As human beings, we share an innate desire for connection, belonging, and growth.

Collaboration, the art of working together towards a common purpose, is an essential thread that weaves through the fabric of our lives.

It transcends barriers, nurtures innovation, and fosters collective progress.

Whether it's within our families, friendships, school activities, or work and social environments, collaboration plays an integral role in shaping our experiences and outcomes.

Collaboration is more than just a desirable trait; it is a critical life skill that enables us to navigate challenges, foster meaningful relationships, and achieve collective goals.

Collaboration reminds us that everyone brings unique ideas and approaches. That's what makes collaboration such a valuable skill set to have in life.

• When we collaborate, we create and accomplish things together that are not only better but also more enjoyable than what we could achieve on our own.

• It's about embracing the diversity of thoughts and perspectives that others offer, working hand in hand to achieve shared goals.

• When we collaborate we unlock the potential for richer experiences, greater creativity, and a stronger sense of connection with those around us.

Great collaboration starts with understanding the strengths you bring to the table and being open to the different strengths others bring.

That’s because people perceive the world differently, and this differing perception leads to different natural strengths, different conclusions about what is important, how things should be done, and what is the “truth” of any situation.

Perceptual Style Theory™, created by Gary M. Jordan, PhD, and Lynda-Ross Vega, defines six unique Perceptual Styles.

Perceptual Style represents a unique grouping of fundamental aspects of being human that results in a distinctive experience and characteristic behaviors.

Have you met all of our Perceptual Style representatives? Press the blue tabs below to read about each specific Perceptual Style.

The people above represent each Perceptual Style—Tina is Activity, Pam is Adjustments, Matt is Flow, Anne is Goals, Jack is Methods, and Dan is Vision. Who did you identify with most?

Not Sure? you like to get a taste of what your Perceptual Style and a few of your strengths may be?

We’ve created an introductory sample assessment just for YOU!

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The more you know about your Perceptual Style, the more you can tap into your natural strengths and potential. That’s because there’s an extensive set of skills and behaviors that naturally align with each Perceptual Style.

The alignment of skills and behaviors with Perceptual Style exists because people naturally see the things associated with their Perceptual Style. Those things are easy for them to grasp, understand, and use.

Awareness of the other five Perceptual Styles and how they differ from you provides incredible insights about your relationships with family and friends.

Each of the six Perceptual Styles approaches collaboration differently. Understanding how to blend these differences can be the difference between success or failure with any collaboration you engage in.

Here are some examples of how each Perceptual Style approaches Collaboration:

Understanding how each Perceptual Style approaches collaboration allows you to rely on other’s strengths, focus on what needs to be done, and mitigate communication disconnects.

The key to understanding yourself is to understand your Perceptual Style. Perceptual Style is the way you take in information through your five senses and make that information meaningful to you. Your Perceptual Style acts as a filter between sensation and understanding. It is at the core of who you are, and it impacts your values, beliefs, feelings, and psychology.

You have one of six unique Perceptual Styles. The decisions you make, the actions you take, and the directions you choose are all influenced by your Perceptual Style because it defines reality for you.

The decisions you make, the actions you take, and the directions you choose are all influenced by your Perceptual Style. Your Perceptual Style defines your reality.

Your Perceptual Style is the foundation of all of your natural strengths—the abilities you have the potential to truly excel at with grace and ease because of the way you see and experience the world around you.

As you read about how your Perceptual Style shapes your approach to diverse aspects of your life, you will identify things you do so easily that you assume everyone can do them, but that's not the case. They are strengths unique to your Perceptual Style!

You will also identify skills that seem new to you. These are skills for which you have an innate capacity because of your Perceptual Style. However, you may not have had a reason to use them yet. Here is a high-level view of the information provided in the action guide:

• Your Perceptual Experience and the core strengths that support that experience.

• Each of the six Perceptual Styles understands and experiences the world in fundamentally different ways. To understand yourself, you must understand the nature of your experience.

• Communication: Talking, Writing and Listening

• We all want to be understood. So, we search for the right words and the right tone to convey our message. We often fail to recognize that each of us has a built-in communication filter and because of that filter, what we mean isn't always what others hear and vice versa.

• Disconnects in communication happen to all of us. It’s not because we’re not smart enough, and it’s not because other people aren’t smart enough. It’s not because you aren’t listening or trying to connect. It’s because the words you choose, the meaning you intend, and the triggers you hear are influenced by your Perceptual Style.

• The social surroundings, situations and environments you THRIVE in.

• Science has proven that Social Interaction is critically important for your mental and physical health. Studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with others (family, friends, co-workers, etc.) are happier and healthier. Studies have also shown that the absence of social interaction, i.e., people disconnected from others, leads to shorter life spans. Yikes!

• Social Interaction is obviously essential to your life. What's also interesting is that you will thrive in some social situations and surroundings and be miserable in others because of your Perceptual Style.

• How do you view Collaboration: Teamwork and Cooperation?

• Interacting in cooperation with others is a fundamental part of life, and it's a critical ingredient for families, friendships, school activities, and work and social environments. Practically every aspect of your life is an opportunity for collaboration.

• Many studies in psychology and sociology demonstrate the reality that human beings wither in isolation and thrive in community. The saying, "No man is an island," is true. Alone we falter; together, we can see and accomplish so much more.

• Collaboration is at the core of participating in community—whether that community is your family, workplace, friends, or other groups of people. Yet collaboration can be very challenging because we must deal with people who see things differently than we do and have different strengths and weaknesses.

• The Keys to Motivation that enthuse and inspire you to take action.

• In its simplest form, self-motivation is the ability to get yourself to do something. It creates personal enthusiasm and inspiration to take action.

• Self-Motivation is the catalyst for goals you make for yourself. Self-motivation creates your desire to accomplish your goals, establishes your commitment to action, and helps you overcome your fears of the unknown or failing.

• Your Perspective on Change and the unique skills set that allows you to initiate, recognize, and adapt to change.

• Change is constant; it's part of your daily life. There are changes in the weather, the economy, relationships, work situations, etc. Just living each day and aging brings change.

• That's why adaptability is a critical life skill. Adaptability is defined as the ability to adjust to new conditions or circumstances. Tapping into your strengths related to your adaptability can mean the difference between excessive worry and stress versus dealing with changes on your terms.

• Embracing your adaptability strengths will help you choose work environments, relationships, and social situations where you will thrive and avoid those that will drag you down.

• How your Time Orientation brings perspective to your actions.

• Time orientation describes how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by your perspective of time. Time orientation provides a framework for organizing your experiences into three categories—past, present, and future—and determining the relative emphasis you place on each of these time categories.

• For example, some Perceptual Styles lean toward the past and value lessons learned, experience, and traditions. Some Perceptual Styles lean towards the present, what is happening now. And some lean towards the future, what should happen, and what might be possible.

• Your Approach to Conflict and the core strengths you possess to deal with opposition, arguments and disputes.

• It's helpful to keep in mind that everyone wants to belong and be valued, and no one wants to be disliked. If you can start from the assumption that other people mean well and don't intend to irritate or insult you, it's easier to realize they just don't see the situation the same way you do (most likely, they have a different Perceptual Style).

• When you keep this concept in mind, it takes some of the stings out of disconnects. It's not personal; it's a different perspective. Some conflict in your life is inevitable. Whether the conflicts are minor or severe, you possess natural skills to help you deal effectively with opposition and disagreement.

• Your Learning Preferences and how to apply them to maximize your knowledge and skill growth.

• One aspect of learning that does not change over time is your preference for how information is presented to you. There are three general learning methods; Visual (pictures, graphs, written word), Auditory (stories, songs, discussions), and Kinesthetic (experiential, activities, role-playing).

• Because of your Perceptual Style, you respond to all three learning methods but prefer a unique combination of the learning methods to maximize your knowledge and growth.

• Your natural strengths related to Persuasion and how you motivate others to take action or agree with your point of view.

• Persuasion is the act of convincing others to agree with your point of view, adopt a particular perspective, or take a course of action you suggest. It's the process of presenting information and reasons that motivate or change someone else's thinking.

• Our focus on persuasion in this section is definitely on the positive and essential skills related to persuasion. These skills help you interact effectively with others at home and work. Imagine what planning a family vacation would be like if you didn't have persuasion skills!

• Your Leadership strengths that allow you to effectively inspire and guide others.

• Many will try to sell you on the idea that effective leadership is a one-size-fits-all proposition. Or that if you're not naturally outgoing or authoritative or visionary, you can't be an effective leader. It's just not true. Real leadership success happens from the inside out - using your natural strengths to guide and inspire others to great achievement.

• Everyone has the capacity to be an effective, even exceptional, leader. There’s not just one set of traits or behaviors that guarantee success. There is YOUR way to be a leader, built on your natural strengths.