the team or between team members and patients.

The most obvious conflict occurs with the styles that are diagonally opposite on the behavioral style model.  For example, a driving style person who wants people to get straight to the point without emotions can become very irritated with an amiable style person who chats leisurely about family and seems tentative in action.  This may cause the driving style person to become more assertive and the amiable style person to experience emotional stress in response.

The expressive style person may come in the office full of ideas and excitement.  The analytical style wants to know the facts to support their ideas.  The expressive style is met with skepticism by the analytical style who chalks up their ideas as lacking in foundation and overly emotional in tone.

The key to making social styles meaningful in the office is to modify your own behavior to meet the needs of the other person.  This doesn't mean giving up yourself, but adjusting your manner of self-presentation to help the other person feel comfortable with you.  When this is done, it is far more likely that your verbal message will be heard.  When the entire team strives to understand and communicate effectively with each other, the entire climate of the office improves, staff is happier, patients are happier, and productivity increases.  When others see that you are striving to communicate more effectively, you are likely to receive greater endorsement by them.  The purpose of behavior modification should NEVER be for the purpose of manipulation, but for the purpose of increased understanding.

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