I tend to ruffle a lot of feathers during group projects because of my willingness to give direction. It surprises me when people take it personally knowing there’s a timeframe to reach a goal.
Even in other areas of life, I prefer clarity. Why beat around the bush when you can just come out and say it? Vague hints are confusing and frustrating.
If you disagree with my comments above, you are probably one of the types that prefers a less direct approach.
This is only one easily recognizable difference. There are plenty more. So anyone wanting to up their communication skills should learn about the 4 Interaction Styles.
Interaction Styles, Get-Things-Going, Behind-The-Scenes, In-Charge, and Chart-The-Course are trademarks or registered trademarks Linda Berens in the United States and other countries.
What Are Interaction Styles
Interaction Styles are sort of like a mini typing system within the MBTI® personality system. Linda Berens noticed similar patterns across certain types just like those of different Temperaments.
Innate preferences influence our behavior causing us to act in certain ways.
The system brings to light different internal drivers, aims, core beliefs, and stressors common to the types that make up each Interaction Style.
When you understand these components it’s much easier to navigate communication with others.
That makes this system helpful for everyday interactions. But it’s also a useful tool for self awareness and personal discovery.
You’ll realize what roles you take when interacting with others. You’ll also learn why interactions with certain people are stressful while others are much much easier.
As with any typing system, remember these are tendencies not set-in-stone traits because environment and experience cause adaption from innate preferences.
That means you want to look for a best-fit or what you feel is your core predisposition. You may notice overlap from other styles. This is likely from an adapted approach to get you a desired result.
Pay close attention to the drivers since that is what triggers specific behaviors.
4 Different Interaction Styles
Chart The Course or See It Through
This style prefers to take a responding role in their relationships, not initiate interaction.
They’re comfortable directing others to take a specific action. They prefer clear communication and dislike ambiguity. This can seem bossy to informing types.
These types are process and progress oriented. Their focus is on how to get to a goal and creating movement towards it. This can affect the greater outcome in unforeseen ways, but they’ll likely recalibrate at their next milestone.
The Chart The Course Style wants a plan and makes deliberate decisions. They also have a very focused energy.
They like to have a game plan. Not knowing what to expect can stress them out. So can stagnation.
Their movement and progress is very intentional. Others may see them as slow to start. Even if you don’t see physical movement, they’re progressing thoughts, ideas or plans.
They’ll remain on task until a predetermined milestone is met. They may even hesitate to start something if they know they won’t have time to reach their desired endpoint.
Behind The Scenes
This style prefers to take a responding role in their relationships, not initiate interaction.
They provide Information to others hoping to motivate action for the next step. This can seem unclear and indecisive to the more direct types.
These types are focused on getting the best outcome and doing everything that goes into achieving that. They are afraid to miss important information, so they seek until that fear is mitigated.
Then they have to consolidate the information and bring differing opinions into harmony before taking action to achieve the desired outcome.
The Behind The Scenes Style wants the best results and makes consultative decisions. They also have a very open energy about them.
They like when things are slow and they feel in control. Any pressure to make a decision before they feel confident really stresses them out. So can not being able to give enough input and not receiving credit for their contributions.
Before they can make a decision, they have to be confident. That’s impossible if they don’t consult enough sources and integrate that information. And even then differences need to be accommodated.
They often underestimated the amount of time it takes to gather info, consolidate and perfect a plan. This leaves little time to enact it and meet their deadline.
In Charge or Structure
This style prefers to initiate in their relationships, not sit around and wait for others to make the first move.
They’re comfortable directing others to take a specific action. They prefer clear communication and dislike ambiguity. This can seem bossy to informing types.
When these types have a goal in their sights, there’s no hesitation to act. And it happens fast. That heavy outcome focus often leaves little no room for the finer details of a plan.
The In Charge Style makes fast decisions and wants to achieve the goal. They have a very determined energy.
They like feeling in control and pushing things forward. Loss of control and nothing being accomplished stresses them out.
They’ll do what they came to do, but it may compromise other things along the way. Others may see them as forceful and controlling. They just want to achieve their goal instead of sitting around… waiting.
That urgency and lack of planning can result in a waste of resources, hurt feelings and sometimes double work.
Get Things Going or Starter
This style prefers to initiate in their relationships, not sit around and wait for others to make the first move.
They provide information to others hoping to motivate action for the next step. This can seem unclear and indecisive to the more direct types.
These types are process and movement oriented. But there needs to be interactive agreement. So they may get caught up in going with the flow and lose sight of the original desired outcome.
The Get Things Going Style wants movement, inclusion and to make consensual decisions. They also have a very engaging energy.
They like to be part of an interactive process. Not being included in what’s going on can stress them out. Not feeling liked or accepted can as well.
Progress happens if all parties are in agreement. Otherwise they keep their energy focused on involving others and bringing them into consensus.
They are quick to start everything, but often have a hard time seeing things through long enough to produce any tangible results.
How Do Interaction Styles Factor In With The Bigger Personality System?
Being able to identify someone’s Interaction Style will cut 16 type options down to 4. And you’ll have useful information to apply without narrowing type further. This is handy when interacting with strangers.
Knowing the Interaction Styles may also solve your problem if you are undecided between 2 types. This happens a lot when two personalities have the same judgement or perceiving functions.
Apply this with Temperament and you can take 4 options down to 1. Want a visual tool? Check out this chart.
Application of these systems can take you from feeling clueless and stressed about someone’s behavior to understanding them and how to adjust for better results.
It gets easier with practice.
I’m a Chart The Course style and both of my brothers and dad are In Charge types. Their lack of planning drives me crazy. Especially the brother who gets frustrated when unexpected consequences cause him more chaos.
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