Navtej Kohli - Personality N Work Co-relation II
Tuesday, March 4th, 2008Navtej Kohli - Personality N Work Co-relation II
In continuation with my earlier post… I am citing some personality traits:
Reflective Extroverts
These are those who prefer to work in an open plan, noisy situations. It’s the buzz of life that gives them their moral and energy. Being the centre of attention and giving a lecture or two is not a problem for them. Their energy is external and they are outgoing extraverts.
Reflective Introverts
Those who prefer to reflect on issues, think things before discussing or to act. They tend to be tacit and are much more energised by reading a book than partying. At work they prefer an office of their own to open plan situations. These are the reflective introverts.
At the extremes these two personalities can cause each other problem. Extraverts worry that introverts don’t talk much and wonder what they think. Introverts just wish that extraverts would think first and talk when they have worked out their ideas.
Wide Eye Thinkers and Bird’s Eye Watchers
Some of us get in depth of the problems and neglect the big picture overview of the task, activity or project. Others have a good overview of the same but they hate to go in details. So the first one becomes Bird Eye’s Watcher and later the Wide Eye Thinkers. Bird Eye Watchers are more pragmatic and their feet are firmly on the ground. They do things sequentially and make changes incrementally. However, Wide Eye thinkers by contrast have more imagination. They rely on different sources for information and after taking information they apply “what IF” concept to put things in charge and they expect to change everything.
Naturally the ‘Wide Eye Watchers’ believe that ‘Bird Eye thinkers’ are lacking in creativity and imagination while ‘Bird Eye thinkers’ think ‘Wide Eye Watchers’ have their heads in the clouds.
Principle Oriented and People Oriented Persons
Scientists and mathematicians approach problem solving by deducing from first principles. Start somewhere and work logically towards a correct solution. Provided the logic is good the answer must be right. But will people accept it? ‘Principle oriented persons’ who work this way do the logic first and sell the solution to others later. Most, but not all, scientists and engineers are strongly analytical and principle oriented.
People oriented persons consider what kind of solution people want and go from there. They are those who use this approach to solve problems as though they were a part of it while analysts are able to be much more detached. One is objective the other subjective. The clergy and those in social work and politics are often strongly ‘feeling’ problem solvers. They may find analysts cold and unfeeling and vice versa.
Organized and Percieving Types
Do you plan, organise and think ahead? Some of us like structured thinking and implementation. They have to do lists and diaries. They plan their day, their week and year. Holidays are usually booked well in advance and perhaps they like them to be structured.
Others are percieving types, they prefer to go with the flow, work flexible hours, take life as it comes and be ready for new experiences.
Let me know your comments on the personality traits you observe in your workplace… I will be continuing the topic in days to come…