Your Behavioral Style is Showing Part 4: Steadiness Style

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In the May issue of this newsletter, I wrote that behavioral style represent the enthusiasm people have for how they perform activities and interact with others. Behavioral assessments commonly measure four styles of behavior. 

This article describes the “S” or steadiness behavioral style. Your “S” behavioral style is showing if you  are a non‐demonstrative communicator. You will demonstrate you “S” style if you are comfortable listening to others rather than controlling the conversation. You will have a tendency to make strong  eye contact with the other person which gives them confidence that you have real interest in what they are talking about. You are likely to ask a probing question to enhance the other person’s message. 

People with the steadiness behavioral style represent the largest percentage of the population. These people make the wheels turn in commerce and relations. They are comfortable being in supportive  roles and, doing routine work. They often are superior customer service people because they have an abundant patience. They do not tend to get upset quickly, but they do have long memories when they have been mistreated. Steady people tend to brush off compliments. The result is that others stop paying them compliments although compliments are, in fact important to them. 

Many people may say correctly, that they are comfortable doing the same things that steady people do. However, only the people who begin and end their day being non‐demonstrative and supportive have the “S” trait as their primary behavioral trait. At one time or another, all people need to be patient and supportive with those we live and work with. However, only the people who naturally ask others if they can help , who are willing to do routine tasks that others are uncomfortable doing have the “S” trait as their primary behavioral motivator. 

The steady person brings many gifts to others: for instance, they become a calming force when there is  chaos in the environment at work or at home. They gather information about conflict and offer alternatives for the solution. They are sensitive to others’ feelings and tend to ask if they can help them through rough times in their life. The “S” person tends to accept what others tell them‐ especially their  managers.

This leads them to be loyal to the manager and others in the family and in many other social encounters. If they are given a task to perform and receive correct information about how to do it, then they will complete the task that way every time they do it. Steady people will extend themselves to others, sometimes to their own detriment. They build long term relationships. 

Steady people do face several challenges when interrelating with others. They tend to keep their true feeling to themselves, and then go with the flow, sometimes leaving others with the mistaken impression that they are comfortable. However, at some point they will become explosive and catch others off guard. When people give them new information, or directions they need to be aware that steady people need time to decipher the information and also ask questions about it.  

Often a manager challenges an “S” employee considerably by quickly changing the priority of a project they are working on. Steady people do not accept quick changes. They do not accept quick changes. However, they can accept change when it is preplanned and they have the opportunity to ask why the change is necessary. 

Whatever behavioral style we have, we all need to modify our behaviors to meet the needs of others. This is especially true for loved ones, those who rely on us, and those we rely on to assist us in our life  and work. 

The steady person needs to be prepared for the unexpected. When they do not understand another person’s message they must be prepared to ask for clarification. They tend to think they can figure out the message later, which keeps them from being efficient in completing the tasks. When people live and work together they become aware of the power of motivational behavioral traits, they understand the behavioral needs the other person has. With coaching and time, people can begin to celebrate these interpersonal differences and take advantage of them for the good of everyone. 

A good rule, for the “S” behavior person to follow when he or she needs to persuade an active / outgoing person, is to be prepared to speed up the pace of your conversation, ask some open ended questions and wait for the response. Direct people need concise information quickly, while influencing people like a “how are you doing today” warm up, before getting in to the business at hand. 

When active / outgoing people want to persuade the steady person, they need to be deliver more details about the topic you are presenting and have the patience to ask them what questions they have and to wait for their response, which will not come quickly.

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