Cross Balance

bullet1 Four approaches to work

Four approaches to work, and people’s preferences for them.

(after Myers-Briggs, with Margerison & McCann nomenclature in brackets)

RELATIONSHIPS
Where do you focus your attention?
I = INTROVERT TYPE:
People who prefer introversion
focus more on their inner world.
When you are an introvert,
you are energized by what goes in your inner world,
and this is where you tend to direct your own energy.
Introverts tend to be more interested and comfortable
when they can work quietly without interruption.
They like to understand the world before experiencing it,
and so need time to reflect before acting.
E = EXTRAVERT TYPE:
People who prefer extraversion
tend to focus on the outer world of people and things.
 When you are an extravert,
you are energised by what goes on in the outer world,
and this is where you tend to direct your own energy.  
Extraverts usually prefer to communicate
more by talking than writing.
They need to experience the world in order to understand it
and thus tend to like action and variety.
Like quiet for concentration
Like variety and action
Have trouble remembering names and faces
Are often good at greeting people
Can work on one project at length without interruption
Are sometimes impatient with long slow jobs
Are interested in the idea behind the job
Are interested in how others do their jobs
Dislike telephone interruptions
Often enjoy talking on the phone
Work alone contentedly
Like to have people around in the working environment
Think before they act, sometimes without acting
Often act quickly, sometimes without thinking
May prefer communications to be in writing
May prefer to communicate by talking rather than writing
May prefer to learn by reading rather than talking or experiencing
Like to learn a new task by talking it through with someone
INFORMATION
How do you acquire information, or find out about things?
S = SENSING (Practical) TYPES:
Sensing focuses on the realities of a situation.
Sensing types tend to accept and work
with what is "given" in the here-and-now,
and thus become realistic and practical.
They are good at remembering and working
with a great number of facts.
They prefer to use proven procedures
and are careful with detail.
N = INTUITIVE (Creative) TYPE:
Intuition shows you the
meanings, relationships, and possibilities
that go beyond the information of your senses.
Intuitive types look at the big picture
and try to grasp the overall patterns.
They grow expert at seeing new possibilities
and they value imagination and inspiration.
 Are aware of the uniqueness of each event
Are aware of new challenges and  possibilities
 Focus on what works now
Focus on how things could be improved
Like an established way of doing things
Dislike doing the same thing repeatedly
 Enjoy applying what they have already learned
Enjoy learning new skills
Work steadily,
with a realistic idea of how long it will take
Work in bursts of energy powered by enthusiasm,
with slack periods in between
 Usually reach a conclusion step by step
May leap to a conclusion quickly
Are not often inspired, and may not trust the inspiration when they are
Follow their inspirations and hunches
Are careful about the facts
May get their facts a bit wrong
May be good at precise work
Dislike taking time for precision
Can oversimplify a task
Can overcomplicate a task
 Accept current reality as given, to work with
Ask why things are as they are
DECISIONS
How do you make decisions?
F = FEELING (Beliefs) TYPES:
Feeling types make decisions
based on person-centred values.
When deciding,
they consider how important the choices are
to themselves and others.
They like dealing with people
and tend to become sympathetic, appreciative, and tactful.
 They value harmony and work to make it happen.
T = THINKING (Analytical) TYPES:
Thinking types make decisions objectively,
on the basis of cause and effect,
by analysing and weighing the evidence.
Thinking focuses on the logical consequences
of any choice or action.
Thinking types seek an objective standard of truth;
they are good at analysing what is wrong with something.
Like harmony and work to make it happen
Are good at putting things in logical order
Respond to people's values as much as to their thoughts
Respond more to people's ideas than to their feelings
Are good at seeing the effects of choices on people
Anticipate or predict logical outcomes or choices
Need occasional praise
 Need to be treated fairly
Tend to be sympathetic
Tend to be firm and tough-minded
Dislike telling people unpleasant things
Are able to reprimand or fire people when necessary
Enjoy pleasing people
May hurt people's feelings without knowing it
 Take an interest in the person behind the job or idea
Have a talent for analysing a problem or situation
ORGANISATION
How do you orient toward the outer world?
P= PERCEIVING (Flexible) TYPES :
Those who prefer perceiving
like to live in a flexible, spontaneous way,
gathering information and keeping options open.
They seek to understand life rather than control it.
They prefer to stay open to experience,
enjoying and trusting their ability to adapt to the moment.
J = JUDGING (Structured) TYPES:
Those who prefer judging
like to live in a planned, orderly way,
wanting to regulate life and control it.
They want to make decisions, come to closure, then carry on.
 They like to be structured and organized
and want things settled.
Do not mind leaving things open for last minute changes
Work best when they can plan their work and follow a plan
Adapt well to changing situations
Like to get things settled and finished
May have trouble making decisions,
feeling they never have enough information
May decide things too quickly
May start too many projects
and have difficulty in finishing them
May dislike to interrupt the project they are on
 for a more urgent one
May postpone unpleasant jobs
Tend to be satisfied
when they reach a judgment on a thing, situation, or person
Want to know all about a new job
Want only the essentials needed to begin their work
Get a lot accomplished at the last minute
under pressure of deadline
Schedule projects so that each step gets done on time
Use lists as reminders of all the things
they have to do someday
Use lists as agenda for action