Working Styles
Personal Working Styles
From numbers 1 – 15 circle across what best describes you, and (X) what
you rank as second.
1
Decisive
Optimistic
Orderly
Patient
2
Tend to be exciting
or stimulating
Likes controlled
circumstances
Shows loyalty
Performs exacting
work
Is a good listener
Is accommodating
Is independent
Strong willed
Tends to be
dominant
Often dramatic
Wants immediate
results
Open and friendly
Talkative
Uses critical thinking
Follows rules
Likes security and
stability
Likes power and
authority
Likes participating in
groups
Dislikes sudden or
abrupt change
Likes traditional
procedures
Wants direct answers
Generates
enthusiasm
Likes assurance of
security
Concentrates on task
accuracy
Causes action
3
4
5
6
11
Wants freedom of
expression
Cautious
Needs good reasons
for change
Likes freedom from
control
Desires to help
others
Tends to be serious
and persistent
Dislikes conflict
12
Neighborly
Restless
13
Competitive
Persuasive
Likes change,
spontaneity
Respectful
14
Adventurous
Appears confident
Agreeable
15
Assertive
Likes recognition
Checks for accuracy
7
8
9
10
Reads and follows
instructions
Home life is a
priority
Dislikes supervision
Likes working with
people
Prefers status quo
Expects credit for
work done
Outspoken
Wants freedom from
detail
Diplomatic
Considerate towards
others
Important to perform
good work
Pleasure in sharing
and giving
2-3
Working Styles
Personal Working Styles Ranking Sheet
1
1
2
3
4
2
2
3
4
1
3
3
4
1
2
4
4
1
2
3
5
1
2
3
4
6
2
3
4
1
7
3
4
1
2
8
4
1
2
3
9
1
2
3
4
10
2
3
4
1
11
3
4
1
2
12
4
1
2
3
13
1
2
3
4
14
2
3
4
1
15
3
4
1
2
Priority
Number
Second
Priority
2-4
Working Styles
Personal Working Style Characteristics
FACTORS
EXPRESSIVE
(RED)
DRIVER
(BLUE)
AMIABLE
(YELLOW)
ANALYTICAL
(GREEN)
How to
recognize
They get excited
They like their own
way; decisive, strong
points of view
They like positive
attention, to be
helpful and to be
regarded warmly
Tends to
ask
What they
dislike
Who ? (The personal
dominant question)
Boring explanations,
wasting time with
too many facts
What? (The results
oriented question)
Someone wasting
their time, trying to
decide for them
Reacts to
pressure
and tension
by
Likes to be
measured
by
Must be
allowed to
“Selling their ideas
or argumentative
Taking charge,
taking more control
Why? (The personal
non-goal question)
Rejection, treated
impersonally,
uncaring and
unfeeling attitudes
Becoming silent,
withdraws,
introspective
They seek a lot of
data, ask many
questions, behave
methodically and
systematically
How? (The technical
analytical question)
Making an error,
being unprepared,
spontaneity
Applause, feedback,
recognition
Results, goal
oriented
Friends, close
relationships
Activity and busyness that leads to
results
Get ahead quickly;
likes challenges
Relax, feel, care,
know you care
Will
improve
with
Recognition and
some structure
within which to
reach the goal
Get into a
competitive
situation; likes to
win
A position that
requires cooperation
with others
A structure of goals
and methods for
achieving each goal
Make decisions at
own pace, not
cornered or
pressured
Interpersonal and
communication skills
Likes to
save
Effort; they rely
heavily on hunches,
intuition, feelings
Time; they like to be
efficient, get things
done now
Relationships;
friendship means a
lot to them
An effective
leader will
Inspire them to
bigger and better
accomplishments
Allow them freedom
to do things their
own way
Care and provide
detail, specific plans
and activities to be
accomplished
Seeking more data
and informative
Face; they hate to
make an error, be
wrong or caught
without enough
information
Structure a
framework or “track”
to follow
2-10
Working Styles
Working Style Summary
Categories
Blue
Red
Green
Yellow
Business
Relationship
Direct
Influence
Collaborate
Delegate
Communication
Response
Advising
Searching
Critical
Empathic
Supervisory
Methods
Instruction
Coaching
Facilitative
Consultant
Coaching
Process
Confronting Coaching
Training
Mentoring
Influencing
Performance
Direct
Negotiate
Involve
Persuade
Working Styles
Impromptu Scenarios
5 Category Exercise
Scenarios:
1. A member from your dept/team frequently has lunch with a supervisor
from another team. What do you do?
2. A member of your dept/team responds at a meeting in an inappropriate
way. What do you do?
3. One dept/team member complains of being “picked on” by the others on
the team. He feels frustrated and expresses negative comments to his/her
supervisor. What do you do?
4. Team member “A” has been late for work at least three times a week and
doesn’t want to talk to anyone. What do you do?
5. The team has a high standard of performance. Two members are good
performers but are having difficulty maintaining the high standard. What
do you do?
Instructions:
 Break into groups of five different groups. Each color must be
represented.
 Each group will be given a scenario and come up front to discuss
the scenario. They have to choose one person from their group to
manage the issue (they can provide input along the way).

Choose the person that you believe can best handle the scenario
(according to their working style)
2-18