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How people vary

The main idea. People have different ways of learning and working. Find out yours, and realise that others may be different.

 

What kind of a learner are you? How do you prefer to make decisions? People vary in this; if you understand your own preferences and are aware that others may be very different you will have a much easier time working with a team or group.

 

We find that people tend to want to start in one of four ways:

* "activists" like to have the concrete experience -"get stuck in for real"

* "pragmatists" like to try something out, make a plan, test the situation

* "theorists" like to understand the background and framework, the theory or facts of the situation before they start doing something

* "reflectors" like to reflect, watch, observe what has been done so far.

These four approaches are all essential parts of the process of taking on something new - the difference is in which one we prefer to start with.

 

Activity

1. Decide what your preference is. Are you a "Hands on" Activist, a "Pause for thought" Reflector, a "Give me the facts and background" Theorist, or a "Let's plan this and see how it works" Pragmatist?

Where does your preference work for you and where does it let you down?

2. Consider someone who seems different from you in this respectWhat might their preference be?

3. Plan how to manage a team member who has a different starting place from you. What adjustments might you have to make? It's very easy to over-value your own preference, and undervalue different ones.

4. Consider the most convincing way of communicating with people with each of the four preferences. Choose the kind of language and information that each preference might respond well to.

 

Why this matters

Your task as a manager is to appreciate the value of each style, and understand when they are most important to the work of the team. Sometimes for example an 'activist' needs to be held back until there are more facts, or a 'theorist' has be reassured when action is needed with "insufficient" facts.