Why LIFO®

LIFO® is a world-class behavioural profiling model which is known for its simplicity, flexibility and transformative power for individuals and teams.

It differentiates itself from other profiling tools in four clear ways:

Strength based development

The LIFO™ method focuses on strengths, on what is right about leaders, teams and individuals. This approach is not about changing oneself. Rather it promotes positive behavioural change by providing strategies for managing strengths effectively, resulting in greater versatility and productivity. It encourages appreciating and working with others whose strengths are different. Accepting people for who they are also reduces friction and allows teams to make the most of everyone’s strengths. LIFO™ has six simple but powerful strategies to enable everyone to become the best version of themselves they can be.

Not a typecast

Unlike many profiling tools the LIFO™ method identifies behavioural style preferences, not personality types. It explores “what we do”, as opposed to “who we are”. All styles have the ability to do everything, it is just a question of approach. Understanding one’s preferred style and strengths opens doors to exploring and rethinking how to approach different situations, assigned tasks and desired goals. Everyone has all the strengths, it is how one uses these strengths, their preference, that makes them different from another. We are not one thing or another but one thing and another and that is what makes us unique.

Multifaceted applications

The LIFO™ Method can be and has been used in training, coaching, consulting, organisational development as well as a tool for personal development. Surveys have been developed for a host of applications including Personal Styles incorporating feedback surveys from others, Leadership, Team Styles, Stress and Conflict management, Time Management, Change management, Teaching, Learning and Coaching styles, Organisational Culture, Selling and Negotiating styles and a newly launched Family series looking at Parenting and Couples Styles and how young adults can use LIFO™ to prepare themselves for the world of work

Simple but deep

Whilst simple in its application LIFO™ has a rich depth of analysis available to promote coaching development for individuals, teams and organisations. It looks at how we behave in favourable and unfavourable conditions and analyses not only how we behave but also how we intend to behave and our impact on others (Intention, Behaviour, Impact or I.B.I.)

When communication congruence in I.B.I. exists we can more successfully engage with
others. Further analysis reviews preferences on the active and reflective continuum, on task and people focus and provides insight into behavioural predictability and versatility

The LIFO™ Method consists of an on-line survey and a wealth of support materials that can be used in resourcing, individual and team development. LIFO™ looks at our behavioural styles, and not at our personality type. It looks at how we operate and how we are seen by ourselves and by others.

In addition to the basic personal style analysis, LIFO™ can be used to explore and develop leadership, sales, facilitation, teaching and coaching styles which is where Applied Strengths specialises. It is also a powerful tool for building effective teams and developing outstanding managers.

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It has been used by more than 20,000 organisations

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and 10,000,000 million people across the world

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for nearly 50 years

LIFO® originated in Southern California, at UCLA in 1967. At that time, organisational developments and changes were stimulated by group sessions with employees. They would work towards self-improvement using group methods such as T-groups, in which they studied and analysed each other’s behaviour, thoughts and feelings and used role-play to gain insights into themselves.

Many people felt that taking part in these group sessions with their colleagues was embarrassing. They found them to be too unstructured and personal. The sessions often led to negative and destructive developments, rather than the intended positive outcomes.

In direct response to these concerns, applied behavioural scientist Dr Stuart Atkins with psychologist Dr Elias Porter developed the Life Orientations® Method. Atkins and his partner, Dr Allan Katcher presented their new theory of human behaviour and communication and its practical application to major U.S employers and in the Human Factors in Management course at UCLA in 1968.

Atkins and Katcher based Life Orientations® on work by world-leading psychologists and philosophers, Erich Fromm, Carl Rogers, Peter Drucker and Abraham Maslow. The Life Orientations® Survey provided four classifications of human behaviour, to help people to identify their strengths and talk about them – and those of others – in an objective way.

The classifications, patterned on Fromm’s identification of four main behavioural styles, are:

  1. Supporting-Giving
  2. Controlling-Taking
  3. Conserving-Holding
  4. Adapting-Dealing

Let our strength experts help you today

What convinces people to utilise LIFO™ is ultimately to see first hand how it works and the results it gives. So get in touch and we will set up a free Profile Survey with you and talk you through your results online.

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