Managerial Style Assessment by Will Phillips Management invariably involves people working together to accomplish goals. Many of the challenges of working together arise from the fact that people are different in fundamental ways. They want different things; they have different values, needs and drives. They perceive differently and think differently. We fundamentally undermine the ability to work together when we see these differences as flaws or shortcomings. When we do not see and acknowledge these differences we undermine our ability to communicate with others, to predict what they will do, and to reward them. By understanding these differences people can often better accept differences between their co-workers. Awareness of your preferred managerial style and those of others will give you more ability NOT to be swept up in a style conflict. Understanding and appreciating these differences in temperament form the foundation of successful interactions in marriages as well as in executive groups or project teams. Every culture seems to have invented a system of describing human style differences from the Greeks—earth, air fire and water—to the Myers-Briggs sixteen types. The system used here is similar to these, with a few significant differences. Most style assessments focus on psychological dimensions. This assessment focuses on four key managerial dimensions. Thus it becomes useful in applying to work challenges such as matching the individual to the job, analyzing an organization's structure or understanding its culture as a whole. Directions This assessment asks you to indicate the relative weight of different traits or qualities in your work style. You have ten (10) points to distribute across each of the numbered items on the next page. For Example: Topic:   A   B   C   D Favorite Foods 2 Vegetables 4 Beef 4 Sweets 0 Pasta Distribute 10 points across each of the 12 topics on the reverse, to reflect how you are at work. REX can provide you with a pad of 100 Assessments, 15 Management Style Workbooks and a Leader's Guide for $39 plus shipping ($4 regular mail $15 overnight). Topic:   A   B   C   D 1 Work Schedule:   Arrive early; leave late   On time   Unpredictable   Flexible 2 Learn Best By:   Doing   Researching   Experimenting   With others 3 Emotional Energy:   Restless   Reserved   Enthusiastic   Caring 4 Excels At:   Getting things done   Orderliness & detail   Innovating   Building agreement 5 Avoids:   Intimacy   Risk   Detail   Conflict 6 Decision Making:   Fire, ready, aim   Careful & thoughtful   Fast iterations   Participate 7 Prefers to Manage:   By ordering   By the book   With charisma   Building support 8 Favored Activity:   Fire fighting   Find & fix errors   New projects   Getting buy-in 9 Speech Pattern:   Quick & short   Quiet   Animated   Listening 10 Success Equals:   Results   Things under control   Making a difference   Relationships 11 Major contribution:   Pragmatic   Persistent   Insightful   Loyal 12 Reaction when Upset:   Dominates   Withdraws   Attacks   Submits TOTALS =         A = Producer B = Administrator C = Entrepreneur D = Integrator This is your view of yourself. Would your colleagues, family, friends, or neighbors provide a different view? The four roles of management were first articulated by Dr. Ichak Adizes in thousands of lectures world wide and in his book "How To Solve The Mismanagement Crises" Dow Jones Irwin 1979.