"...only where there is difference between two persons in contact is it possible for those persons to achieve a new understanding..."

—Gregory Bateson

Like leaves of many colors, we each have a different energy. Each colored leaf excites the senses in different ways and evokes a different emotion just as each of us impacts and influences others in different ways. This energy is driven from within by our predispositions and yet influenced by our interactions with others.

There is richness and variety in the many ways we have of expressing who we are. The four Interaction Styles are patterns of behavior that have been described by many over the years. Each style has a theme-centered internal drive that helps set the boundaries of our comfort zones in the chaotic world of interpersonal relationships. If we can recognize our own style, we can better match our energy and know how to adapt and flex when necessary to reach goals and meet others at their view of the world.

Understanding Yourself and Others™: An Introduction to Interaction Styles 2.0  reveals the four fundamental Interaction Style patterns for you to "try on" in your search for understanding yourself (and others). Within these patterns are clues to the "how" of our behaviors. Find out how you consistently seem to fall into certain roles in your interactions with others and how you can shift your energies to take on other roles when necessary.

Table of Contents

  • 1

    Getting Started

    • Important Agreements

    • About This Online Version
  • 2

    Book Details

    • About the Book

    • Table of Contents

    • A Word from the Author
  • 3

    Understanding Yourself and Others™, An Introduction to Interaction Styles 2.0--Page 1

    • Introduction --Page 1
  • 4

    Coming to Know Yourself--Pages 2-3

    • History of the Four Interaction Style Patterns--Page 2

    • Self-Discovery--Page 3
  • 5

    About Interaction Styles--Pages 4-6

    • The Nature of Interaction Styles--Pages 4-6
  • 6

    Exploring Your Interaction Style--Pages 7-9

    • Using Your Experiences (Worksheet)--Page 7

    • Exploring Your Interaction Style--Page 8

    • What Fits? (Worksheet)--Page 9
  • 7

    In-Charge™ Interaction Style--Pages 10-11

    • In-Charge™ Self-Portrait--Page 10

    • In-Charge™ Portrait--Page 11
  • 8

    Chart-the-Course™ Interaction Style--Pages 12-13

    • Chart-the-Course™ Self-Portrait--Page 12

    • Chart-the-Course™ Portrait--Page 13
  • 9

    Get-Things-Going™ Interaction Style--Pages 14-15

    • Get-Things-Going™ Self-Portrait--Page 14

    • Get-Things-Going™ Portrait--Page 15
  • 10

    Behind-the-Scenes™ Interaction Style--Pages 16-17

    • Behind-the-Scenes™ Self-Portrait--Page 16

    • Behind-the-Scenes™ Portrait--Page 17
  • 11

    Clarifying Your Interaction Style--Pages 18-22

    • Things in Common (Worksheet)--Page 18

    • Communication—Ways We Influence Others--Pages 19-20

    • Roles—Ways to Define Relationships--Page 21

    • Attention—Focus and Interest--Page 22
  • 12

    Patterns of Interaction Styles--Pages 23-33

    • The Four Interaction Style Patterns--Page 23

    • The Interaction Style Arrows--Pages 24-25

    • The In-Charge™ Pattern--Pages 26-27

    • The Chart-the-Course™ Pattern--Pages 28-29

    • The Get-Things-Going™ Pattern--Pages 30-31

    • The Behind-the-Scenes™ Pattern--Pages 32-33
  • 13

    Applications of Interaction Style--Pages 34-40

    • Interaction Styles and Stress--Page 34

    • Interaction Style Energy and Decision-Making Styles--Page 35

    • Identifyng Others--Pages 36-37

    • Perspective Shifting--Pages 38-39

    • Where to Go from Here--Page 40
  • 14

    Appendices--Pages 41-47

    • Appendix A- Multiple Model Approach--Pages 41-43

    • Appendix B- Frequently Asked Questions--Page 44

    • Appendix C—Links to Other Models--Pages 45-46

    • Appendix—Additional Resources--Page 47

About the author

Senior Learning Facilitator

Linda Berens

Linda V. Berens, Ph.D. is a human and organizational development practitioner who has been teaching professionals since 1982 as well as helping individuals and teams recognize their strengths, transcend their weaknesses, and work together better. Linda is recognized internationally in the field of individual differences, developing an innovative, robust system of exploring CORE Personal Patterns to foster development of individuals, teams, and organizations. A warm, engaging teacher, she has contributed to the success of many professional change agents through her theoretical contributions to the field of psychological type and user-friendly training materials for practical application of understanding individual differences. She is the author or co-author of multiple books and training materials.In addition to holding a license as a California Marriage and Family Therapist and a doctorate in psychology, she also holds certification as a Holacracy Facilitator and in Integral Transformative Leadership from Pacific Integral and the LIOS Graduate College at Saybrook University.

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