Versatility is all about practice and it is important to continually refresh your versatility. Our team’s Working with STYLE Guides offer advice for common workplace challenges. In addition, Our team offers a variety of training programs tailored to Managers, Sales Professionals & a Universal Audience.

It’s important to remember that knowledge is power. Though it may be somewhat disconcerting to receive a lower Versatility score, you can quickly raise your Versatility by focusing on just a few areas. The profile report will indicate the different components of Versatility, and by focusing on your areas of greatest need, you can become more effective. Just remember, it might take a little time for your coworkers to notice these changes, so be patient and persistent.

Self-Perception Vs. Multi-rater Profiles
The most common explanation is that one of your Style profiles was generated using a Self-Perception questionnaire. Research shows that people self-identify their Style different from others approximately half of the time. And because our effectiveness reflects how others see us, information gathered from others is much more helpful than our own internal beliefs. Style and Versatility scores from a multi-rater profile are the ones on which you should focus. (See our whitepaper on the Value of aMulti-Rater Profile.)

Different Rating Groups
Sometimes a person will have significant differences in the people that complete a Social Style profile. For example, a sales manager may behave significantly different with his colleagues and direct reports than with his clients. This could result in some differences in a person’s Social Style score, but research has shown that such differences are infrequent and relatively small.

Changes Over Time
Sometimes a person’s behaviors – and thus their Social Style – will change slightly over time and/or circumstances. For instance, a person newly promoted to a position of authority may slightly change key elements of his or her behavior to accommodate the new role. Thus people will perceive this person’s behavior differently, which can result in a slight change in Style profile.

Versatility Score Changes
Versatility scores do sometimes change when people are re-profiled, because Versatility is truly variable and a choice each person can make. We may show more or less Versatility in different situations, with different people or when performing different actions. The most effective people are those that learn to be highly Versatile in a wide variety of settings and in the majority of their interactions with others. When this is the case, Versatility will generally be perceived as high no matter the group rating you.