Science can lead the way to a better understanding of what motivates your team. When you understand what motivates an individual, you’ll retain, attract, and inspire your best team in a hybrid or remote work world.
Everyone is motivated by different things. That’s not to say that your people wouldn’t share common interests. However, science has shown there are four behavioral styles common of all humans.
This article will break down each behavioral style to illustrate what matters most to the individual who assesses high in that style:
Dominant | Influencing | Steady | Compliant
Dominant Behavioral Style
Those who primarily exhibit a dominant behavior style are:
- Adventurous
- Persuasive
- Resourceful
- Self-confident
- Decisive
These amazing employees are most effective when they have problems to solve and can work with and lead other people to get buy-in for their ideas.
However, in a hybrid or remote work situation if they become stressed or if they’re not positioned correctly, they can show up as overbearing. They can be misunderstood as being egotistical and construed as insensitive or impatient.
The part of remote work that a dominant style values the most is the autonomy it can provide. However, if the autonomy reduces their work to a repetitive process, they can get bored.
How to Lead Dominant Behavioral Style to Success
- Give them a challenge or a problem to solve.
- Make sure that they have an opportunity to oversee or to lead a project.
- Offer flexibility in their activities.
Sameness for these naturally dominantly wired individuals can make them unproductive, so giving them lots of flexibility over how they do their work will help them be more successful.
Influencing Behavioral Style
Those who primarily exhibit an influencing behavior style are:
- Outgoing
- Passionate
- Trusting
- Quick to connect
- Socially focused
The influencing behavioral style tends to struggle the most with remote work. When they get stressed or if they’re not positioned correctly, they can show up as being undisciplined. They can get easily discouraged. To their team, they can appear to be overly ambitious and a bit of a show-off.
How to Lead Influencing Behavioral Style to Success
- Provide them with opportunities to work with others.
- Offer them flexibility and variety in their day-to-day remote work.
- Allow them to delegate details.
Influencing styled people are naturally social and thrive when they are around others. If you need them to follow through on some details, it’s best to hold them accountable by following up with them in writing.
Steady Behavioral Style
Those who primarily exhibit a steady behavior style are:
- Easy going
- Incredibly dependable
- Processor-oriented
- Diplomatic
- Efficient
Employees who exhibit a steady behavioral style are great remote workers. But when they become stressed or positioned incorrectly, they can show up as being pessimistic or indecisive.
How to Lead Steady Behavioral Style to Success
- Give them clear project guidelines and an area to work collaboratively, yet in a non-competitive environment.
- Let them communicate with and involve others.
- Build a friendly environment that is free from competitive pressures.
As a leader, you’ll need to learn to tap into the steady behavioral type’s dependability and efficient behavior. Provide them with a sense of predictability and harmony. They will enjoy being able to work behind the scenes and out of the spotlight and any drama.
Compliant Behavioral Style
Those who primarily exhibit a compliant behavior style are:
- Good planners
- Creative
- Supportive
- Self-sacrificing
- Perfectionist
The compliant behavior style individual has wonderful traits for a hybrid or remote worker. If this type becomes stressed or is incorrectly positioned, they show up as argumentative, negative, critical, withdrawn, or insecure.
How to Lead the Compliant Behavioral Style to Success
- Bring them a challenge or problem to solve.
- Allow them time and space to think things through. and be sure to have them follow up with any questions they may have.
- Allow them to express and implement their ideas.
Compliant-styled individuals are problem solvers. To bring out their best be sure to give them time to think and be open to the follow-up questions they may have.
Summary
All four behavioral styles bring something special to your remote team. As their leader, you need to understand the different behavioral nuances that drive and motivate each member of your team.
The first step in understanding your team better and achieving your organizational goals is through administering the right assessment tools. Genesis Eakes International understands that every organization has unique needs. Schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about the programs available that align with your growth strategy.
