Who's Alpha? (There can be only one)

The way we behave is often directly related to who we're engaging with. Some surprising things can happen when the other person has the same Core Values Index™ personality profile as you.

When you take the Core Values Index, the world's most accurate and reliable psychometric assessment¹ and personality test, you get a report that details how much of four broad personality types called core value energies exist within your particular profile.

→ The four core value energies are Builder, Merchant, Innovator, and Banker.

Your CVI report shows the specific ratio of these core values energies using scores between zero (none) and 36 (maximum). When one core value energy is heavily present within your personality, one or more of the other three will be proportionally lower.

The core value energy that makes up the bulk of your personality is called your primary core value energy. It represents the type of psychological traits that comprise the bulk of your personality. You behave in this manner most of the time.

There are some fascinating things that take place when you meet someone who shares the same primary core value energy as you.

First, you will likely get along from the moment you meet. You will seem to have a natural predilection toward liking this person as you get to know each other better.

The second thing that happens is a bit more subtle yet equally powerful.

Like two dogs figuring out which one is alpha, you will unconsciously determine which one of you has the higher amount of primary core value energy.

Whoever has the lower primary core value energy score will automatically revert to their secondary core value energy throughout their interaction.

The Sorting by Score

Let's describe two people, Hans and Sharon.

Hans has a CVI profile of 26-Builder, 24-Merchant, 17-Innovator, and 5-Banker.

Sharon has a CVI profile of 29-Builder, 21-Merchant, 15-Innovator and 7-Banker.

When Hans and Sharon meet, they will naturally get along, subconsciously seeing eye to eye and recognizing a kindred spirit in each other. They are both Builder/Merchants.

They will also subconsciously sense that Sharon has the higher Builder score in her primary position. Hans will act more as if he was a primary Merchant when in Sharon's presence.

In this case, Sharon will have a more dominant personality and will take charge of the conversation in typical Builder fashion. Hans will likely be just fine with this as it will all happen at an intuitive level.

When Hans attends his next meeting, perhaps with someone who is an Innovator/Banker or Merchant/Innovator, he will behave in his usual primary Builder manner.

When Things Get Contentious

This sorting of dominant energy isn't always a smooth affair, however. Sometimes the determination of alpha isn't automatic or becomes contentious, especially when their primary scores are within a few points of each other.

Two Builders might resort to their conflict resolution strategy of intimidation and try to out-power each other, each seeking dominance.

When two people with Merchant as their primary scores meet and things become contentious, they will use emotional manipulation — the Merchant's conflict resolution strategy (as described in their CVI report) — to battle it out in an effort to see who's alpha.

Innovators will try to assert their dominance by being more clever than the other while simultaneously maneuvering to prove the other is more foolish. They will ask leading questions in an attempt to prove the other has weaker, unwise ideas.

Bankers like to gather all the data and information on a subject, so when that is challenged by another person with Banker as their primary core value energy, they will try to out-know each other.

A Banker's conflict resolution strategy is aloof judgment so a Banker vs Banker fight would be rife with bouts of knowledge regurgitation dripping with aloof judgment and contempt.

When two people with different primary core value energies meet, this phenomena doesn't occur. They will seek to understand each other the way any two people do, by perceiving what is communicated to them through the lens of their own CVI profile.

When two people meet who share the same primary core value energy, most of the time they will get along famously. In those rare cases when their unconscious personalities can't figure out which one is alpha, conflict resolution strategies will come into play.

Builders intimidate when they feel powerless.

Merchants manipulate when they feel unloved.

Innovators interrogate when they feel foolish.

Bankers aloofly judge when they feel ignorant.

Anytime you feel yourself resorting to the conflict resolution strategy associated with your primary core value energy, take a step back and pause the conversation. This is also a great approach if you sense the other person is in their conflict resolution mode.

Figure out why the Builder is feeling powerless, why the Merchant is feeling unloved, why the Innovator is feeling foolish, or why the Banker is feeling ignorant. Remove or change the behavior causing those feelings, or even reverse it.

When two people with the same primary core value energy clash, the same methods apply. Make that Builder feel powerful again. Give that Merchant the feeling that they are worthy of love. Appreciate that Innovator's wisdom and drive to solve problems. Value that Banker's wealth of knowledge and eagerness to gather data.

Use your knowledge of your own Core Values Index profile and how the CVI works in others to take your your relationships and communications to the next level.

NOTES

[1] Source: Seattle Research Partners, 2014 [PDF]

Core Values Index™ and CVI™ are trademarks of Taylor Protocols, Inc.