Identifying and adapting your unique gifts and style

Dr. Yahya K. Mohammed Ali
Medical Adviser and Trainer
Qualified Pharma.
*
Yahya K. Mohammed Ali

*What’s your style? Are you creative and
intuitive? Straightforward and direct? Analytical
and cautious? Sensitive and caring?
*Each person you meet or befriend has her own
style. To have amazing people skills, you have
to learn to understand your own style and how
it affects others.
*Similarly, you have to learn how to approach
people with styles that are vastly different
from yours.

*
*both ends of the spectrum for each personality
component:
*Extraversion (extroversion) vs. Introversion
*Sensation vs. Intuition
*Thinking vs. Feeling
*Judging vs. Perceiving
*No one relies on just one style. We all operate as
thinkers, feelers, intuitors, and judgers at different
times of the day and during different tasks. Over a
lifetime, however, we learn that certain styles work
better for us than others.

*Let’s take a look at a very general overview of
the four major styles most people identify
with:
*Sensor, Intuitor, Analytical, and Emotive.
*Once you understand your style, the next step
is to try to identify the style of the person
you’re dealing with.
*Style flexing means adjusting your words and
actions to connect with another’s style.

*
*Push, push, push. Rush, rush, rush. A Sensor
wants the bottom line, just the facts, and to
cut to the chase.
*Sensors are often viewed as leaders because
they can synthesize information fast and make
quick decisions.
*Other styles often like to rely on Sensors to go
first and to act when action is needed.

*
*A Sensor is very honest and straightforward,
occasionally blunt.
*Her tunnel vision to get a task done causes her
to occasionally overlook others’ input,
agendas, or even feelings.
*She’d rather do it herself than continue what
she considers endless conversations or
meetings trying to gain consensus about what
to do next.

*
*Time orientation: The Sensor’s time
orientation is definitely in the here and now.
*She doesn’t care to spend much time
pondering the future or dwelling on the past.

*
*Sensors need to develop listening and
empathy; otherwise, they can develop tunnel
vision.
*They also need to adapt their fast tempo to
the slower tempo of some of their colleagues.
*Sensor scares more cautious people who prefer
things to be done meticulously rather than
quickly. She is just more willing to risk
mistakes.

*
*If you want a person to move a mountain, call a
Sensor first. They’re great to have on your team—
especially if you are not a Sensor. It’s that she has
many wonderful qualities:
*She is loyal.
*She is dead honest (even if it’s not in her best
interest).
*She is a leader.
*She quickly implements change once change is
inevitable (and we are in continual change these
days).

*
*Intuitors can be visionary and have insights into
people, projects, and trends long before some
of the other styles.
*They are one of the few styles well adapted to
a society that is in constant change.
*The Intuitor is a far-out thinker, the original
“think outside the box” person.
*During conversations, you may find her saying
things like the following: “But what about …?”
“Or you could ….” “I don’t know, what if …?”

*
*Time orientation: The Intuitor’s time
orientation is in the future—always thinking
about what’s over the horizon.

*
*An Intuitor thinks of things not as others see
them but in her own unique way.
*She may appear critical instead of weird,
rarely accepts anyone’s idea quickly
*Intuitor doesn’t appear to be a team player.
*Intuitors need to develop the skills of finishing
well through perseverance and attention to
detail.

*
*They are great starters but not so much on
completing projects.
*Investing in their teamwork skills and their
time management skills can make these people
excellent employees.
*The absolute worst combination of styles is
getting two Intuitors on the same team. Why?
*Because each will have a unique and innovative
idea that differs from the other Intuitor’s idea.

*
*Still, if I wanted a mountain moved, I would
call this gal even before I called the Sensor.
Why?
*Because she would look at alternatives and
possibly come up with a solution that we
“normal” thinkers would never have come up
with.
*She might say you don’t have to move the
mountain at all; instead, she might say to build
a monorail through the mountain.

*
*They are innovative and creative.
*They embrace new technology.
*They adapt well to change.
*They see what others miss.

*
*The Analytical looks at everything carefully and
is a real thinker.
*She makes fewer mistakes and takes fewer
risks.
*She’s often accused of having “analysis
paralysis” because she feels she can never
have too much information before she makes a
decision.

*
*If you want a mountain moved she’s good to
consult because she’ll make sure you don’t
make mistakes as you lift it, move it, and place
it—all in charts, spreadsheets, tables, and
outline form. Still, she might not get the
mountain moved this year.
*Time orientation: Her major orientation is in
the past because she wants to see what she
can learn from history, facts, and research.

*
*Analyticals need to learn to more responsive to
the person in front of them and less focused on
the details of the information they are hearing.
*They need to develop flexibility and openness
to new ideas.
*Learning to let go and acceptance that they
cannot control all outcomes are valuable
lessons Analyticals can learn.

*
*Analytical will find flaws or weaknesses
everyone else may overlook.
*She inspires confidence in your ideas and
projects because she is so careful.
*In short, her qualities include the following:
*She is thorough and well prepared.
*She is competent and accurate.
*She is organized.
*She is objective.

*
*Emotives are ambassadors and often caretakers.
*She may find things like birthdays, resignations, or
pregnancies events to celebrate or acknowledge even
on the job.
*Not only is the Emotive sensitive to others, she is just
plain sensitive. Before you start talking to her about
the subject on your mind, you must spend five
minutes asking her about how her weekend was, her
new house, or something that has nothing to do with
your topic but that is of great personal interest to her
and her only.

*
*When a project comes up, her first concerns are
things like how all people will be affected
*If you asked her to move a mountain, she might
want to know if it’s going to hurt anyone’s
feelings if we move it.
*Time orientation: The Emotive’s time orientation
is definitely in the past.

*
*Emotives need to learn to step back, take a breath,
and force themselves to be objective when they
feel offended at the insensitivity of others.
*Three questions an Emotive should pause and ask
before getting involved are the following:
1. Is this an important issue for me, and is it my
responsibility to tackle it?
2. What might be some positive outcomes of my
getting involved, and is it possible these will be
achieved without my involvement?
3. What could be the downside to myself and others
if I become involved, and is it worthwhile?

*
*The Emotive is the premier team player, help
other styles work together
*An Emotive is also very strong in reading
nonverbal communication.
*She is worthy of a high level of trust.
*She encourages teammates.
*She gives attention to others.
*She works well with all other types.

*
*Knowing your style only has value if you learn
the style-flexing skills to adapt to the styles of
others.
*Here are some things to remember when you
approach someone of a different style.

*
*Make your main points fast. Offer solutions,
not problems, and offer your best piece of
information in the first few sentences.
*If you have questions, make them specific and
short.
*Always be meticulously honest—even blunt—
with a Sensor.

*
*As you speak, mention anything new or cutting
edge.
*If you need an answer or a resource, be sure to
ask for a deadline, as Intuitors are not great at
finishing what they start.
*Involve her in brainstorming a problem to come
up with the best idea.
*Collaboration is the key with Intuitors. Ask,
don’t tell.

*
*Be well-prepared with all necessary papers,
notes, maybe even an agenda.
*Tell the Analytical your plan or idea in an
organized, 1-2-3 way.
*The key to gaining the respect, friendship, or
cooperation of the Analytical is preparing and
being informed before you speak.

*
*What was the last thing the Emotive talked to
you about? Start the conversation with that
topic.
*Comment on their photos or on hobbies or
topics important to them.
*Emotives have a high degree of emotional
intelligence, a characteristic all styles need to
develop.

*
*Emotional intelligence (EI) relates to your ability to
understand and deal with emotions and the
complexities of your own feelings and those of
other people.
*Those with highly developed EI can read the
emotions of others and respond more appropriately
than those with less developed EI.
*Just as importantly, having mature EI skills means a
person can identify and deal with her own feelings
more proficiently.

*
*four different factors of emotional intelligence: the
perception of emotion, the ability to reason using
emotions, the ability to understand emotion, and
the ability to manage emotions.
*Developing your people skills means developing your
EI.
*The first part of that process is to learn to evaluate
and manage your own emotions and how you react
and are perceived by others.
*The second part is to be able to discern and respond
appropriately to the emotions of others.

*
*Extroverts draw energy from being with people,
interacting with them, and having conversations.
*On the other hand, introverts are drained of energy
from too much human interaction and activity.
*In a work environment, an extrovert will be more
productive working with a team and collaborating
constantly,
*while an introvert needs to retire to her cubicle or
office to think from time to time.

*
*We often feel people do not like us, so we are
not friendly to them when in reality the person
is just introverted.
*Conversely, the extrovert needs time with
people and thrives on human interaction.
*If an extrovert has very much time alone, he
will call someone or text someone or try to
make something happen.

*
*Actually, we are all blends of the two with
tendencies toward one or the other. There is
no such thing as a pure extravert or a pure
introvert.
*Be careful not to generalize about introverts
and extroverts. For example, many think
introverts are shy, while extroverts are
shallow; in fact, introverts can be quite
sociable, and extroverts can be very
thoughtful.

*
*At the first sign that the introvert wants to be
alone, be sure to support her in taking a break.
*Don’t “work on” introverts to try to make them
more extroverted.
*And let the introvert choose times and
locations most comfortable for her for getting
together.

*
*They would prefer to do even simple tasks
together.
*Extroverts need more praise and encouragement
than most people.
*Both introverts and extroverts offer value to your
life and lend richness and texture to your world
because of their unique gifts. Try to include some
of both in your circle of friends.

*
*The Sensor is direct, moves fast, and is candid and
decisive.
*The Intuitor style is creative, forward-thinking, likes
to try new things, and bores easily.
*The Analytical wants to research, consider, organize,
and review before making decisions or moves.
*The Emotive is very sensitive to the feelings of
others—and her own.
*Emotional intelligence is a mark of maturity, as it
demonstrates the ability to control one’s emotions.
*The introvert gets energy from within, while the
extrovert draws energy from being with others.

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