SDI > More about the Motivational Value System
One can understand our Motivational Value System, MVS, if one view us one of those dolls with a weight in the bottom that keeps standing back up once you knock it over. The MVS equals the weight at the bottom that creates the standing back up effect. We can also view the motivational value system as our driving force, what makes us tick, what gets us up out of bed in the morning.
Strengths – Overdone strengths
Every MVS has strengths. These strengths exist if they are perceived by our environment as strengths. This is often associated with a certain degree of adapted use.
In the theory associated with SDI ® there is no talk about weaknesses, rather about overdone strengths. An overdone use of a strength can become a so called weakness if it is not appreciated by your surroundings.
For example, the MVS (Direct – Assertive) has a strength in its behaviour by being direct, striving forward and able to face challenges head on. If this person however does overdo these strengths it can be perceived as if he or she is a bulldozer, walking all over other people, not caring about others and thereby slowing the group down. Then strength then becomes a weakness, in our words an overdone strength. This can be useful to be aware of, expecially when it comes to conflict management.
Valued relating style – a way of understanding oneself and ones surroundings
Based on our motivational value system each one of us is most pleased with a valued relating style and environment that is in harmony with our own motivational value system. To understand which valued relating style oneself has in part of the self insight, but if one can also understand and handle the preferences of others it gives insight into how relationships can best be managed and how a conflict can be handled in its early stages. Each and everyone wishes to get their needs met.
We start getting to know another person by noting how often their behaviours repeat. To understand another person (the reason why a person is behaving the way he or she is), we need to look at their motivational value system.
The better we can understand how a person thinks, why they act and choose the priorities they do, the greater opportunity we have of working effectively with that person – and that also goes for ourselves. This is of extra importance for our leadership training. We are all like an iceberg, the tip that is visible above the surface is largely affected by that which is under the surface. Below the can usually also be found the causes for conflict that are specific for each motivational value system and which in turn leads to a conflict sequence. The way of reaching this understanding is through awareness about the Motivational Value System, meaning the mass under the surface, that fundamentally affects that which is above the surface.
