| Regardless of your personality type, values and | | | | Speech of Supportive Personalities |
| behaviors, the journey to achieving a balanced, happy | | | | S personalities speak slowly and softly. Their words |
| life will be much easier, and much more successful and | | | | are kind and thoughtful. They ask permission to ask |
| harmonious if you learn to understand and | | | | direct questions, but they really prefer indirect |
| communicate effectively with the people you meet on | | | | questions. They will often stop and ask if what they |
| your journey. We're talking about finding common | | | | are saying is "alright or okay with you." They are never |
| ground among the four major personality types: | | | | confrontational. They make requests rather than give |
| Supportive, Direct, I (ego centered) and Controlling, | | | | orders, even when the situation might call for a direct |
| focusing this time on the Supportive, or S, personality | | | | order. They are profoundly concerned that their words |
| type. | | | | and tone should never be interpreted as harsh or |
| How Supportive People See Themselves: S | | | | offensive. Their language is supportive and |
| personalities are the caregivers of the world, the | | | | nonjudgmental. |
| nurturers and peacemakers. Just as men make up a | | | | Clothes, Cars and Houses |
| preponderance of the D (Direct) personalities, the great | | | | S personalities are careful and thoughtful and |
| majority of S personalities are women. Their world | | | | conservative dressers. The statement their clothes |
| begins and ends with people and relationships. | | | | make is that the wearer is a warm, comfortable |
| How Others See Supportive People: D personalities | | | | person, one who can be trusted and someone who is |
| are the opposite of S personalities and do not | | | | supportive. Male S personalities dress like Mr. Rodgers |
| understand the S's focus on people and relationships. | | | | of TV fame and women dress like your second grade |
| D's do not grasp that the S personality focuses on | | | | teacher: "cuddly" and comfortable. |
| people and relationships while the D's place emphasis | | | | S's drive family cars because they are family-focused. |
| on things and ideas. S's are the ultimate team players, | | | | They drive minivans, and while their children are young |
| while D's see a team as another organization for them | | | | they drive multi-passenger vehicles for car pooling, |
| to lead. | | | | loading up for church picnics and collecting food for the |
| I (ego centered) personalities have a lot in common | | | | homeless shelter. They are unlikely to choose an SUV |
| with the S's because they are the two personality | | | | because it is not environmentally friendly. Their vehicles |
| types that are supportive. However, the I's are | | | | are conservative in style and color and they never |
| preoccupied with themselves, their needs, wants and | | | | drive over the speed limit. |
| desires while S's are concerned with the needs, wants | | | | S personalities do not have houses; they have homes! |
| and desires of others. There is often a symbiotic | | | | Houses are full of things but homes provide the |
| relationship between the I's and the S's. | | | | foundation for relationships. Walk into the home of an |
| The C (Controlling) personality loves the thoughtful, | | | | S person and the walls will be covered with family |
| careful, quiet nature of the S's, presence. After all, they | | | | photos, and pictures of weddings, anniversaries, and |
| are the two personality types on the same side of the | | | | the kids growing up. S's live in friendly neighborhoods |
| indirect line. The tension between these two groups | | | | and are active in their local communities. |
| comes from the fact that the C's are solitary as | | | | Values: Family, Money, Relationships |
| people and controlling in their behaviors. The C's are | | | | Absolutely nothing is more important to an S |
| very slow and careful in forming relationships, while S's, | | | | personality than family and other close personal |
| who are always ready to form a relationship at a | | | | relationships. This is the very definition of the supportive |
| moment's notice, are too emotional and not analytical | | | | personality. They exist to make the world a better |
| enough for the C's. | | | | place by getting and keeping people together. Money is |
| Career options for Supportive Personalities | | | | not important to S's. If they win the lottery, after |
| The S's are the teachers of the world, particularly of | | | | making sure their family is secure, they will give the |
| young children. Nursing is another profession dominated | | | | rest away. |
| by S personalities. The entire healthcare industry is, in | | | | Time |
| fact, dominated by S personalities. Staff who work in | | | | Ss are very considerate about time because it is a |
| medical fields that involve close doctor-patient | | | | way of honoring others. They like to be on time, but |
| relationships, such as ob-gyn, family practice and | | | | often will have trouble breaking away from one group |
| childcare, tend to be filled with S types. The social | | | | of people to be on time with another. They never |
| workers of the world are almost always S | | | | want to appear rude or uninterested in the first group |
| personalities as are people who enjoy working with | | | | by leaving, even to meet someone else. Given a |
| animals. They often choose careers based on causes; | | | | conflict between time with people and time on a chore |
| save the earth, the environment, the children, the planet, | | | | or idea, people will always get the attention and |
| the redwood trees. People who are very passionate | | | | commitment of the S personality. |
| about causes are usually S personalities. | | | | |