RUNNING HEAD: LSI Paper

I am charged with the task of completing the Life Styles Inventory Survey to give a self-description of my thinking styles. The purpose of this assignment is to determine the impact that the personal styles have on my management style and to identify which one of my thinking styles may be reducing my overall effectiveness. After completing the survey, my circumplex shows that my primary thinking style is the “Conventional Style”(4 o’clock) and my backup thinking style is the “Power Style” (8 o’clock). I agree with the results of the conventional thinking style, but, I do not fully agree with the results of the power thinking style. According to the LSI results, the conventional thinking style is one that measures our inclination to act in a compliant way. Conventional thinkers worry about adhering to rules and established procedures. According to the LSI results, when we depend on on established procedures in determining how we do things, we risk losing our sense of uniqueness and individuality. I would have to agree with the results of this survey that I am a conventional thinker. As a child, my parents had very strict household rules that, simply, were not to my benefit to break. Therefore, I often abided by the rules. I think this is why I tend to do things strictly by the book. Doing things by the book gives me a sense of security in knowing that I followed the policy, in case something goes wrong. As a conventional thinker, I prefer to accept things as they are, instead of being innovative and bringing in new ideas. I believe that the conventional way of thinking might work against me and reduce my overall effectiveness. Michael R. Michalko wrote an article called “Are You a Creative Thinker?” and in this article he states, “Great ideas are created by those who are creative and who go beyond the traditional boundaries