What View Measures

Orientation to Change

Orientation to Change describes how people prefer to manage change and how broadly they search to solve problems when responding to novelty and structure and authority.

People with a well-defined Explorer preference tend to seek novelty and generate many original options. They are often spontaneous and flexible. They trust their own judgment and would rather create their own structure as they proceed along the path to solving a problem.

Well-defined Developers prefer to look for a few workable, realistic solutions that grow from a careful approach. They like gradual, incremental change that results in an improvement of the current situation. They work well within, and are often enabled by, clear guidelines. When moving toward a solution they tend to take a detailed and well-organized approach.

Manner of Processing

Manner of Processing considers where people prefer to process information and how and when they choose to interact with others when solving problems or managing change.

Talking and sharing ideas with others tends to energize individuals with a well-defined External Style. They enjoy feedback from others when solving problems. They readily share their ideas even before they are fully formed.

Those with a well-defined Internal Style are energized by reflection. They find that their problem solving approach is strengthened when they have time to reflect before beginning the problem solving process. They learn and work best when focused on one challenge at time, sharing their thinking after they have clarified their ideas for themselves.

Ways of Deciding

Ways of Deciding assesses what people prefer to focus on when making decisions - person or task.

Individuals with a well-defined Person Style first consider the impact of problems, choices and decisions on other people. They emphasize harmony throughout the problem solving process. They have trouble separating people from their ideas or thoughts and are often sensitive when responding to the ideas of others.

People who have a well-defined Task Style look first to standards, and quality of outcomes. They prefer to approach problems and change with an emphasis on rigor and objective analysis. They react to ideas as being separate from the person and therefore may seem insensitive due to their focus on the bottom line. They tend to bring reason to the group and force difficult issues out into the open.

What is style?

Style, in its essence, is your natural preference for solving problems or challenges. While styles can be stretched and we can work outside our preferences, a person will always have a way of working that feels easy and organic. Style is not the same as level, although they are often confused. Level refers to a person’s ability to problem solve. There is no one preference that makes a person better at problem solving or makes him or her more creative.

Then, isn’t style the same as behavior?

While it appears that style and behavior are the same, in fact they are not. Style is part of our natural make-up and is strongly resistant to change. People can work outside their style preference, however, the further the situation is from their preference, the greater the level of stress they may experience.

On the other hand, while being aware of our style, it is still possible to adjust or adapt our behavior at times and often it is appropriate to do so. Our natural style preferences do not make it impossible for us to modify our behavior when needed.