When I looked at the circumplex after taking the Life Styles Inventory I must admit that some of my results for the behaviors were on the mark, while some I felt where completely off the chart. After I followed the instructions, I then understood some of the inter-relations between the styles and my corresponding behaviors and beliefs.
Part I: Issues and Events.
I pride myself for doing what is expected of me, this is from my passive/defensive style and this behavior went into motion the day the doctors told me it would be close to impossible for me to have children without medical treatments - I did what was expected of me to become the mother I dreamed to be, I adopted the most precious baby girl in the world. She is going on three and it has been the best thirty-four months of my life. Secondly, being unemployed for almost one year has thought me that I can turn a difficult situation and make it the ultimate high point in my life. These two events have been influenced by my achievement behavior.
The top three day-to-day issues in management I face currently and that I hope GM591 would help me address are:.
• Increased initiative.
• My preference for staying in the background.
• My negative feelings about security within bureaucracies.
Part II: Personal Thinking Styles.
My primary personal thinking style is that of Achievement. This belief is evident in the following three function of management:.
• Planning: my belief is that you must have a solid plan in place to achieve stated organizational goals.
• Organizing: I believe in minimal supervision, leaving teams alone to identify objectives and plan among themselves on how to achieve them. This I believe will be more fulfilling and works with my achievement behavior.
• Directing: focusing the group on quality and performance I believe are paramount in achieving self satisfaction.