The SAVI® Grid

The SAVI® Grid is a visual map of communication used by organizational consultants, therapists, educators and many others interested in understanding and improving the interactions in their personal and professional lives.

Below are links to authorized PDF versions of the Grid for you to view, print, or download to your computer or mobile device. You will need Adobe Reader to open the files. Note that we will gradually be adding translations into additional languages, as they become available.

Why two versions of the Grid? The rows of the SAVI Grid are based on information theory as framed by Shannon and Weaver*, and on the principle that communication behavior either approaches or avoids solving the problems inherent in information transfer (derived from Howard and Scott**). The Classic SAVI Grid uses the language of theory to label the rows: Avoidance, Contingent, Approach. The Traffic Light SAVI Grid uses a traffic light metaphor to convey the idea of approaching or avoiding information transfer: Red Light for Avoidance, Yellow Light for Contingent, Green Light for Approach. Each Grid is useful in different contexts.

*Shannon, C.E., & Weaver, W. (1964). The Mathematical Theory of Communication. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
**Howard, A., & Scott, R. A. (1965). "A Proposed Framework for the Analysis of Stress in the Human Organism", Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 10, 141-160.