Team working styles
Understanding ourselves and each other
I am an ENFJ. I am a Gryffindor. I am a Parrot. I am Blue. I am an Aquarius.
We love labels. From our Hogwarts house to our zodiac sign, we crave ways to understand ourselves and others. It is human nature to look for connection and belonging. Personality tests —from the well-known Myers-Briggs to endless online quizzes —feed this curiosity. They give us a shared language to describe who we are and how we relate to others.
Introducing the Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI)
At Elm, we use the Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI) to help teams understand their motives, responses to conflict, and work behaviour patterns. It focuses on why we behave as we do and how we relate to others, creating a foundation for stronger communication and more effective relationships.
When we build this understanding across a team, it becomes a shared language. People see each other’s differences as strengths, improving collaboration, problem solving and performance.
Through SDI, you will learn about the three core motives behind your approach to people, performance and process.
You will also receive a strengths portrait, ranking 28 common strengths and showing how you use them. The tool maps your conflict sequence, which shows how your motives shift as tension rises, helping you recognise patterns and adjust your response.
And because we all sometimes push our strengths too far, you will identify where that happens and how others might interpret it.
How it works?
Each team member receives a login to complete the SDI assessment online. Results are available instantly through the Core Strengths platform. We ask participants to complete their assessment at least a week before a team workshop to allow time for reflection.
Our workshops are tailored to your team’s needs in both private and public sector organisations to build understanding, improve communication, and strengthen team culture.
What sets SDI apart?
- Evidence-based: Backed by decades of research, SDI delivers reliable and meaningful insights.
- Context aware: While your motives are anchored, your behaviour shifts depending on the situation.
- Shared language: SDI gives teams a simple way to talk about motivation, strengths and conflict.
- Empathy driven: It encourages people to take another persons perspective, building understanding and connection across teams.
Why it is useful for teams
We have used SDI with many teams looking to communicate better, collaborate more effectively and build stronger relationships. It helps people see what drives them and others creating genuine “aha” moments. The result is a shared language that makes teamwork smoother and more enjoyable.
The great thing is s new members join, they can complete the same assessment, ensuring everyone speaks the same language of strengths and motivation.
Amy is an accredited SDI assessor. Give us a call if you are interested in finding out more about using SDI in your team.