Writting help

Notes on Tieger reading:

The Four Working Preferences: How We Use Our Personalities in Groups

I. Traditionalists – SJ – 40 % of Americans.

a. Need to belong and do the right thing

b. Value stability, order, cooperation, doing things right

c. Hardworking

d. Strengths

i. Attend to structure

ii. prefer to deal with proven facts and use them to further the organizational goals

iii. Identify what needs fixing and fix it.

e. Weaknesses

i. not abstract thinkers

ii. do not care to plan

iii. see things in black and white

iv. Do not adapt quickly

f. A good job involves a responsible position in a stable organization

II. Experiencers – SP – 30%ofAmericans

a. Responsive and spontaneous

b. Live for action, impulse and the moment

c. Value freedom

d. Strengths

i. see what is happening and can seize opportunities

ii. not afraid to take risks

iii. Prefer to deal with facts

e. Weaknesses

i. Pay not be predictable to others

ii. May fail to see patterns or connections

iii. Sometimes avoid commitments

f. A good job involves autonomy, variety and action

III. Idealists – NF – 15% of Americans

a. Concerned about personal growth and understanding others

b. Value authenticity and integrity

c. Focus on human potential

d. Strengths

i. know how to bring out the best in others

ii. able to help people feel good about themselves

iii. Good problem solvers

e. Weaknesses

i. Make decisions subjectively

ii. Cannot stay detached

iii. Get too involved in other’s affairs

iv. Poor at maintaining discipline

f. a good job is one that is personally meaningful with humanistic values

IV. Conceptualizers – NT – 15% of Americans

a. Want to be excellent in all things

b. Value independence, logic, objectivity, knowledge

c. Can see many alternatives

d. Strengths

i. can be great innovators by seeing the possibilities and the big picture

ii. excel at strategy and planning

iii. can identify underlying principles

e. Weaknesses

i. too complex, pointlessly over-specific

ii. can be skeptical and detract from group

iii. can be seen as elitist; not interested in the feelings of others

f. A good job is on the provides autonomy, intellectual stimulation and the ability to generate new ideas.

V. Questions to ponder individually and with your team after reading class notes and Tieger article:

a. Do you think your assigned working preference is accurate? Why or Why not?

b. Given this working preference, in what areas are you likely to likely to contribute to your team? Where will you need assistance?

c. What role is likely to be best for you in a team?