Here are some Interaction Styles FAQs – what would you like to know about Interaction Styles and other Jungian-based tools for self-awareness?
What are Interaction Styles™?
They are our patterns of behaviour – both physical and verbal – that we display when we interact with other people. The patterns include your tone of voice, your facial expressions, your body language, how fast or slowly you speak, and how fast or slowly you move.
We instinctively notice these patterns in other people but aren’t always aware of our own, nor of the impact they have on others.
These patterns of behaviour are linked to what’s driving our behaviour when we communicate – what we are aiming to do and what we believe is important in a situation.
For example, if my aim is to get something done quickly, I’ll probably sound like I’m in a hurry, I might speak and move quickly, perhaps pointing and telling people what to do, and I’ll seem determined. I call this the Mobiliser style.
If my aim is to come to a decision that takes a lot of factors and opinions into account, then I’ll probably be asking questions and listening, I might speak and move more patiently, and I’ll seem approachable. I call this the Synthesiser style.
Each style will have a different impact on the people you are communicating with and will lead to a different response from them.
Does your style depend on the situation you are in, or do we have one natural style?
We usually have one natural style, related to our personality, that we default to and use most often. But we can and do flex our style according to the situation.
For example, when I coached junior boys at badminton, I usually adopted the Mobiliser style. I gave them instructions, maintained a fast pace and kept the level of energy high. It isn’t my natural style, and it took more effort, but I could do it.
Sometimes we instinctively know what style to use for a particular situation. If I am inviting people to a party, I’ll probably naturally adopt an Energiser style. If I’m in this style, I’ll sound enthusiastic, speak and move expressively with active body language, and I’ll appear engaging.
If I am passing on bad news to someone, I’ll be likely to use the Navigator style. In this style, I’ll sound calm, I’ll speak in a measured and careful way, I’ll look serious, and I’ll appear focused.
Who created the Interaction Styles™ framework?
It was created by Linda Berens in the USA. This is a video describing how she created it.
How many styles are there and what are they?
In the Berens Interaction Styles™ framework of behaviour, there are four styles. I use different names from the ones Linda Berens uses. I call them Mobiliser, Navigator, Energiser and Synthesiser.
These are broad groupings of behaviour, and people in each group share patterns of external behaviour, decision-making styles, and inner drives and stressors, when they are communicating. But of course they have many individual differences too. You can find an overview of the four styles here.
What if I can’t decide which style is my natural one?
Don’t worry! Remember that your behaviour in a situation is influenced by lots of things, in addition to your natural style, so it can be quite difficult to separate what you do because it’s right for the situation, and what you do because it’s your natural style. This process of self-understanding can take time.
There are a lot of resources to help you decide – there’s a quiz and lots of short explainer videos on my website. My book – How to Get On with Anyone: Even the Difficult Ones – has activities, case studies and examples of typical behaviour that you can compare yourself with. See Chapter 2 for exercises to help you observe yourself and Chapter 8 for activities to help you pick up cues from other people about their style. Read chapters 4 -7 which have detailed descriptions of the four styles.
If you still can’t decide which is your most natural style, it doesn’t matter – you will have gained insight into the choices you can make about how to behave in different situations, and you will be more aware of how best to respond to other people’s behaviour.
How does the Interaction Styles™ framework relate to other approaches, such as the MBTI®, Insights Discovery®, DiSC®?
The Interaction Styles™ framework, like the MBTI® and Insights Discovery®, draws on Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types. Each Interaction Style can be linked to four of the personality types described in the MBTI® and to the four colours described in Insights Discovery®. However, it does not cover the same psychological processes.
Jung’s work, and the assessments based on it, are mainly about how your mind works – how you think. Interaction Styles™ is not about how your mind works – it is mainly about your behaviour when you are communicating. In this way it is similar to DiSC®, and to the Social Styles model of Bolton and Bolton.
The Interaction Styles framework includes an important distinction between how we attempt to influence others, either by a more directing style of communication or a more informing style. This distinction does not exist in the MBTI® or Insights Discovery®. This difference between people often leads to misunderstandings and conflict. Understanding this difference, and how to deal with it, is one of the advantages of using Interaction Styles™ over the other models.
What is the difference between Interaction Styles™ and DiSC®
They both describe four patterns of external behaviour when communicating and there are similarities between the descriptions.
One benefit of Interaction Styles™ is that it links the overall patterns to underlying tendencies – towards extraversion or introversion, and towards a directing communication style or an informing communication style. Exploring these tendencies makes it easier for people to recognise their own style, and to identify specific concrete actions that they can take to connect with others.
DiSC® has an assessment published by Wiley, while Interaction Styles™ does not. One of the problems with questionnaires is that people’s responses may be influenced by factors such as recent events, how they feel that day, how they would like to appear. The ethos of Interaction Styles™ is that through a range of activities and discussion with a facilitator, people can come to a rounded view of their own style over time, not a one-day snapshot.
Ultimately, both frameworks are helpful if people can find themselves in them and can use the awareness to build better relationships with others.
Which is the best Interaction Style to be?
All four styles have potential strengths and potential weaknesses. People are different and the purpose of the Interaction Styles™ framework is to appreciate the differences so you can get on better with them.
Flexibility is key – the best style is the one that best fits the situation so that you get positive outcomes for everyone. As already stated, we can and do flex our style according to the situation.
Can you give an example of how these styles play out in different situations?
Check out this page for short real life examples. There are also lots of examples in my book.
How does the Interaction Styles™ framework relate to models of Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is about self-awareness and awareness of others. It’s about being aware of the emotions driving your behaviour and being able to manage them; and it’s about picking up cues from others about what might be driving their behaviour and responding appropriately.
If you know about the Interaction Styles™ framework and know what your natural style is, you’ll be more aware of your impact on others and you’ll have more options for adapting your style to fit the situation – you’ll be more emotionally intelligent!
I hope you’ve found these these Interaction Styles FAQs interesting – if you have any questions about Interaction Styles, the MBTI, or personality type, please email me on catherine@essenwood.co.uk – I’d love to hear from you and I’ll do my best to answer them.