The holiday season can be a time of stress and joy. It can be a time when we try to reconnect with others, mend fences and build bridges of hope. We may have an urge to start the New Year out right – revisit relationships, re-evaluate and re-charge our personal and professional lives. We send letters, words of encouragement and hope to others. Many people also use this time to evaluate the current year and set goals for the next year.
Depending on what your dominant or most natural function is, it’s a great time of year to develop your Judging mental functions of Thinking and Feeling .
I’m really not sure what is easiest. Developing Extrovert Feeling – acceptance, encouragement, affirmation and harmony or Extroverted Thinking – logical, precise, orderly reasoning.
There is a ton of information and learning materials in books and on the web for understanding the reasoning process, including models, tools and processes. You can take coursework on learning decision making skills such as root cause analysis, cost benefit and decision trees. You can learn and evaluate your skills internally before throwing yourself to the wolves.
Learning how to express encouragement, affirmation and creating harmony can be a little more difficult for some. Extroverting Feeling can be a risk in putting yourself out there for the world to see that may or may not be your comfort zone. How can you start slow and assess effectiveness? How can you practice elements of Extroverted Feeling? Who do you know that connects well with others – is great at creating and maintaining relationships, creates harmony in two paragraphs or less? Who can you observe and role model one techniques?
Consider these next weeks as an opportunity to test and develop one of these functions.
To develop Extroverted Feeling:
1. Send a Christmas e-card with you own thoughtful message.
2. Say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays to people in your office, at the grocery store check or at the doctor’s office. Did you get a greeting back? Reflect on how you feel if the greeting is reciprocated.
3. Think about a relationship that you would like to improve through communication. What does your body language say when you are conversing with someone else? Are your facial expressions relaxed, are you leaning forward slightly, and nodding to reflect you are listening? What are you saying to affirm the listener?
To develop Extroverted Thinking:
1. Create a project plan for your holiday party. Include as much detail as possible with tasks and subtasks.
2. If you set goals for 2009, assess your status. Did the goals meet the SMART criteria? What did you accomplish? What did you not complete? Why?
3. Create a goal sheet for 2010 that includes separate goals for different components of your life – for example, personal, professional spiritual and physical. Define two goals for each component that meet the SMART criteria.
Good luck and Happy Holidays! See you in the New Year!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Holiday Decorating - PM Style
Ever wonder why some people can organize a holiday cocktail party and it goes off beautifully while others can’t get the vegetables prepared to be presented on the table with the Thanksgiving turkey? Call it a party, dinner or a social, the event still requires elements of project management.
As job functions and thus careers meld through industry and organizational life-cycles, we may find ourselves taking on additional jobs and responsibilities that may not best fit our personality preferences or type. Due to downsizing, employees may not have the luxury of picking and choosing additional responsibilities. In addition, high potential programs may intentionally include “growth opportunities” or “stretch assignments” that truly test our patience and perseverance. Some opportunities you may ask for in your annual performance development plan. Others you may just get through the luck of the draw.
An example of a growth opportunity might be an assignment that requires Project Management. For some, Project Management (PM) is easy and comes naturally. Goals and timelines are a piece of cake whereas for others who prefer less structure, PM s the demon itself.
Think about it. Large project or small, generally a good project manager creates structure through timelines, milestones, tasks, and responsibilities. A good project manager knows where to start. There is a formula or template to follow and a sequence of events that need to occur for success. A really great project manager links tasks and responsibilities and sees the big picture of what actions cannot occur without the completion of subtasks. Although projects may impact people, the action of creating a project plan is logical, structured, and orderly.
Theoretically, type functions can be developed so let’s look at the cognitive functions that lean themselves to supporting a project management function. A first project is a great opportunity with guidance and mentoring to develop different or less preferred cognitive functions.
From an information gathering perspective, PM generally relies heavily on the Sensing function. A project manager must know the concrete facts and figures, details, compare/contrast past experiences, and understand goals and objectives. From a decision making perspective, PM generally requires personality preferences associated with the Thinking function - planning in a manner using logic and reason. PM probably is easier to uptake if the person’s preferred orientation to the world is structured, orderly and planned.
If Sensing and Thinking are not in your most natural preferences based on your type code, don’t despair. Project Management may not come easily but is a great tool to develop Sensing and Thinking. If you are not comfortable with PM, find someone in your organization who is and partner with them to learn the techniques of PM. Courses are also available through many e-learning avenues as well as software products to provide you templates and processes.
If you want to start developing this function, start with something fun and simple at home. It’s the holidays. If your general preference is to fly by the seat of your pants on decorating, relaxing, being spontaneous, and working off of memory and “just knowing” consider create a project plan for decorating your house this year. Think about your mini-project by asking yourself the following: Who, What, When, Where and How.
What: What are the specifics? What are your goals? The best decorated house on the street? Enough just to get by? Write a list on paper, not in your head, of what you want decorated.
Who is coming? Or who is involved? Will they take assignments or help?
When: Date/Time you want to start and end
Where: Location of all decorating. Again be specific. Be specific – the door, front yard, trees, shrubs, windows, etc.
Then, write down everything you need and list what you have or will have to buy.
Your “how” will be your tasks and action steps. What do you need to do to make this event happen. Do you need to drag the Christmas ornaments and tree down from the attic? Do you have to make a trip to a storage unit to pick up your decorations? Do you need to go to Target to buy more lights?
When? Who will do this? How are you prioritizing? Does the outside decorating need to be done during the day? Write a timeline to include the date, time if necessary, person responsible and tools/decorations that are needed. With every step, think of every detail and write it down.
It may be tiring. You may decide next year to go back to your preferred method of decorating. But you may find that project planning the process may save you time as you discover up front what you need and what resources you have available. Although you may find you don’t want to become a full-time project manager in your next career cycle, it’s a great opportunity to test and develop Sensing and Thinking as tools in your type toolkit to achieve the personal and professional results you want.
Happy Decorating!
As job functions and thus careers meld through industry and organizational life-cycles, we may find ourselves taking on additional jobs and responsibilities that may not best fit our personality preferences or type. Due to downsizing, employees may not have the luxury of picking and choosing additional responsibilities. In addition, high potential programs may intentionally include “growth opportunities” or “stretch assignments” that truly test our patience and perseverance. Some opportunities you may ask for in your annual performance development plan. Others you may just get through the luck of the draw.
An example of a growth opportunity might be an assignment that requires Project Management. For some, Project Management (PM) is easy and comes naturally. Goals and timelines are a piece of cake whereas for others who prefer less structure, PM s the demon itself.
Think about it. Large project or small, generally a good project manager creates structure through timelines, milestones, tasks, and responsibilities. A good project manager knows where to start. There is a formula or template to follow and a sequence of events that need to occur for success. A really great project manager links tasks and responsibilities and sees the big picture of what actions cannot occur without the completion of subtasks. Although projects may impact people, the action of creating a project plan is logical, structured, and orderly.
Theoretically, type functions can be developed so let’s look at the cognitive functions that lean themselves to supporting a project management function. A first project is a great opportunity with guidance and mentoring to develop different or less preferred cognitive functions.
From an information gathering perspective, PM generally relies heavily on the Sensing function. A project manager must know the concrete facts and figures, details, compare/contrast past experiences, and understand goals and objectives. From a decision making perspective, PM generally requires personality preferences associated with the Thinking function - planning in a manner using logic and reason. PM probably is easier to uptake if the person’s preferred orientation to the world is structured, orderly and planned.
If Sensing and Thinking are not in your most natural preferences based on your type code, don’t despair. Project Management may not come easily but is a great tool to develop Sensing and Thinking. If you are not comfortable with PM, find someone in your organization who is and partner with them to learn the techniques of PM. Courses are also available through many e-learning avenues as well as software products to provide you templates and processes.
If you want to start developing this function, start with something fun and simple at home. It’s the holidays. If your general preference is to fly by the seat of your pants on decorating, relaxing, being spontaneous, and working off of memory and “just knowing” consider create a project plan for decorating your house this year. Think about your mini-project by asking yourself the following: Who, What, When, Where and How.
What: What are the specifics? What are your goals? The best decorated house on the street? Enough just to get by? Write a list on paper, not in your head, of what you want decorated.
Who is coming? Or who is involved? Will they take assignments or help?
When: Date/Time you want to start and end
Where: Location of all decorating. Again be specific. Be specific – the door, front yard, trees, shrubs, windows, etc.
Then, write down everything you need and list what you have or will have to buy.
Your “how” will be your tasks and action steps. What do you need to do to make this event happen. Do you need to drag the Christmas ornaments and tree down from the attic? Do you have to make a trip to a storage unit to pick up your decorations? Do you need to go to Target to buy more lights?
When? Who will do this? How are you prioritizing? Does the outside decorating need to be done during the day? Write a timeline to include the date, time if necessary, person responsible and tools/decorations that are needed. With every step, think of every detail and write it down.
It may be tiring. You may decide next year to go back to your preferred method of decorating. But you may find that project planning the process may save you time as you discover up front what you need and what resources you have available. Although you may find you don’t want to become a full-time project manager in your next career cycle, it’s a great opportunity to test and develop Sensing and Thinking as tools in your type toolkit to achieve the personal and professional results you want.
Happy Decorating!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
We Use Math Everyday!
I know I have discussed Extroverted Thinking in past blog posts but this mental function tends to rear its head in our household fairly frequently. Why?
For starters, my husband ‘s type preference is ISTJ. Extroverted Thinking, (logical planning and organization) is his second most natural function and, in accord with John Beebe’s work in archetypal energy, functions in a “good parent” role. Mike’s “good parent” coaches, guides, directs and cajoles me using logic – generally in the form of math, process maps, tables and general logical analysis of “if p then q” and so on.
And then there’s me. I have embraced my ENFJ preference for creating harmony, seeing the big picture, affirming and appreciating, and of course, waking up in the middle of the night with “bright ideas”, connecting the dots and feeling like I “understand the meaning of– something.”
Extroverted Thinking is my least preferred function, eighth and lowest on the totem pole of type dynamics. You can’t go any lower. In the eighth position, it can be the most rejected aspect of a personality but conversely, feels like divine energy when it appears spontaneously. It’s in my unconscious and I feel sometimes I must deliberately pull, tug, yank, and drag it screaming into my conscious for use in a situation.
Over the course of my 50 years, I have had great opportunities through work, education, and now my husband, to develop Extroverted Thinking. Didn’t know it at the time but I did. I learned to “love”, for defined periods of time, spreadsheets and defined analysis. I enjoyed seeing progress and improvement, especially those with a p < .05. I’ve developed but it is not natural to me to the point that I can readily articulate my logic. But I’m improving!
For example, I am currently trying to sell eight 4-piece plate settings of Christmas china on Ebay. The eight sets are comprised of two sets each of four different color designs all in the same Faberge egg pattern. Should I sell four 4-piece settings – with one of each color or sell all eight in one lot? Everything was perfectly clear in my mind during the discussion but my husband could not comprehend what I was describing.
So what did I do?
I said the same thing but with stronger, slower verbal articulation. It didn’t work. Imagine that.
Mike asked for more detail. I described it verbally again. Finally, he said, “draw me a picture. “Translate it using math.”
I created a lovely table with four columns and rows, labeled rows with red, purple, green and blue and the columns with mug, dinner plates, salad plate and bowl and filled in the grid. He immediately understood what I was describing. He could define “set” in his mind. We smiled. We were communicating and determined a solution for posting the lots.
God I love him!
Moral of the story?
If your Extroverted Thinking is one of your least preferred functions based on your type preference (ISTP, INTP, ESTP, ISFJ, INFJ, ESFJ and ENFJ), and you need to communicate with others whose Extroverted Thinking is in the Dominant or Auxiliary position, (ISTJ, INTJ, ESTJ, and ENTJ), consider using your skills in math and logic, current guidelines and parameters to support or define your problem or decision or idea. Consider also partnering with someone to mentor you, observe and practice with in using these processes for development.
Happy Thinking!
For starters, my husband ‘s type preference is ISTJ. Extroverted Thinking, (logical planning and organization) is his second most natural function and, in accord with John Beebe’s work in archetypal energy, functions in a “good parent” role. Mike’s “good parent” coaches, guides, directs and cajoles me using logic – generally in the form of math, process maps, tables and general logical analysis of “if p then q” and so on.
And then there’s me. I have embraced my ENFJ preference for creating harmony, seeing the big picture, affirming and appreciating, and of course, waking up in the middle of the night with “bright ideas”, connecting the dots and feeling like I “understand the meaning of– something.”
Extroverted Thinking is my least preferred function, eighth and lowest on the totem pole of type dynamics. You can’t go any lower. In the eighth position, it can be the most rejected aspect of a personality but conversely, feels like divine energy when it appears spontaneously. It’s in my unconscious and I feel sometimes I must deliberately pull, tug, yank, and drag it screaming into my conscious for use in a situation.
Over the course of my 50 years, I have had great opportunities through work, education, and now my husband, to develop Extroverted Thinking. Didn’t know it at the time but I did. I learned to “love”, for defined periods of time, spreadsheets and defined analysis. I enjoyed seeing progress and improvement, especially those with a p < .05. I’ve developed but it is not natural to me to the point that I can readily articulate my logic. But I’m improving!
For example, I am currently trying to sell eight 4-piece plate settings of Christmas china on Ebay. The eight sets are comprised of two sets each of four different color designs all in the same Faberge egg pattern. Should I sell four 4-piece settings – with one of each color or sell all eight in one lot? Everything was perfectly clear in my mind during the discussion but my husband could not comprehend what I was describing.
So what did I do?
I said the same thing but with stronger, slower verbal articulation. It didn’t work. Imagine that.
Mike asked for more detail. I described it verbally again. Finally, he said, “draw me a picture. “Translate it using math.”
I created a lovely table with four columns and rows, labeled rows with red, purple, green and blue and the columns with mug, dinner plates, salad plate and bowl and filled in the grid. He immediately understood what I was describing. He could define “set” in his mind. We smiled. We were communicating and determined a solution for posting the lots.
God I love him!
Moral of the story?
If your Extroverted Thinking is one of your least preferred functions based on your type preference (ISTP, INTP, ESTP, ISFJ, INFJ, ESFJ and ENFJ), and you need to communicate with others whose Extroverted Thinking is in the Dominant or Auxiliary position, (ISTJ, INTJ, ESTJ, and ENTJ), consider using your skills in math and logic, current guidelines and parameters to support or define your problem or decision or idea. Consider also partnering with someone to mentor you, observe and practice with in using these processes for development.
Happy Thinking!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
30 Rock - Conflict Pairs in Action
Television programs and movies can be a great way to “type watch” and identify key Jungian mental functions and MBTI personality types used to create dialogue, conflict and resolution. I’m not a huge fan of 30 Rock but it definitely becomes more interesting observing the potential conflict pairs of Alec Baldwin’s TJ (thinking/Judgment) and Liz Lemmon’s FJ (Feeling/Judgment).
A good example of this is the episode, Audition Day, aired on November 5th. The Tracy Jordan Show management team has been directed to add a character to the show. Liz Lemmon (Tina Fey) and Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) are planning an audition session for Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin). Liz and Pete conspire to stage the audition so only one actor is the obvious choice. Throughout the discussion of how to pick the best actor, Jack directs Liz to “be logical and dispassionate”, to make decisions without empathy. He tells her that she is on top of a small pyramid and not to let emotions distract her from making decisions about those that built the pyramid. Sound like Extroverted Thinking?
"That's what I'm talking about, empathy. It's about as useless as the Winter Olympics” – Jack.
Liz poorly tries to be “a robot” and manage the audition preparation work with Pete without emotion but her feelings begin to drive her decision making process. Her preference and desire for group harmony (Extroverted Feeling) persists and she approves other staff of The Tracy Jordan Show to join the audition. Needless to say, the formal audition process breaks down and chaos ensues. Meanwhile, Jack has multiple opportunities to experience empathy towards the “common man” in New York and reconsiders his own snobbery towards others.
Ah, so does this mean we should not use empathy in the decision-making process to prevent chaos? Not at all. As Jack demonstrates, if we use all of our mental functions in the decision making process we could potentially find the perfect solution. Jack selects the robot impersonator, the one person who touched a person with New York bedbugs.
"I say we hire the one who lives by the code of the robot: Care. Love. Live." – Jack
OK, so robots are not famous for creating harmony and empathy. Perhaps that’s the irony and our real robot, Jack, has briefly discovered his own. Let’s see next week if he develops his new found empathy.
To learn more, watch the episode at:
http://vodpod.com/watch/2471581-hulu-30-rock-audition-day-watch-the-full-episode-now-
Monday, October 26, 2009
Become a Mean, Lean, De-Cluttering Machine!
It’s the silent killer. It sneaks casually into your house or office, creeps in and over all your loved possessions, suffocates them, and converts your space into a storage unit. What is it?
It’s clutter. When the current state of your home or office is dangling on your last nerve, it’s tempting to launch an all-out attack in the war against clutter.
Upon reaching the conclusion that is time to implement some Lean Concepts in your own home or office starting with Sorting and Sifting, you might want to consider your MBTI and your natural preferences for gathering data and making decisions. To effectively de-clutter, you must be able to 1) observe the details of the present and the reality of the clutter, (Extroverted Sensing), and 2) logically determine what to do with the clutter (Extroverted Thinking.)
For example, you begin the de-cluttering process with Sorting. The idea is that you sort items into different piles with labels such as “Keep”, “Donate” or “Sell”. This process requires mental functions of being “in the moment”, observing the item, perhaps noticing that you have more than one of the same item, for example, six backgammon sets in the closet. You must briefly examine the shirt, pair of shoes, statue, candle or piece of jewelry.
The next step in the process is using your Extroverted Thinking (logical analysis) to determine if you keep, donate or sell. Asking the right logical questions keeps the process moving forward.
· Do you have more than one of the item?
· Is there one in better condition?
· When is the last time you used/or wore it?
· Is it valuable?
· Does it have an expiration date?
· Is there a significant possibility you would use it the next year?
Key word is “significant” meaning “highly probable” using actual data. And so on.
Where we get into trouble is when our Intuiting functions start creeping into the activity. Our Intuiting functions help us brainstorm and see possibilities. Examples of this creep might be “We have eight checkerboards! I can see us having a Checkers party! Gosh wouldn’t that be great fun!”, “That 6 inch piece of curtain trim has a use. I can see it on a pillow or a Christmas stocking!” or even “I’m saving that five year old cork wreath for something. I just don’t know what yet but ideas come to me all the time!”
Other potential enemies of de-cluttering can be Introverted Sensing and Introverted Feeling. Introverted Sensing or “recalling the past” initiates the sentiment surrounding an object. Introverted Feeling is a person’s strong internal value system such as belief in efficiency, managing resources and money that may prevent someone from making a logical decision in the de-clutter process.
De-cluttering can not only be a productive exercise to create a more pleasing and efficient home or work environment but also a wonderful exercise to develop your mental functions. If either Extroverted Sensing or Extroverted Thinking is not one of your four most natural preferences in your MBTI toolbox, then try grief de-cluttering exercises to develop these functions.
To test yourself, go into a room. Get into the “moment”. Think about how easy or difficult it is to be “in the present”, manage details, examine, count. Does the very thought of schlogging through the clutter zap your energy or give you energy? Does answering the tough, logical questions tire you or empower you? Can you “shake off” the urge to brainstorm or relive the past so you can move forward with the de-cluttering process?
If your “mess” goes beyond clutter, perhaps to hoarding or over-buying, you might want to consider a professional organizer. But consider reframing de-cluttering as a personal development opportunity instead of a chore. A personal opportunity to discover, develop and achieve a personal environment that promotes relaxation as well as give you energy to meet your daily challenges and beyond.
Good luck!
It’s clutter. When the current state of your home or office is dangling on your last nerve, it’s tempting to launch an all-out attack in the war against clutter.
Upon reaching the conclusion that is time to implement some Lean Concepts in your own home or office starting with Sorting and Sifting, you might want to consider your MBTI and your natural preferences for gathering data and making decisions. To effectively de-clutter, you must be able to 1) observe the details of the present and the reality of the clutter, (Extroverted Sensing), and 2) logically determine what to do with the clutter (Extroverted Thinking.)
For example, you begin the de-cluttering process with Sorting. The idea is that you sort items into different piles with labels such as “Keep”, “Donate” or “Sell”. This process requires mental functions of being “in the moment”, observing the item, perhaps noticing that you have more than one of the same item, for example, six backgammon sets in the closet. You must briefly examine the shirt, pair of shoes, statue, candle or piece of jewelry.
The next step in the process is using your Extroverted Thinking (logical analysis) to determine if you keep, donate or sell. Asking the right logical questions keeps the process moving forward.
· Do you have more than one of the item?
· Is there one in better condition?
· When is the last time you used/or wore it?
· Is it valuable?
· Does it have an expiration date?
· Is there a significant possibility you would use it the next year?
Key word is “significant” meaning “highly probable” using actual data. And so on.
Where we get into trouble is when our Intuiting functions start creeping into the activity. Our Intuiting functions help us brainstorm and see possibilities. Examples of this creep might be “We have eight checkerboards! I can see us having a Checkers party! Gosh wouldn’t that be great fun!”, “That 6 inch piece of curtain trim has a use. I can see it on a pillow or a Christmas stocking!” or even “I’m saving that five year old cork wreath for something. I just don’t know what yet but ideas come to me all the time!”
Other potential enemies of de-cluttering can be Introverted Sensing and Introverted Feeling. Introverted Sensing or “recalling the past” initiates the sentiment surrounding an object. Introverted Feeling is a person’s strong internal value system such as belief in efficiency, managing resources and money that may prevent someone from making a logical decision in the de-clutter process.
De-cluttering can not only be a productive exercise to create a more pleasing and efficient home or work environment but also a wonderful exercise to develop your mental functions. If either Extroverted Sensing or Extroverted Thinking is not one of your four most natural preferences in your MBTI toolbox, then try grief de-cluttering exercises to develop these functions.
To test yourself, go into a room. Get into the “moment”. Think about how easy or difficult it is to be “in the present”, manage details, examine, count. Does the very thought of schlogging through the clutter zap your energy or give you energy? Does answering the tough, logical questions tire you or empower you? Can you “shake off” the urge to brainstorm or relive the past so you can move forward with the de-cluttering process?
If your “mess” goes beyond clutter, perhaps to hoarding or over-buying, you might want to consider a professional organizer. But consider reframing de-cluttering as a personal development opportunity instead of a chore. A personal opportunity to discover, develop and achieve a personal environment that promotes relaxation as well as give you energy to meet your daily challenges and beyond.
Good luck!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
What's in YOUR Toolkit - Bringing Type Into the 21st Century
ISTJ. ENTP. ENFJ. ISTP. Sound familiar?
Perhaps you completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®) assessment in years past – answered all the paired statements and came up with a type code that stated you were an ESTJ and perfectly armed for the director role you were assuming. Or perhaps it gave you one more “label” to arm yourself with to better understand your personality –and defend it.
But what exactly do all those letters mean and how do they apply to the 21st century? Specifically, how does the MBTI ® apply to workforce dynamics, managing change, teamwork and delivering great customer service?
The MBTI ® is the foundation of your personality – your code that shares your natural preferences and your areas for development. Think of your code as exactly that – a series of eight functions and energies that define how you prefer to gather information, how you prefer to make decisions and respond, how you prefer to gain energy and how you prefer to work in the world around you.
But, just because you have a natural preference or strength for one function, such as Brainstorming (Extroverted Intuition), does not prevent you from developing one of your least natural preferences to enhance your competencies, and your success at work. Sometimes there may be a clash between natural preferences and what is required of the person in the job.
For example, the job may require a person to engage the customer in a “loyalty” experience – creating a “memorable moment” that is cemented by a variety of factors hinged on approachability, warmth, empathy, connecting, and expressing understanding and compassion. Creating this type of experience calls on one of the eight mental functions, Extroverted Feeling, to make this happen. We all have a Type “Toolkit” with eight boxes of tools. Extroverted Feeling is all about harmony, creating relationships and being aware of others’ needs. We all have Extroverted Feeling in our Type toolkit. Only some people may have it in the #1 box in the tool kit, and it is easy to access at a moment’s notice. Others may have it in the #5, or lower box, and it may not be as easy to reach and call on when the situation arises. Because it is in the lower, least used box, it may be uncomfortable to use and may need developing through thoughtful exercises, demonstrations and activities.
Let’s go to the team.
Ever wonder why a team is just not “getting it?”
Example: A team of healthcare members is required to change to a new quality improvement approach. The new approach includes adjusting to change, leaving the “old, tried and true” way of doing business, and embracing a new, rapid cycle process for brainstorming ideas, implementing and testing results. All the cheerleading, motivation and threats in the world may not increase participation in the change if the majority of team members’ natural preferences for idea generation and brainstorming are in the least used, lower boxes of the Type “toolkit”. Structured training, development, coaching, mentoring, recognizing and rewarding idea generation and brainstorming must be included in the initiative to hardwire the use of these least used “tools” for the initiative to be successful.
Discovering and developing type functions is an opportunity for individuals, teams and leaders to enhance personal and work effectiveness, achieve business objectives and career success. Organizations such as Southwest Airlines have implemented the MBTI across and down the organizational strata to strengthen teams, improve communications and provide their leaders a better method of developing their people.
Ongoing Type development and application to decision making, managing conflict, and interpersonal communication, among other applications, can not only jumpstart individuals, teams and leaders through self-awareness, but also provide a foundation for self-management in an ever-changing world. How might your team be empowered and transformed with better understanding of themselves as individuals, and as integral team contributors?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Mindful Development - Experiencing the "Now"
I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of “mindfulness” - calm awareness of one's body functions, feelings, content of consciousness, or consciousness itself. Buddhists hold that over 2500 years ago, Buddha provided guidance on establishing Mindfulness, or the action of bringing one's awareness to focus on experience within the mind at the present moment.
I became involved with Mindfulness in the early 90s when managing rehabilitation programs. At the time, cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs were researching and testing Mindfulness for managing stress and relaxation. Two decades ago it was a bit “new age” but the concept has definitely come into its own in the 21st century.
It’s been difficult to master – in fact, I wouldn’t say I have mastered it all yet. But I try several times a week to practice it, especially while training for the Livestrong Bike Challenge - observing the changes in my cadence, what happens to my leg fatigue when I change gears, what parts of my legs fatigue, or improvements in pace in different positions.
Why might Mindfulness be particularly challenging for an ENFJ like me?
“Mindfulness” is about being in the moment. It’s letting go in the mind our “internal chatter” or thoughts and paying close attention to the present experience. It’s being in the “now.” From a Type perspective it’s using Extroverted Sensing – experiencing the world using the five senses. Extroverted Sensing is the third most natural function for the ENFJ type code. Sometimes I think I am pretty good at it, but as my husband says, I’m not always paying attention! My mind is buzzing forward, connecting concepts and ideas using my Introverted Intuition.
Mindfulness does not have to be constrained to a formal meditation session. It’s an activity that can be done at any time, does not require sitting or focusing on the breath. Rather, it’s simply realizing what is happening in the present moment, just “noticing” the mind’s usual “commentary” but not reacting and being mindful of the sensations of the moment. For example, enjoying the hummingbird feasting on your flowery shrub, the sensation of your feet while walking on grass or if you exercise in the early morning, intently listening for the first bird to chirp good morning.
One of the most frequently cited Mindfulness activities is the Listening activity. Partner with another person and sit facing one another. One person talks for a few minutes while the other person listens while looking into the eyes of the speaker. The person speaking can speak of matters profound or mundane, it isn’t important. What is important is that the person listening fully listens and doesn’t interrupt the speaker.
After a few minutes, roles are switched and the person who listened is now the speaker, and the person who was the speaker is now the listener. Again, as the speaker talks, the other person listens with all their attention. Once you are done with the exercise, take turns discussing how it felt to be listened to, and to have listened. Usually when people have a conversation, listening is done on a half-hearted basis. The person listening often is drifting off and thinking of other things, or is gearing up to interrupt the speaker by saying something, whether related to the conversation or not.
Our lives are on speed-dial and we do so much without thinking. Our actions our on auto-pilot, at work, at home and at play. Many jobs also require the ability to gather information accurately using the five senses, observe and record. If you need to develop your Extroverted Sensing function to improve personal or work effectiveness, consider practicing Mindfulness as one of many activities to develop this function.
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