The “Tension Among the Styles” graphic on the next page relates pace and priority characteristics to behavioral Styles. Notice that the Steady Style and Conscientious Style both tend to prefer a slower pace; the Influencing Style and the Dominant Styles prefer a faster pace. These style combinations will get along well as far as pace is concerned, but watch out for their priorities!

Take the Dominant Style–Influencing Style relationship. Both the Dominant Styles and the Influencing Styles are relatively fast-paced behavioral types. Yet the Influencing Styles place more emphasis on personal relationships than on tasks, while the Dominant Styles tend to pursue tasks with less concern for relationships or feelings. Some degree of tension is likely to result during their interaction due to their differences in priority.

Where priorities are concerned, the Influencing Styles do better with the Steady Styles. These two will still be getting to know each other while the Conscientious Styles and the Dominant Styles are headlong into the task. Without some awareness and accommodation for their differences in pace, tension may build as well in the Steady Style–Influencing Style interaction when these two finally do get around to the tasks at hand—the Influencing Styles usually want it yesterday whereas the Steady Styles want to take the slow and steady approach.

Consider the task-oriented team of Dominant Styles and Conscientious Styles, another example of pace-based tension. The fast-paced Dominant Styles like to make quick decisions. The slower-paced Conscientious Styles get uptight when having to make decisions without an opportunity to fully analyze all the alternatives.

When dissimilar pairings occur, as they often do in many business and social encounters, one or the other of the individuals must make adjustments in style to avoid increasing tension in the other person. This does not mean you must sacrifice your personality or become something you’re not. Ideally, both people would demonstrate some adaptability and move part of the way. Depending on the circumstances, however, only one of the individuals may recognize the potential problem, or be sufficiently motivated to do something about it.

When interactions join Styles that differ in both their pace and priority preferences, things really get interesting! Here the probability of relationship tension is even greater. This occurs in Steady Style–Dominant Style relationships, as well as Conscientious Style–Influencing Style relationships.

Take the case of the Dominant Style–Steady Style interaction: the Dominant Styles should try to show some concern for people rather than appearing to treat them only as a resource toward task accomplishment. The Steady Styles should try to show more concern for task completion, even if it means putting the personal relationships aside temporarily. When the Dominant Styles meet Steady Styles (a diagonal relationship), both individuals should attempt adjustments in both pace and priority. The same applies to the Influencing Style–Conscientious Style relationship. The key to managing tension is to know when to expect pace and priority problems, and have a strategy to prevent or deal with these differences in preference.