Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) Assessment

Read Time: 3 mins

In any workplace, relationships are the foundation of wellbeing and performance. When we understand what motivates us—and others—we’re better equipped to build trust, collaborate effectively, and resolve conflicts constructively. The Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) is a unique personality assessment that does precisely that, offering valuable insights into motives, strengths, and conflict responses to improve interpersonal dynamics one interaction at a time.

What is the Strength Deployment Inventory?

The SDI is a detailed personality assessment designed to help you understand how you relate to others, especially under pressure. It measures four primary aspects:

1. Motivational Value System (MVS): This reveals your core motives when you’re at your best, highlighting where you fall within three main motivational orientations:
   • Blue (People): Driven by a desire to help and support others.
   • Red (Performance): Focused on achieving results and excelling.
   • Green (Process): Seeking order, self-reliance, and logic in interactions.

   Your unique combination of these motivations is charted on the SDI triangle, helping you (and others) understand your approach in different situations.

2. Conflict Sequence: Our motives often shift in predictable ways during conflict. SDI maps this shift, helping you see how you respond as conflict intensifies:
   • Blue: Aims to restore harmony by accommodating others.
   • Red: Seeks to overcome obstacles assertively.
   • Green: Prioritises analysis and resource conservation.

   Recognising these patterns can improve conflict resolution by offering insights into your and others’ conflict responses, making it easier to bridge differences.

3. Strengths Portrait: This part of the SDI reveals how you prioritise 28 distinct strengths in your relationships. Some strengths energise you, while others may feel less natural. Understanding this prioritisation empowers you to leverage your core strengths and adapt others as needed for the situation, ultimately leading to more effective interactions.
4. Overdone Strengths: While strengths are assets, overuse can lead to unintended consequences. For instance, confidence might be perceived as arrogance if overdone. The SDI helps identify where strengths might go too far, providing practical strategies to adjust and find balance.

How the SDI Helps Individuals and Teams

This tool goes beyond self-awareness; it enables practical applications that benefit both individuals and teams in various ways:

• Team Building: SDI insights foster a deeper understanding of colleagues’ motives and communication styles, leading to more effective teamwork.
• Conflict Resolution: By understanding conflict sequences, teams can address sources of tension proactively, resulting in smoother, more respectful resolutions.
• Leadership Development: Leaders can gain insights into their priorities and growth areas, especially in communication and conflict management, to create a supportive team environment.
• Diversity and Inclusion: The SDI enhances appreciation for different personalities, supporting efforts to create a more inclusive and understanding workplace.

The SDI Experience: What to Expect

The SDI is a streamlined, online assessment that typically takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete. It’s accessible via desktop or mobile and provides an interactive, self-paced debrief through personalised videos and text-based insights. You’ll receive a comprehensive, downloadable report that includes everything from your Motivational Value System to your Strengths Portrait, along with tools to compare insights with colleagues for improved collaboration.

For organisations, the SDI also integrates with platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack, making it easy to apply relationship intelligence in real time—whether in meetings, messages, or project discussions.

Discover the Power of Relationship Intelligence with SDI

At Skill and Will, we’ve seen how the SDI transforms relationships and enhances performance. If you’re interested in exploring how the SDI could benefit you or your team, please get in touch. We’d be happy to provide more information or discuss options for taking the assessment.

Ready to improve your workplace relationships and performance? Contact us to learn more about the Strength Deployment Inventory and how it can support you and your team in building a more connected, productive, and resilient work environment.