Summary of my result
This assignment involves understanding our social style and how it relates to interacting with others. Social style refers to a person’s behavior when interacting with others (Understanding Social Style, n.d). According to Downey (2018), the social style model is utilized to classify people based on their traits and how they relate to other people from the surrounding. This awareness helps us know exactly how to behave in certain circumstances and relate with our friends, colleagues, and other people in society.
I have used the inventory from section 5.1.1 in the textbook to come up with a summary of my inventory. I have moderate assertiveness and relatively high responsiveness. I have mapped my assertiveness and responsiveness scores in the graph to determine my personality. From the vertical axis in the assertiveness index, my score lies between 20 and 30. I have moderate assertiveness, around 25, from the provided graph.
On the graph’s horizontal axis, there are different responsiveness scores ranging from 10 to 50. My level of responsiveness should be between 30 and 40, and it is 36. By placing the dot where the two lines intersect, I realized that the dot falls into the first quadrant in the graph. This means that the dot lies in the quadrant labeled Amicable. The summary of my result is, therefore, a score of 25 on the assertiveness index and 36 on the responsiveness index.
Therefore I fall in the “Amicable” quadrant in the graphical framework of the social style model. Downey (2018) describes an amicable social style as a person who is easygoing, friendlier and a team player. This implies that I can work well with people from different cultural backgrounds and offer them a supportive relationship. This clear understanding of my social life will help me understand myself better and help me know how to handle others.
How my social life shapes my leadership
This section will comprehensively discuss how my social style influences my leadership style. I will discuss how my social style affects my willingness to accept other people’s cultures. From the summary results above, it is clear that my social style falls in the “Amicable” quadrant. According to Downey (2018), amicable social style refers to a personality that offers a supportive environment. In addition, the personality trait also relates to a more understanding, friendlier and easygoing person.
As a leader, my amicable personality allows me to offer a collaborative approach to different cultures. I can clearly understand that people have different cultures and, therefore, different beliefs and perceptions. This understanding of differences in personality due to cultural differences allows me to offer a collaborative approach to different approaches (Understanding Social Style, n.d). My amicable nature allows me to easily associate with people from different cultural background and help me lead them better.
In addition, my social style allows me to consider open communication and the ability to offer an inclusive environment. People should be free to speak their minds without discrimination. Different people have different beliefs; hence they may have differences in opinions. An inclusive environment allows people to interact freely without isolation. Through open communication and an inclusive environment, I can effectively lead others to realize their dreams.
My amicable social style enables me to actively listen to and respect other people’s viewpoints. This is because this personal trait allows me to interact freely with people from various backgrounds without any difficulty. In addition, my high responsiveness allows me to respond to challenges facing my colleagues. The trait also allows me to be a team player, a quality trait of a good leader.
Moreover, my social style is also characterized by moderate assertiveness. This trait is crucial, especially when leading a diverse team. Most organizations value teamwork, and these teams are composed of people with different personalities (Understanding Social Style, n.d). This trait allows me to clearly understand different cultural norms and communication styles. This clear understanding enables me to effectively lead the teams through a more balanced leadership approach.
Generalization and gender areas I should improve.
I understand that proper communication skills are relevant to effective leadership. I understand that modern organizations are characterized by variations in gender differences. Different gender prefers a different method of communication. My moderate responsiveness allows me to prefer open communication at all levels (Downey, 2018). In this relationship, I need to adjust my communication to bridge the potential gap in mutual understanding between different gender at the workplace and in teamwork. This can be achieved through strengthening my communication skills, being clear, and practicing empathy at all costs.
On the other hand, different generations prefer different ways of communication. Distinctions in age groups and age differences characterize different organizations. Due to this fact, it is sensible to realize that different age groups have unique communication preferences. I must adjust my communication skills to accommodate all age sets. Older people prefer face-to-face communication, while younger people prefer digital communication. This implies that younger generations can be easily reached using digital platforms like email and other social media platforms.
Furthermore, a clear understanding of gender differences is vital to creating an inclusive environment. Such environments are characterized by mutual respect for everyone regardless of sexual traits. To achieve this mission, I may proactively address gender-based communication bias that may arise at any given point. An inclusive environment ensures fair play and open communication to all, regardless of gender.
Summary of areas I will focus on
Based on the above findings, I possess a social style that is more collaborative and adaptive. The first area I may focus on next year is eliminating unconscious bias. To practice an inclusive environment, leaders must minimize any personal bias they may possess unknowingly. I may achieve this by interacting with people from different backgrounds to understand them better (Downey, 2018). This will allow me to reduce the prejudice and stereotypes I may unknowingly possess against them.
The second area I may focus on in the next years is the importance of open communication. I will allow the people I lead to freely express themselves without discrimination and intimidation. Open communication helps in promoting an inclusive environment and effective communication. This is because people can bring their ideas to the table and be heard. This promotes healthy relationships in different setups and organizations.
The last area I may focus on is generational understanding. From the above findings, I have realized different age sets prefer different treatments. The older generation prefers face-to-face communication. On the other hand, the younger generation prefers digital communication. This understanding helps to find a clear way to pass information to different people within an organization. I will also commit myself to understanding different communication preferences between different generations. This will help me to bridge the gap in the misunderstanding and help foster effective communication.
References
Downey, L. (April 08, 2021). Social Style: What it is, how it works & Types. Investopedia. Retrieved on August 15th 2023 from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-style.asp
Understanding Social Style (n.d). What are they, and why do they matter? Chasewoodford. Retrieved from https://www.chasewoodford.com/blog/understanding-social-styles/
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