This document discusses how the LifeStyles Inventory (LSI) can be used for leadership development. The LSI measures thinking styles on 12 dimensions organized into constructive, passive/defensive, and aggressive/defensive styles. It helps leaders understand their current styles, accept them, examine how they affect others, commit to change, and develop strategies for improvement. Specifically for leadership, the LSI aids in increasing constructive styles and decreasing passive/defensive and aggressive/defensive styles to enhance leadership practices.

1. Leadership Development
and the
LifeStyles Inventory™
Brian Stout
Human Synergistics International
Changing
the World –
One
Organization
at a Time™
1

2. Agenda
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Activity
Discussion of LifeStyles Inventory™
and Human Synergistics International
Scoring
How is the LSI used in leadership
development?
Discussion

3. Activity
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Open the booklet and fill out the
inventory
Be as open and honest as possible
Remember to consider each item
separately

4. About the
LifeStyles Inventory™ (LSI)
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There are two versions—LSI-1 and
LSI-2
 The LSI-1 measures the thoughts and
attitudes we have about ourselves that
drive our behavior
The LSI-2 provides feedback on how
our behavioral patterns are interpreted
by others

5. LSI-1
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Measures thinking styles on 12
dimensions, which are organized into
three styles:
1. Constructive
2. Passive/Defensive
3. Aggressive/Defensive
Results presented on circumplex

6. LSI-2
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Provides feedback on how our behavior
patterns are interpreted by others
How others perceive our behavior
becomes a stimulus for their responses
to us

7. About the Circumplex
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The HS Circumplex runs through our
lines of individual, group, and
organizational assessment products
Scores are presented in percentiles to
allow for comparisons to other people,
groups, or organizations
Dark ring is the 50th percentile
Depending on the styles, high/low scores
are desirable

8. HS Integrated Diagnostic
System
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Text here

9. LSI Scoring
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Open your booklet
Add down A-E and record subtotals in
boxes
Add subtotals across page to get totals
for each clock score
Record the totals on the circumplex, and
shade them in to the center

10. The LSI Circumplex
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Three Styles:
1. Constructive
2. Passive/Defensive
3. Aggressive/Defensive

11. Constructive Styles
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Interacting with others and approaching
tasks in ways that will help them to meet
their higher-order satisfaction needs.
Achievement
Self-Actualizing
Humanistic-Encouraging
Affiliative

12. Passive-Defensive Styles
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Interacting with people in ways that
will not threaten their own security.
Approval
Conventional
Dependent
Avoidance

13. Aggressive-Defensive Styles
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Approaching tasks in forceful ways to
protect their status and security.
Oppositional
Power
Competitive
Perfectionistic

14. Sample Profiles
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Company President/CEO Selected as
the Industry’s Executive of the Year
54 Year Old Male Who Has Had
5 Ulcers

15. LSI 1 vs. LSI 2
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LSI 1-Self LSI 2-Others

16. The LSI and
Leadership Development
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The LSI helps participants:
•Understand what they are like now, and
what causes them to be that way
•Accept current thinking and behavior
•Examine how their behavior affects them
and others
•Pinpoint strengths and opportunities
•Commit to change and plan for it, and to
develop a strategy to bring it about

17. More Information on LSI
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Typically, reassessment occurs at least 3-6
months after initial results—need some time to
plan and implement change
As you can imagine, debriefing can be a
painful process for some
Generally, coaching focuses on increasing
Constructive styles and decreasing Passive-
Defensive and Aggressive-Defensive styles
Passive-Defensive styles are hardest to
move

18. More Information on LSI
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Participants are encouraged to share
results with others (family, friends,
colleagues)

19. The LSI and the LPI
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How are these instruments similar?
How are they different?
How can your LSI results improve your
leadership practices?