Aggressive/Defensive styles include:
Oppositional, Power, Competitive, and Perfectionistic.
These styles reflect self-promoting thinking and behavior used to
maintain one's status/position and fulfill security needs through task
related activities. Though sometimes associated with short-term success,
these styles lead to stress, create conflict, and result in inconsistent
performance.
Aggressive styles
Number |
Name and Description |
7 |
Oppositional: Reflects a need for security that manifests itself in a questioning, critical, and even cynical manner. Though people high in this style ask tough questions that can lead to better ideas, they might also emphasize even minor flaws, use criticism to gain attention, and blame others for their own mistakes. |
8 |
Power: Reflects needs for prestige and influence, and the tendency to equate self-worth with controlling others. People with strong tendencies toward this style dictate (rather than guide) others’ actions, try to run everything themselves, and treat others in aggressive and forceful ways. |
9 |
Competitive: Based on a need to protect one’s status by comparing one’s self to others, outperforming them, and never appearing to lose. People high in this style seek recognition and praise from others, view even non-competitive situations as contests or challenges to “prove” themselves, and try to maintain a sense of superiority. |
10 |
Perfectionistic: Based on the need to attain flawless results, avoid failure, and the tendency to equate self-worth with the attainment of unreasonably high standards. People high in this style are preoccupied with details, place excessive demands on themselves and others, and tend to show impatience, frustration, and indifference toward others’ needs and feelings. |
Which styles describe your organization, teams, and members now?
Which describe where you want them to be?
The Circumplex provides the foundation for Human Synergistics International’s integrated measurement system for individual, leader, group, and organizational development. The Circumplex identifies 12 specific patterns of thinking and behaving which cluster into 3 general styles: Constructive, Passive/Defensive, and Aggressive/Defensive. These styles relate to the behavior of organizational members and are measured by Acumen Leadership Work Styles™ and Team Work Styles™.