**Title:**
**Beyond Personality Types: Unlocking the Power of Interaction Styles in Practice**
**Subheader:**
How Understanding Four Core Interaction Patterns Can Elevate Your Type Work—and Your Teamwork
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Personality type practitioners often find themselves facing the limits of classic MBTI® results. While these results provide powerful insights, the real magic happens when we step “beyond the indicator results” and embrace a more dynamic, integral perspective. In a recent episode of *Beyond Personality Types*, Dr. Linda Berens and Olivier Caudron shine a spotlight on the “Interaction Styles” framework—a practical lens for truly appreciating and working with the diversity of human drives and communication patterns. In this post, we’ll unpack the key takeaways from their conversation, and show you how to ethically and effectively apply the Interaction Styles model in your practice.
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## The Holistic Roots of Type: Why Patterns Matter
“Types are fascinating patterns that are best discovered holistically.”
—Linda Berens
Linda Berens opens the episode by emphasizing the importance of pattern recognition over rigid labels. Too often, practitioners and their clients get attached to four-letter type codes, missing the nuanced ways personalities actually show up in daily interactions. The Interaction Styles lens invites us to observe *how* people do what they do—not just *what* they do or think. This subtle, yet fundamental, shift helps practitioners move away from stereotyping and toward genuine understanding.
The InterStrength™ model provides this broader perspective, encouraging practitioners to develop a robust pattern recognition skillset. Understanding these “fascinating patterns” isn’t just about analysis—it’s about appreciating the richness of human complexity and supporting clients’ true self-discovery.
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## Meet the Four Interaction Styles: Patterns in Action
“What if you could quickly recognize four distinct patterns in the way people interact no matter where you are or who you're with?”
—Olivier Caudron
Underlying our behaviors are four core Interaction Styles, each driven by distinct needs, energetic signatures, and decision-making approaches. Far from being boxes, these styles offer a menu for understanding and working flexibly with the full range of human interaction. Let’s explore each:
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### 1. The *In Charge* Pattern: Leadership in Motion
“The drive is this urgent need to accomplish that’s aimed at getting a desired result.”
—Linda Berens
The *In Charge* style isn’t always about formal leadership—contrary to what the name might suggest. Practitioners must avoid the trap of mapping job roles to interaction patterns. According to Linda, “Don't assume that someone who has an in charge style always wants to be the boss. What they do want is… something is being done.” The *In Charge* drive is fundamentally about progression and tangible results, manifesting as a readiness to take initiative, clarify roles, set deadlines, and expect accountability—whether or not someone holds the title of “leader.”
**In practice:**
- Recognize *In Charge* individuals by their “composed energy” and focus on getting things moving.
- Respect their drive to resolve ambiguity and push toward action—what might seem like bossiness is often a “genuine need for action and progress.”
- Don’t assume they want to always lead; many are just as comfortable as team members—if the group makes real headway.
- When working with clients or teams, help *In Charge* types channel their drive constructively, and remind others not to mistake directness for dominance.
**From InterStrength.org:**
Check out [resources on Interaction Styles](https://www.interstrength.org/interaction-styles/) for deeper dives, and find exercises like “Spot the Drive” to help teams discover which patterns underlie their workflow.
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### 2. The *Get Things Going* Pattern: Connect, Motivate, Engage
“Their drive is to involve and to be involved... reaching out and talking with people, being more sociable, more gregarious really.”
—Linda Berens
*Get Things Going* types draw energy from connection. Linda’s description—“They want to get an embraced result”—highlights their desire for collaborative momentum and buy-in. They excel at drawing out perspectives, motivating group dialog, and ensuring broad participation. Their decision processes are more “collaborative, not necessarily consensual,” which means they’ll encourage all voices but don’t require unanimity before moving ahead.
**In practice:**
- Recognize *Get Things Going* individuals by their animated gestures, energetic outreach, and social optimism.
- Provide them with opportunities to build consensus and gather input—forcing rigid structures or stifling collaboration can be demotivating.
- Help teams distinguish genuine involvement from indecisiveness; these types are scanning for group readiness, not just waiting.
- Encourage others to see their expressive energy as a strength, not a lack of seriousness or depth.
**Resource highlight:**
Explore the InterStrength booklet **"Understanding Yourself and Others: An Introduction to Interaction Styles"** for conversation starters and reflection prompts, perfect for group settings looking to foster the *Get Things Going* pattern.
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### 3. The *Chart the Course* Pattern: Anticipate, Prepare, Steady the Ship
“This drive is the need to anticipate—knowing where you’re going to go from here to there.”
—Linda Berens
*Chart the Course* patterns are often (mis)understood as “planners,” but Linda offers nuance here: “It’s not a plan of action but a course of action in mind.” The essential drive is to foresee obstacles and prepare a coherent direction, instilling calm focus amid uncertainty. While some are structured, others can be spontaneous yet always want a sense of what’s ahead.
**In practice:**
- Recognize *Chart the Course* by their “calm, focused energy” and penchant for forethought—whether in conversation or group projects.
- Support their need for clarity without demanding rigid, step-wise agendas; trust-building comes from demonstrating respect for their anticipatory approach.
- Beware of over-scheduling or micromanaging these individuals. Honor the difference between “direction” and “control.”
- Help teams understand that *Chart the Course* may speak up with crucial warnings or options—don’t dismiss their input as pessimism.
**Try This:**
Use [InterStrength’s charting exercises](https://www.interstrength.org/interaction-styles/) to help team members visualize routes from goal to goal, without getting lost in the weeds.
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### 4. The *Behind the Scenes* Pattern: Integrate, Consult, Seek the Best Result
“For them, it's worth the time to integrate and reconcile many inputs.”
—Linda Berens
Often overlooked as “passive,” *Behind the Scenes* people dedicate themselves to synthesizing perspectives, forever asking, “Do we *really* have all the information?” According to Linda, the drive here is “to get the best result possible,” meaning outcomes that reflect true integration, not just expediency. This pattern brings patience, thoroughness, and essential questions to the table—sometimes quietly, other times with gentle persistence.
**In practice:**
- Make space for *Behind the Scenes* individuals to process and consult. Don’t pressure for immediate responses—insight arrives in its own time.
- Recognize their consultative, often reserved style as a strength, especially in environments that benefit from due diligence and conflict mediation.
- Listen for the “questions nobody else thought of”—these can be keystones for group success.
- Challenge the myth that “first to speak” equals “most valuable”—encourage teams to embrace a broader definition of contribution.
**From InterStrength.org:**
The [Interaction Styles Profile Tool](https://shop.interstrength.org/products/interaction-styles-profile-report) can help team members discover and articulate their own behind-the-scenes contributions—a powerful step toward inclusivity and trust.
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## Ethical Practice: Beyond Stereotypes and Snap Judgments
“Look beyond surface behaviors and understand the underlying drives of each pattern… honoring these interaction styles isn't just about accuracy. It's about fostering understanding, compassion, and effectiveness in every group or relationship you encounter.”
—Olivier Caudron
Truly ethical type work goes far beyond identifying which type or pattern someone fits. It means recognizing and validating the drives beneath behaviors, and avoiding snap judgments based on surface traits or job titles. Important reminders for practitioners:
- **Respect diversity in action and timing:** Each style brings a different rhythm. Rushing a *Behind the Scenes* or stifling a *Get Things Going* undermines not just individuals, but the fabric of the whole group.
- **Avoid “type-casting”:** Titles like “leader,” “collaborator,” or “planner” map only loosely onto interaction styles. Look for energy signatures, decision patterns, and behavioral cues.
- **Support type development, not stagnation:** Encourage growth and stretch. Help *In Charge* manage frustration with slower processes; coach *Chart the Course* to share their vision even amidst uncertainty; empower *Get Things Going* to focus and finish; and ensure *Behind the Scenes* aren’t left out of the decision loop.
- **Facilitate mutual appreciation:** As Linda points out, when each style is understood and honored, teams thrive—and so do individuals.
For additional guidance, InterStrength.org offers a range of ethical practice [webinars and online learning modules](https://www.interstrength.org/events/).
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## Tools and Resources: Grow Your Practice the Integral Way
“Remember to subscribe... You can also follow us on Facebook and instagram @BeyondPersonalityTimes.”
—Olivier Caudron
Going “Beyond Personality Types” isn’t something you do overnight. It’s a journey of deepening awareness, for both yourself and your clients. The InterStrength System is rich with resources for practitioners:
- **Interaction Styles Booklets:** User-friendly introductions and exercises, perfect for workshops or client handouts.
- **Certified Courses:** The InterStrength™ certification pathway offers immense depth for coaches and professionals.
- **Online Communities:** Connect with other open-minded practitioners on social media, or dive into live workshops.
- **Profile Tools:** Use validated assessment products to give clients richer, more actionable insights about their Interaction Styles.
Find more at [Interstrength.org](https://www.interstrength.org/).
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## Conclusion: Beyond Labels—Toward Integral Type Practice
As Linda and Olivier remind us, working with types and Interaction Styles is about much more than “getting results.” It’s about honoring human complexity—and the many ways that drive, energy, and behavior can work together to achieve not just achievable results, but also embraced and best results.
Next time you conduct a team session, coach a client, or even reflect on your own role, try observing with Interaction Styles in mind. The world will get bigger—and your practice, more ethical, efficient, and deeply human.
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**Want More?**
Tune in to *Beyond Personality Types* wherever you get your podcasts, and explore InterStrength’s courses and guides for your next deep dive. Stay curious, and keep going... beyond personality types.