LSI : Life Styles Inventory

MGMT591 – Dr. Hallcom

9/13/2013

The Life Styles Inventory survey, provided by Human Synergistics International, measures a person’s personal orientation toward thinking and behaving. The questions contained in the survey measure twelve styles related to the thoughts and attitudes that motivate a person’s behavior, how a person might relate to others, and how a person might problem solve and/or make decision (“What lsi measures”, 2012). Various psychologists and management scholars, i.e. Maslow, Hertzberg, etc., influenced the questions presented in the survey. The goal is to use the results to examine my strengths and those other areas that need improving. My styles profile is broken into three parts: constructive styles, passive/defensive styles, and aggressive/defensive styles (“Your lsi styles,” 2013). Of the twelve styles, my primary style is ‘achievement’ and my backup style is ‘approval’. These styles have the greatest influence on my behavior. In selecting that slice of my circumplex, the achievement style is characterized by “a focus on achieving a standard of excellence; the knowledge that individual effort counts,” and “a belief in the benefits of asking for and giving honest feedback” (“Your lsi styles,” 2013). Most of the items that comprise the achievement style manifest itself in my personal- and work-life. For example, I enjoy being busy, learning more, taking on difficult tasks and accomplishing them. I pride myself in knowing I am a competent communicator; I am honest, direct, and tactful. I have grown into a woman who takes ownership of her mistakes and learns from them. The items that comprise the approval style, my backup style, are also present in my life. Although the LSI survey identified it as a strength; I see most of it as a weakness. I truly am generous to a fault, I always give the benefit of a doubt, and I am constantly seeking approval (even from people who don’t matter). I do get upset by conflict only because I believe that everything can be resolved through communication. However, I do not get upset if I am not accepted by others, I do not find it difficult to be trusted by others, I do not agree with everyone and I do not forgive anything. Avoidance is identified as a limiting style on my LSI Style Circumplex. The items listed under avoidance include: self-depreciative, self-condemning, easily embarrassed, lacks self-confidence, and easily led. These items are what hinder my effectiveness at work. In my work, I need to feel confident that the decisions I make are good and right ones. I also need the confidence to stand up to managers who try to ‘pull one over’ on the contracts department. I find myself too gullible for my own good and I doubt my work and ability to work almost every day. Unless this changes, I will have a hard time advancing in my career. What I have working to my advantage is my achievement style. I believe that this will help me change my avoidance style. According to the LSI results, I tend to feel positively challenged by what I confront in life, I recognize that I will encounter occasional setbacks but I try to “account for all that could go wrong and formulate contingency plans to get the job done” (“Your lsi results,” 2013). Although I am currently not a manager, I believe that my LSI results identify those qualities/styles that would benefit me if I were to manage a team. Understanding my strengths can provide more opportunities for advancement and increase the quality and productivity of my work. My primary and backup styles would make me a very effective manager. For example, achievement is my primary style and I agree that I am enthusiastic, enjoys a challenge that requires skill, enjoys planning, possess good analytic skills, and share responsibility well. My backup style helps to establish me as a manager who is friendly and accepting of others’ values. However, managers must have confidence, make decisions, and not be evasive. Those qualities that fall under the avoidance style may affect my effectiveness as a manager. I was raised in to always want the best for myself. I also wanted the approval of my parents so I listened to them. I became the first to attend college and I am now the first to attend graduate school. My family was poor and didn’t know too much about education so I had to rely on the advisors and a lot of research before making and decision about my future. LSI Styles that weren’t mentioned, and that I believe shape who I am today, include humanistic-encouraging and self-actualizing. I am my sister’s sole caretaker. I love her and I work hard to support her. She’s disabled

References:

Human synergistics international: About us. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.humansynergistics.com/AboutUs

(“Human synergistics international:,” 2012)

What lsi measures. (2013, September). Retrieved from http://www.survey-server2.com/lsiuniversity-sso/measure.asp

(“What lsi measures,” 2013)

Your lsi styles profile. (2013, September 07). Retrieved from http://www.survey-server2.com/lsiuniversity-sso/pers_report.asp

(“Your lsi styles,” 2013)