Do you know your interaction style?
Published by Ryan Healy on November 19th, 2007 in Career Development | 9 CommentsAs most of our long-time readers know, J.T. O'Donnell is one of our favorite career coaches. She first showed up on Employee Evolution when we had about 50 subscribers, little direction and a terribly ugly design. She gave Ryan Paugh and me a ton of great insight about our careers, transitioning from college to the real world and, of course, the generation gap.
Two months ago, I asked JT to help out my friend Eric. Eric graduated Penn State with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management in 2006, and spent the next year traveling the Middle East and attempting to figure out what to do with his life. Like many people our age, a year after graduation he was still a little lost.
No more than two weeks after taking JT's Interactive Style Assessment Tool, speaking with JT, and getting his head on straight, Eric was hired as the manager of an upscale restaurant in Manhattan. He loves his job, and to this day, he credits JT for "getting his ass in gear."
Well, lucky for us, JT just made her Interactive Style Assessment Tool open to anyone who would like to take the test. The other day, JT told me,
"We are finding that generational differences intensify in the workplace even more when opposing Interaction Styles are in play. (ie. Baby Boomers with a 'Commander' Interaction Style are struggling to connect with Millenials who find the style particularly insufferable on-the-job.)"
Regardless of generation, we all need to know our working style and our co-workers styles. Before Ryan and I took the test, we each guessed both our own and each others style. Turns out, Ryan has an Empathy style, and I have a Commander style (I guess it's not just the baby boomers!).
The cool part is, we both guessed exactly right. Apparently we have learned something from working together for the past nine months!
Give the tool a try with your co-workers. At the very least, take five minutes and do it yourself. You may be surprised what you learn.
Click here to take the test for free.
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Leave your thoughts here. (9 responses)
This article´s comments All Employee Evolution commentsJacqui
Nov 19th, 2007 at 10:48 amInteresting, though I don't think my results were all that accurate.
I'm intrigued to see what others have to say.
Scott M
Nov 19th, 2007 at 11:30 amThis appears to be another variation on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality inventory. The MBTI is much more detailed. But that doesn't mean this test isn't useful – it is.
I saw that my type (Contemplator) fit right in with my chosen career in I.T. And it also correlated with my recent move down a notch in the corporate ladder (I don't have even a smidgen of Commander in me to be in any kind of leadership role).
I wish that every company had their employee's complete questionnaires like this, to head off potential misunderstandings.
I'd appreciate more information about how to relate to the different styles. For example, how does a Contemplator relate to a Commander, an Empathizer and an Energizer?
(FYI for J.T. O'Donnell : On your ISAT test, The Interaction-Style-Chart 1 and 2 mispell "CONTEMPLATOR" as "CONTEMLATER". I only mention this here, because when I use the "Contact Us" link on your web page, I get: "Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in D:\inetpub\vhosts\jtodonnell.com\httpdocs\send.php on line 254")
Greg Palmer » Blog Archive » What’s Your Interaction Style?
Nov 19th, 2007 at 12:01 pm[...] after reading this morning's post I decided to take the Interaction Style quiz. Again, no surprise, but I'm an [...]
Norcross
Nov 19th, 2007 at 1:13 pmWell, I guess you can call me Commander Norcross! I never really thought of myself in that manner, but after reading over the description is certainly makes sense. Luckily it falls in line with my work environment.
Recruiting Bloggers.com
Nov 19th, 2007 at 9:26 pmGen Y Hate Lit…
The boomer wears black. We are finding that generational differences intensify in the workplace even more when opposing Interaction Styles are in play. (ie. Baby Boomers with a 'Commander' Interaction Style are struggling to connect with Millenials…
Kelvin
Nov 19th, 2007 at 11:03 pmWow turns out I'm an energenizer. Makes me think about that tv commercial with the bunny rabbit… the energezier bunny. The test is surprisingly accurate though, plus it made me learn things about myself i wouldnt have known otherwise. Cool.
Kelvin
Nov 19th, 2007 at 11:07 pmSorry, meant to write energizer. My bad!
brandonA
Nov 20th, 2007 at 5:18 pmI'm always skeptical about these kinds of tests. I feel they are like horoscopes and that the person who reads them wants what happens and what it says to apply to them and look for that in their life. I would like to think I am a commander like the test says, but who knows if it is right. Interesting Post!
GreatManagement
Nov 23rd, 2007 at 11:52 amWell I'm a Commander, so stand by your beds and listen
)
I am a huge advocate of using individuals strengths and I love Marcus Buckinghams work / books. I recommend to all my staff and coaching clients to start with his work to find out their strengths. I shall add this test as a compliment as well. Thanks.