Vision Night: Directionally Challenged

Wasn't it great to have Gail join us last night? If you weren't able to make it, here's a brief recap.

She discussed various work styles and divided them into four groups; North, South, East, and West.

North-- These are the people that like to "get 'er done". They tend to be decisive, active and assertive. They also don't need a lot of direction in order to do something. They're already on there way to finishing the job before you are done with the instructions. When working with a North:Don't micro-manage and be sure to stick to the timeline!

South-- These people are characterized as very caring and people-oriented. They place incredible value on every person's opinion and desire input from each member of the team. Their main concern is assuring that everyone feels supported and valued. When working with a South: Give them time for expression, be attentive to the relational aspect and listen!

East -- These are the "big picture" people. They have great ideas and love to think outside of the box. They tend to be very creative and make decisions based on the long term. They have to catch the vision before they can move forward on anything. When working with an East: Give them time to think through the process out loud. Their initial reaction may not be their final answer!

West --These are the "nuts, bolts and details" people. They need to have all of the information before making a decision. They tend to be very cautious. They like to follow procedures and are sticklers for the rules. When working with a West: Give them plenty of time for decision making and provide them with all the data. Don't be sensitive when they say no and don't be emotional!

Gail challenged us to look at the strengths of those with different work styles. She also discussed the importance of having all of these styles present within a team. I was so encouraged to see the variety of styles within our team. I'm so thankful to work with you all. It definitely is a learning experience. :-)

So what work style are you? What are the strengths of your style? challenges of working with your style?