Compatibility is not such a mystery. The basic principle is well known; “birds of a feather flock together.” People with similar interests and habits are attracted to one another. There is an underlying comfort in knowing you’re among people who enjoy what you enjoy and play by roughly the same rules as you do.
Between the four behavioral styles, the least amount of tension comes between Relaters and Thinkers because of their preference towards a slower Pace and Directors and Socializers are somewhat compatible because of their preference to a quicker Pace. Similarly, Directors and Thinkers are somewhat compatible because they are both Task Orientated and Socializers and Relaters are both
People Orientated.
The lack of compatibility, or interpersonal tension among the styles, is most noticeable when there is a conflict between both Pace and Priority. For example, Thinkers being Slower Paced and Task Orientated have a tendency to struggle with Socializers who are Faster Paced and People Orientated. Relaters and Directors struggle with each other for these same reasons.