Strategic

The Strategic theme enables me to sort through the clutter and find the best route. It is a natural, distinct way of thinking that allows me to see patterns where others simply see complexity. Mindful of these patterns, I play out alternative scenarios, always asking, “What if this happened? Okay, well what if this happened?” This recurring question helps me see around the next corner. There I can evaluate accurately the potential obstacles. Guided by where I see each path leading, I start to make selections. I discard the
paths that lead nowhere. I discard the paths that lead straight into resistance. I discard the paths that lead into a fog of confusion. I cull and make selections until I arrive at the chosen path—my strategy. Armed with my strategy, I strike forward. In sum: “What if?” Select. Strike.

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Individualization

My Individualization theme leads me to be intrigued by the unique qualities of each person. I am impatient with generalizations or “types” because I don’t want to obscure what is special and distinct about each person. Instead, I focus on the differences between individuals. I instinctively observe each person’s style, each person’s motivation, how each thinks, and how each builds relationships. I hear the one-of-a-kind stories in each person’s life. This theme explains why I pick my friends just the right birthday gift, why I know that one person prefers praise in public and another detests it, and why I tailor my teaching style to accommodate one person’s need to be shown and another’s desire to “figure it out as I go.” Because I am such a keen observer of other people’s strengths, I can draw out the best in each person.

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Analytical

My Analytical theme challenges other people: “Prove it. Show me why what you are claiming is true.” In the face of this kind of questioning some will find that their brilliant theories wither and die. For me, this is precisely the point. I do not necessarily want to destroy other people’s ideas, but I do insist that their theories be sound. I like data because they are value-free. They have no agenda. Armed with these data, I search for patterns and connections. You want to understand how certain patterns affect one another. How do they combine? What is their outcome? Does this outcome fit with the theory being offered or the situation being confronted? These are my questions. I peel the layers back until, gradually, the root cause or causes are revealed.

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Adaptability

I live in the moment. I don’t see the future as a fixed destination. Instead, I see it as a place that you create out of the choices that you make right now. This doesn’t mean that I don’t have plans. This theme of Adaptability enables me to respond willingly to the demands of the moment even if they pull me away from my plans. Unlike some, I don’t resent sudden requests or unforeseen detours. I expect them. They are inevitable. Indeed, on some level, I actually look forward to them. I am, at heart, a very flexible person who can stay productive when the demands of work are pulling me in many different directions at once.

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Developer

I see the potential in others. In my view, no individual is fully formed. On the contrary, each individual is a work in progress, alive with possibilities. When I interact with others, my goal is to help them experience success. I look for ways to challenge them. I like to devise interesting experiences that can stretch them and help them grow. And all the while I am on the lookout for the signs of growth—a new behavior learned or modified, a slight improvement in a skill, a glimpse of excellence or of “flow” where previously there were only halting steps. For me, these small increments—invisible to some—are clear signs of potential being realized. These signs of growth in others bring me strength and satisfaction. I even find others seek me out for help and encouragement because on some level they know that my helpfulness is both genuine and fulfilling to me.