Strength Deployment Inventory : Interpretive Guide ®

M ana g e C o n f l i c t an d Im p r o v e Re l at i o ns h i p s by Elias H. Porter, Ph.D.

Prepared exclusively for:

Facilitated by:

s t r en g t h . . . The Strength Deployment Inventory® (SDI®) helps people identify their personal
strengths in relating to others under two conditions: 1) when everything is going well, and 2) when they are
faced with conflict.

d e p l o y men t . . . means to move strategically or to take a position for effective action. The SDI suggests
ways that one’s personal strengths may be used to improve relationships with others.

i n v en t o r y . . . The SDI is not a test where judgments and “right” or “wrong” answers are graded. It is
an inventory for taking stock of motivational values (the basis for how you feel and act in different situations).
It is a self-discovery tool.

Using the SDI Interpretive Guide

You have received this SDI Interpretive Guide because you completed the
online version of the Strength Deployment Inventory. You will also be provided
with your own results.

Understanding Your SDI Results

The point values you chose while completing the online SDI result in six
numerical totals. These totals are used to generate an arrow which represents
your Motivational Value System and Conflict Sequence.

The Dot
The dot indicates the Motivational Value System—motives and values that
drive behavior when things are going well. The Valued Relating Style is
the behavior associated with a Motivational Value System. See the pages
titled “The 7 Motivational Value Systems” and “Points of Comparison
Between Patterns of Motivation” for descriptive information.

The Arrowhead
The arrowhead indicates the Conflict Sequence—changes in motivation
in conflict that drive changes in behavior in conflict. See pages titled “Your
Conflict Sequence” and “Conflict Sequences” for descriptive information.

Africa • Asia • Australia • Europe • North America • South America

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© Copyright 1973, 2006 by Personal Strengths Publishing. All rights reserved in the U.S. and worldwide. This inventory or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Personal Strengths Publishing.
The 7 Motivational Value Systems™ SDI Interpretive Guide 2

Motivational Value System Valued Relating Style Rewarding Environment

Blue: Altruistic–Nurturing
• Concern for the protection,
growth, and welfare of others
Being open and responsive to the needs
Open, friendly, helpful, considerate,
of others... Seeking ways to bring help
supportive, enhancing, trusting,
to others... Trying to make life easier for
socially sensitive, sincere, loyal,
others... Trying to avoid being a burden
compassionate, respectful,
to others... Ensuring others reach their
humanitarian... Being needed...
potential... Ensuring others are valued...
Being appreciated
Defending the rights of others

Red: Assertive–Directing Competing for authority, responsibility Progressive, innovative, evocative,

and positions of leadership... Exercising challenging, fast-moving, stimulating,
• Concern for task
persuasion... Being alert to opportunity... competitive, creative... New levels
accomplishment
Claiming the right to earned rewards... of opportunity... Potential for personal
• Concern for organization Striving for immediate action... Accepting advancement and development...
of people, time, money and challenges... Accepting risk-taking as Personal material rewards available...
any other resources to achieve necessary and desirable... Potential for winning...
desired results Demonstrating competitiveness Verbally stimulating... Self-projection
Green: Analytic–Autonomizing Being objective... Being right... Clarity, logic, precision, utility, durability,
• Concern for assurance that
Being principled... Being in control of efficiency, reliability, organized... Self-reliance,
things have been properly
one’s emotions... Being practical... Being individualism, self-dependence...
thought out
cautious and thorough... Being fair... Effective use of resources... Individual decision
Being resolute... Being serious... Being making... Clear, supportable, authentic criteria
• Concern for meaningful their own “judge and jury”... Being their for decision making... Time to explore
order being established and “own person”... Thinking things options... Opportunity for economy...
maintained through before acting Researched recommendations
Hub: Flexible–Cohering
Being curious about what others think
Friendly, involving, sociable,
• Concern for flexibility and feel... Being open minded and willing to
democratic, playful, changing,
• Concern for the welfare adapt... Experiments with different ways of
flexible... Encouraging interaction...
of the group acting... Proud to be a “member”...
Being heard and listening...
• Concern for the members Likes to know a lot of people... Likes to
Sensitivity to feelings...
of the group and for be known by a lot of people... Likes to be
Consensus-building
belonging in the group known as flexible

Red-Blue: Assertive–Nurturing
• Concern for the protection,
growth, and welfare of others
through task accomplishment
and leadership
Actively seeking opportunities to
Openness, mentoring, enthusiastic,
help others... Persuading others to ensure
friendliness, sincerity, trust,
maximum growth and development
compassion... Respect for others...
of others... Being open to proposals for
Supporting the underdog...
creating welfare and security for others...
Positive, progressive initiatives for the
Creating enthusiasm and support in
growth and development of others
tackling obstacles to success

Red-Green: Judicious–Competing
Strategic, determined, planning...
Providing rational leadership that
• Concern for intelligent Complex, challenging tasks requiring
can assess risks and opportunities...
assertiveness, justice, expertise... Environment that offers
Being decisive and proactive
leadership, order, and recognition for achievement...
when all the facts are in...
fairness in competition Availability of technical resources...
Challenging opposition through
Opportunities to lead and to
thoughtful process and strategy
develop winning strategies

Blue-Green: Cautious–Supporting
Conscientious, patient, congenial...
Building effective processes and
• Concern for affirming and Environment that respects individuals,
resources to protect or enhance welfare
developing self-sufficiency fairness, and resources... Opportunities
of others... Offering assistance for greater
in self and others to encourage growth, independence,
self-sufficiency and independence...
• Concern for thoughtful and bring forth the best in others...
Supporting activities that lead to growth...
helpfulness with regard Tasks that require thoughtful analysis
Fighting for principles that are fair
for justice to aid those in need

© Copyright 1973, 2006 by Personal Strengths Publishing. All rights reserved in the U.S. and worldwide. This inventory or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Personal Strengths Publishing.
 Points of Comparison: Part 1 SDI Interpretive Guide 3

Motivational You feel best about

what you are doing
You feel most rewarded
by others when they treat
You identify with and
feel most at ease with
You are attracted to
and intrigued by
Value System when you are . . . you as a . . . people who . . . others who are . . .

Blue: warm and friendly

strong and know exactly
being helpful in some person who wants to
clearly care for the what they want to do and
way to others who can be of help and who is
feelings, the needs, and want you to be included
Altruistic– genuinely benefit from deserving of thanks and
the welfare of others. in their activities
Nurturing your help. appreciation for
and successes.
giving help.

Red: strong and ambitious

in the position of clearly understand generous and responsive
person, a winner, and one
providing leadership and the productivity to you and who want to
who is deserving
are able to set the goals behind the exercise help you achieve your
Assertive– for and direct the actions
of the opportunity to
of power, control, ambitions and your
Directing provide leadership and
of others. and competition. successes.
direction.

Green: clear, logical and

able to pursue your own clearly respect the open and explicit
analytic person who
interests in a self-reliant integrity of others and about what they want
is deserving of respect
way without having to the rights of others to and how they feel,
Analytic– take direction or help
for dealing with others
determine their own without imposing their
Autonomizing fairly and for being
from those around you. courses of action. wants or feelings on you.
a person of principle.

able to coordinate your

Hub: efforts with others
good team member who generous in their
knows how to be a loyal clearly are flexible help; who are strong
in some common
follower, knows how to in their behavior and and want you on
undertaking that
exercise authority, and readily able to adapt their team; who are quite
Flexible– involves closeness, clear
knows when to follow to whatever the patient and
Cohering lines of authority, and
the rules and when to use situation calls for. don’t lose their
opportunity for
judgment. heads.
self-reliance.

Red-Blue: in a position to be
strong and friendly clearly understand
strong and decisive and
person deserving the compassionate
genuinely helpful know exactly what they
of recognition and use of power, and
through your want to do, and who
appreciation, and the need to act
Assertive– leadership, and are
the opportunity to promptly in matters
ask for your support
Nurturing able to direct others without imposing
lead others for their affecting other
for their own benefit. on you.
betterment. people’s welfare.

Red-Green: strong and principled

clearly understand
in a position to the rational use of power, supportive and loyal to
person, deserving of
compete using your own and the need you and who will help
recognition and respect,
judgment, and to direct to act promptly and you, without hesitation
Judicious– others in an impartial
and the opportunity to
judiciously in matters or qualification,
Competing provide competitive and
and efficient manner. affecting your to attain success.
rational leadership.
competitive edge.

Blue-Green: thoughtful and

able to nurture the warm and principled clearly understand respectful of you
growth of another person who combines the employment of and your goals and
person’s self-reliance compassion and intellect both feelings and reason who are cautious and
Cautious– through your analysis into enlightened to better the welfare and thorough in whatever
Supporting of their needs. guidance for others. independence of others. they undertake on
your behalf.
© Copyright 1973, 2005 by Personal Strengths Publishing. All rights reserved in the U.S. and worldwide. This inventory or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Personal Strengths Publishing.
 Points of Comparison: Part 2 SDI Interpretive Guide 4

Motivational Ideally, you would

like to be . . .
Ideally, you would like
to avoid ever being . . .
You feel distant from and
somewhat contemptuous
You feel discomfort
from people who . . .
Value System of people who . . .

Blue: more assertive and less treat you with anger

constantly compete with
fearful of pushing for and hostility, tell you
a selfish person or one and try to take advantage
your own rights and to “go mind your own
who is cold and unfeeling of others; are cold and
Altruistic– wants; more capable of
about others. unresponsive to
business,” or are slow to
Nurturing saying “No” to people recognize your efforts to
gestures of friendliness.
who impose on you. promote their welfare.

Red: more considerate of

constantly lose out
are all-forgiving and
other people’s feelings never fight back; don’t let
and don’t stand up
and rights; more given to a gullible person or a you know what
for themselves; have a
thinking things through person who is indecisive they expect as rewards
Assertive– before committing and unable to act.
shell of reserve around
from you and then
Directing them that you just can’t
yourself to a course withdraw their loyalty
penetrate.
of action. or betray you.

Green:
more trusting of others never seem to take accuse you of being
and more open to them; an overly emotional anything seriously; try to opportunistic and
less reserved about person or one who is push their help on you unprincipled; push their
Analytic– asserting your rights exploitative of others. or try to push you to do help on you when you
Autonomizing and wishes. things their way. don’t want it.

Hub:
are outsiders and who commit themselves to
more decisive, more subservient to others,
reject membership in the group effort and then
methodical or more domineering over others,
your group’s efforts or let the group down by
Flexible– sensitive, depending on and/or isolated from
withhold support for failing to live up to their
Cohering the situation. others.
your group’s efforts. commitments.

Red-Blue:
more contemplative exploitative or refuse to get involved;
treat you with
and analytical in your inconsiderate of others fear making a decision;
indifference; ignore
decisions and more or brazen and superficial are concerned with their
Assertive– tenacious and prudent in in your interpersonal needs to the exclusion of
you; accuse you of
Nurturing exploiting people.
pursuing your goals. relations. the needs of others.

Red-Green:
an impulsive or constantly lose out; treat you with passivity
more trusting and helpful
emotional person, or lack self-reliance; are or with ignorance, or
with others and more
Judicious– open about your goals.
one without order and impetuous; are gullible accuse you of mindless
Competing purpose in your life. and emotional. aggression.

Blue-Green:
are braggarts and treat you with anger or
more assertive about your isolated from others,
meddlers, and who disdain, or accuse you
wants and more decisive or indecisive in matters
Cautious– about your actions. affecting their welfare.
presume upon and of fostering childlike
Supporting compete with others. dependence.

© Copyright 1973, 2005 by Personal Strengths Publishing. All rights reserved in the U.S. and worldwide. This inventory or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Personal Strengths Publishing.
 SDI Interpretive Guide 5

Your Conflict Sequence™ Preventing Conflict

Your Conflict Sequence sequence indicates changes in Much of the interpersonal conflict people experience on a
motivation and related behavior when faced with conflict and daily basis is preventable. While preventing conflict takes
opposition. There are thirteen possible Conflict Sequences work, avoiding or ignoring conflict can cause damage to your
based on the order of the conflict totals. relationships. Awareness of your own Motivational Value
System and how it may differ from others is crucial to your
The letters “B,” “R,” and “G” are shown in the order of your
ability to prevent conflict. When you deliberately relate to
last three SDI result totals from highest to lowest. If any of
people in a way that respects their motivations, you increase
your totals are six points
the chance that conflict will be prevented.

4B R 4G
or less apart, brackets are
4 16 0 placed around those letters
as in the example to the
Preventable conflict may be generated by overdoing one of
your strengths. The table on the page titled “Managing Your
COLUMN 4 COLUMN 5 COLUMN 6 left. Strengths” lists some strengths and the way they may appear
IN CONFLICT OR OPPOSITION when overdone. You will also find “things to be on guard
Your Conflict Sequence is a
against” which suggests some strategies for conflict prevention.
predictable and sequential

[B G ] R
change in motivation
when faced with conflict
or opposition. Conflict has
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 three progressively serious
stages and can be resolved
at any point during the sequence. Letters within brackets
suggests that your response during the bracketed stages can be
blended or interchangeable.
Your Conflict Sequence can also be determined by the location
of your “arrowhead” on the triangle.

internal experience in Conflict

Conflict Stage Focus is on: BLUE RED GREEN
Self
Simply being accommodating Simply rising to the Simply being
Stage 1 Problem
to the needs of others. challenge being offered. prudently cautious.
Other
Self
Giving in and letting the Having to fight off Trying to escape from
Stage 2 Problem
opposition have its way. the opposition. the opposition.
Other
Self
Having been Having to fight Having to
Stage 3 Problem
completely defeated. for one’s life. retreat completely.
Other

OBSERVABLE BEHAVIOR in Conflict

Conflict Stage BLUE RED GREEN
Stage 1 Accommodate others Rise to the challenge Be prudently cautious

Stage 2 Surrender conditionally Fight to win Pull back and analyze

Stage 3 Surrender completely Fight for survival Withdraw

© Copyright 1973, 2006 by Personal Strengths Publishing. All rights reserved in the U.S. and worldwide. This inventory or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Personal Strengths Publishing.
Conflict Sequences SDI Interpretive Guide 6

B-[RG] B-R-G [BR]-G R-B-G R-[BG]

a person who first pursues a person who tries to a person who will a person who first meets a person who is
peace and harmony, and maintain peace and press assertively for conflict head-on with a strong quick to assert their
who continues to harmony first and the maintenance self-assertion and challenge rights and to fight
accommodate the foremost. If this does not of harmony and to the opposition. If this does for them, but, if
opposition. If pressed far work, they then stand good will. If these not work, they then initiate pressed far enough,
enough, they fall back on up for their rights. If this efforts fail, they efforts to restore and maintain they will either give
logically based and/or does not end the conflict, will eventually harmony. If this does not in for the moment
assertive strategies to they then withdraw as a withdraw from end the conflict, they then or break off contact,
preserve their integrity last resort. the situation. withdraw as a last resort. whichever is
and to prevent complete deemed the more
defeat. advantageous.

B-G-R R-G-B
a person who wants most a person who comes out
to keep harmony and competing to prevail.
good will. If this does If competition and challenge
not work, they try to don’t work, they fall back on
disengage and save what analysis, logic, reason and rules.
can be saved. If this does If this doesn’t work, they will
not work, they then come finally give in as a last resort.
out fighting, probably in
an explosive manner.
[RG]-B
a person who meets conflict, not directly, but with
[BG]-R a set of strategies for dealing with the situation.
a person who will strive to maintain They “use their head to get their way.” If pressed far
peace and harmony yet with a careful enough, however, they finally give in and surrender.
eye toward the personal cost of doing so.
If these efforts fail, they will finally fight
for their rights, but only as a last resort G-R-B
and possibly explosively. a person who first
tries the analytic,
logical and reserved
G-B-R G-[BR] response to conflict
a person who first meets conflict with a person who takes an followed by an
caution, examining the situation initial stand in opposition to assertive, forceful
carefully and logically and waiting for [B R G] conflict on the basis of logic, attack based on
all the facts to come in before making a person who meets conflict and order, rules and principles. logic and strategies.
any commitments. If this does not work opposition quite flexibly, that is, with an If pressed far enough, they If these approaches
and there is no important principle approach that differs according to the will take one or the other of do not work, they
involved, they would defer to the other situation and circumstances rather than two paths: if it is important, then give in for the
person in the interest of harmony. If the by a fixed sequence. This may prove to they will take up the fight; sake of harmony but
conflict continues, they would come out be confusing to others and they may if it is unimportant, they only as a last resort.
fighting, but only as a last resort. experience the person as unpredictable. will give in.

© Copyright 1973, 2005 by Personal Strengths Publishing. All rights reserved in the U.S. and worldwide. This inventory or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Personal Strengths Publishing.
Managing Your Strengths SDI Interpretive Guide 7

Blue: Altruistic–Nurturing THINGS TO BE ON GUARD AGAINST...

Characteristic If Overdone o Wanting so much to maintain harmony that I don’t push for what I want
Strength: Can Become... o Being so quick to believe in others that I don’t use good judgment
Trusting Gullible o Being so loyal to others that I let them take advantage of me
o Expecting that everyone is going to be as concerned about how other people feel as I do
Loyal Blind
o Wanting to help others so much that I push my help on them and get in their way
Helpful Smothering o Being quick to blame myself first for anything that goes wrong
Modest Self-effacing o Sharing my thoughts and feelings with people I shouldn’t trust with them
Devoted Subservient o Fearing that if I said what I really feel about others, they would be hurt and not helped
Caring Submissive o Struggling to maintain harmony at the expense of facing issues or of facing the facts
o Acting to please others just to be likeable
Supportive Self-sacrificing

Red: Assertive–Directing THINGS TO BE ON GUARD AGAINST...

Characteristic If Overdone o Wanting so much to win that I step on others to get my own way
Strength: Can Become... o Being in such a hurry to get things done that I disregard how others feel about things
Self-confident Arrogant o Being so sure I am right that I don’t listen to other people
o Expecting that everyone is going to enjoy competing with me and pushing for what they want
Ambitious Ruthless
o Wanting others to do things my way so much I become dictatorial
Persuasive Abrasive o Being quick to blame anything that goes wrong on a lack of cooperation
Forceful Dictatorial o Sharing only those thoughts and feelings that help me get my own way
Quick to act Rash o Fearing that if I said what I really feel, others would know how to take advantage of me
Competitive Combative o Struggling to win an issue regardless of what the facts are or what other people might feel
o Acting to direct others just to exert my authority
Risk taker Gambler

Green: Analytic–Autonomizing THINGS TO BE ON GUARD AGAINST...

Characteristic If Overdone o Wanting so much to be certain that I delay in reaching decisions
Strength: Can Become... o Being so concerned with what is right or wrong that I don’t pay attention to people’s feelings
Cautious Suspicious o Being so cautious that I find it hard to place trust in others
o Expecting that everyone is going to be as concerned as I am with details, logic, and
Reserved Cold matters of principle
Methodical Rigid o Being so self-dependent that I cut myself off from people who like me and can be helpful
Analytical Nit picking o Being quick to blame anything that goes wrong on my not having been cautious enough
Principled Unbending o Keeping my thoughts and feelings to myself so others don’t get to know me
o Fearing that if I said what I really feel, others would see me as illogical and emotional
Fair Unfeeling o Struggling with the facts and issues with such determination that others’ feelings are disregarded
Persevering Stubborn o Acting to turn others away just to assert my self-dependence

Hub: Flexible–Cohering THINGS TO BE ON GUARD AGAINST...

Characteristic If Overdone o Wanting so much to be flexible that I am sometimes inconsistent
Strength: Can Become... o Being so open-minded that I lose sight of what I really think
Flexible Wishy washy o Needing to be with others so much that I find it hard to be alone
o Expecting that everyone is going to be as concerned as I am with being a good team member
Open to change Inconsistent
o Wanting to “fit in” so much that I impress others as having no real convictions
Socializer Unable to stand alone o Being quick to blame anything that goes wrong on a lack of team work
Experimenter Aimless o Accepting other people’s thoughts and feelings in place of my own
Adaptable Spineless o Fearing that if I said what I really feel, others would see me as being rigid
Tolerant Uncaring o Struggling so hard to keep my options open I never take a clear line of action
o Acting to disagree with others just to show there are many ways to do things
Looks for options Without any focus
© Copyright 1973, 2006 by Personal Strengths Publishing. All rights reserved in the U.S. and worldwide. This inventory or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Personal Strengths Publishing.