Linda Berens on Creating and Validating the Interaction Styles Framework

Beyond Personality Types

Transcript

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ℹ️ Introduction

Welcome to "Beyond Personality Types," where we invite you to step outside the confines of typical typology tools and explore the artistry behind personality theory. In this premiere episode of our special series on Interaction Styles, hosts Dr. Linda Berens—internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work in typology—and Olivier Caudron, self-discovery facilitator, take you on a journey into the origins and evolution of the Interaction Styles framework.

Discover why some people naturally take charge while others shine from behind the scenes, and learn how focusing on holistic patterns—rather than isolated traits—can transform your understanding of personality. Linda takes us back to the foundational moments of Interaction Styles, revealing its connections with popular models like DISC and Social Styles, and unpacking the process of creating, validating, and continually refining this lens for real-world practice.

Whether you’re a practitioner seeking fresh ways to support growth in clients and teams, or an enthusiast curious about the deeper layers of type, this series promises to open your mind to what personality theory can truly offer. Get ready to rethink, experiment, and bring a new level of nuance to your conversations about type. Let's go beyond personality types—together.

📚 Timestamped overview

00:00 Exploring Interaction Styles in Depth

05:25 Understanding Personality: Four Social Styles

06:26 Reimagining Myers-Briggs: New Type Names

10:47 Personality Type Stereotypes Analysis

15:39 Body Language Reveals Personality Traits

18:27 "Exploring Evolving Interaction Styles"

20:15 Exploring Interaction Styles Series

❇️ Key topics and bullets

1. Introduction to the Podcast and Series

• Overview of Beyond Personality Types and its purpose

• Introduction of hosts: Olivier Caudron and Dr. Linda Berens

• Clarification of podcast goals: going beyond MBTI and mainstream frameworks

• Explanation of the series focus on Interaction Styles

2. The Origins of Interaction Styles

• Early days of type exploration and involvement with personality models

• Initial experience with DISC and its perceived limitations

• Comparison of DISC, social styles, and Myers-Briggs type code

• Influence of Robert Bolton and Dorothy Grover Bolton's work (People Styles at Work)

• Experimentation with mapping MBTI types onto the four social and DISC styles

3. Clustering and Naming the Four Patterns

• Inspiration from Kersey’s approach to clustering MBTI types

• Identification of four patterns: Improviser, Stabilizer, Theorist, Catalyst

• Development of new names for interaction styles based on user-friendliness

  • In Charge (correlating to Driver/High D in DISC)

  • Chart the Course (correlating to Analytical/C in DISC)

  • Behind the Scenes (correlating to Amiable/S in DISC)

  • Get Things Going (correlating to Expressive/I in DISC)

4. Validating and Refining the Framework

• Writing and testing descriptions for each pattern

• Conducting field experiments at type conferences and workshops

• Gathering feedback and adjusting language in descriptions

• Discovering instances where MBTI preferences and interaction style didn’t always align

• Focus on keeping language neutral and descriptive for broader applicability

5. Application in Workshops and Professional Development

• Practical use of interaction styles in type workshops

• Early use and feedback on initial handouts with bullet point descriptions

• Continuous wordsmithing and improvement based on real-world responses

• Collection and analysis of workshop data (including group presentations and videos)

6. Research and Evidence for Interaction Styles Beyond Personality Theory

• Reference to Andy Cole’s 2016 master’s thesis on body language and Interaction Styles

  • Experiment using actors to demonstrate styles

  • Confirmation that body language communicates these patterns

• Development of training materials and videos to teach recognition of movement and energy patterns

• Availability of video training resources for practitioners

7. Importance of Holistic Pattern Recognition

• Emphasis on looking at patterns instead of isolated behavioral details

• Critique of instruments that break types into separated parts

• Anecdotal evidence from workshop experiences that people easily identify with the holistic style patterns

8. Broader Applications and Continuing Evolution

• Use of interaction styles in areas like team building and communication

• Ongoing refinement of the framework and descriptions (hinting at future updated editions)

• Responsibilities and opportunities for practitioners to keep evolving the typology

9. Conclusion and Next Steps

• Reflection on lessons learned from the episode

• Encouragement to cultivate curiosity and openness in type practice

• Teaser for future content: deeper dives into each interaction style, practical tools, and real-life stories

• Call to action: subscribe, rate/review, and follow on social media