Personality test: What's your social style, and what does it say about you?

Have you heard of the social style model? Inspired by the work of psychologist Paul Watzlawick, this framework categorizes in a simple manner different types of personalities.

The theory categorizes four types of personalities, distributed along two axes that characterize our relationship with others, on the one hand, and with power, on the other hand.

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The vertical axis measures our relationship with others through our tendency to express (tell) or not express our feelings (ask). On top of this axis what we tend to call people persons while the bottom is reserved to people who are more task-oriented.

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The horizontal axis allows us to locate someone according to their relationship to power. On the left are individuals with a more assertive, dominant personality. Meanwhile, those on the right are generally seen as more submissive, and better at adapting to others.

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First personality type: The Driver, located at the bottom left because they are task-oriented and seeks power.

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Focused on action, reliable, punctual and efficient, the driver is a natural leader. But they can also be authoritarian, even aggressive, when things do not progress as they wish.

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The driver is fueled by a need for accomplishment, that is, to reach the maximum potential of all areas. Relishing challenges, they do not always care about the consequences of their decisions.

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Second type: the expressive, located at the top left because they are oriented towards others and seek power.

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Dynamic, warm and focused on the future, the expressive generally has a pronounced need for praise, recognition and to be acknowledged.

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Despite a possible lack of reliability or certain organizational problems, the expressive is naturally optimistic and communicative. This personality type often makes good salespeople and effective project leaders.

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Third type: the amicable, located at the top right because they are oriented towards others and respects power.

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Seeking to be appreciated by others, the amicable possess a strong need to belong which explains their qualities: Friendly, cooperative, confident, and, above all, seeking compromise.

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Their sensitive and tolerant personality allows the amicable to take on the role of mediator. But it can also come off as inauthentic due to a fear of conflict.

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Fourth type: the analytical, located at the bottom right because they are task-oriented and respect power.

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Patient, strict and methodical, the analytical is the quintessential expert style. Shy but sincere, they do and mean what they say, without trying to put up appearances and, above all, seeking results.

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Characterized by a strong need for assurance, the analytical will examine all possible options before choosing one, generally favoring true and tested responses that have worked in the past.

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The relationship with time is precisely an interesting point: the analytical concentrates on the past, referring to previous experience, while the driver amirs towards the future through their projects and their challenges, and controlling the present and its short-term objectives.

The amicable has a 360 vision because they are not focused on a particular moment, navigating between regrets about the past, human relationships in the present and fears of the future.

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Types located opposite each other in the chart are logically more likely to clash than those which are immediately next to it.

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Thus, the amicable will find the driver too rigid and devoid of feelings, while the driver will judge the amicable too kind and incapable of making clear-cut decisions.

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Likewise, the analytical will see the expressive as a dangerous element due to their way of having experiences without preparing them or making them last, while the promoter will find the analytical too lacking and unenthusiastic.

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The theory of social styles offers a practical chart for understanding the people around us, their character, their needs, and even for anticipating and resolving conflicts. And tests are available online to identify your own type!

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