People with the S style favour support, stability and collaboration. They are the first to offer support and are great listeners. When change is coming, they check in with their colleagues to hear their concerns and are sensitive to the atmosphere of a team. They are patient, loyal and like harmony, with a friendly disposition. Others might think that they are too laidback and aren’t really that driven or passionate. That’s simply not correct. When they get behind a plan they are committed, loyal and steady in their approach. You can always rely on the S members of your team to be consistent in their behaviour and performance and always try to do their best.
On a bad day they can give up their own beliefs to appease the team and keep harmony. As a listener, they probably have lots of insight into what’s really happening in the team, but they don’t have the confidence to speak up and challenge. They really are a valuable member of a team, but their modesty means that they don’t recognise it or push themselves forward.
If you are managing an S, give them a listening ear and be friendly and warm with them. Recognise their contributions and help them to build confidence in their own unique talents. If changes are coming, take time to involve them, explain rationale and let them ask questions.
Fears
The greatest fears of S styles is letting people down. They want everyone to be happy, fulfilled and to create calm. If they feel like they have let you down in anyway, they will internalise it and worry. They may worry for days, weeks even. So they overcompensate by doing more for others and doing less for themselves. This can lead to emotional burn out and anxiety.
Notice if an S style seems quieter than normal, perhaps a little withdrawn. Reach out and offer support. Reassure them that you are therefor them too.
They also fear rapid change. Because they like to reflect and understand why change is happening, rapid change without clear purpose can feel unsettling and stressful. They might freeze and go into denial. They rarely overtly speak out, and often block progress by being passive aggressive. They may continue doing things the way they have always done them, not to be difficult, but because they simply aren’t bought in. Help them buy in and collaborate.
Si
Si people like to achieve acceptance and close relationships. They want to make friendships where ever they go, be it a club, work or at the school gates. They judge others by how they treat others and their approachability. If you are kind, warm and trusted, they will hold you in high regard. They dislike cold, selfish or ego driven people and are less likely to trust them.
They show empathy and are good listeners, but equally good at expressing how they feel or what they think. They are patient, but will speak up in a trusted team when something really matters to them. They do tend to avoid conflict and will lobby support and influence behind the scenes rather than confront issues head on. These are people pleasers and rarely say no and often feel under pressure.
SC
SC styles place a high priority on stability. Why change things just for the sake of it? They like to work in environments where they can deliver predictable outcomes, perhaps by following a process, and if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. They like to create incremental gains and steady progress rather than the big bang approach.
They can appear overly cautious, often becoming worried about change. However, they probably have been quietly observing and listening and have some really beneficial insights if anyone had the patience to ask them. You see, SC people tend to be quieter and more reserved. They don’t push their opinions forward, but when they do have chance to speak, it generally is well thought out and logical. They are diplomatic in their communication style and lead with humility. They are slow to initiate change, but be sure that once they are on board, they will deliver consistent, high quality outcomes. They value accuracy therefore would rather spend a little longer on a task to get it right and hate being rushed.
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