How long have you been this uncomfortable? 

With certain aspects of your life that is. 

Are you constantly poring over someone else’s get things done system - only to find the only thing you’re doing is frustrating yourself yet again?  It doesn’t even make any sense.  It works for some people - why not you?

How about your job?  Are you supposed to like it because you spent a good lot of your time for the past __ years learning for a shot at your dream only to find that it just isn’t flowing as well as you pictured?

Is it you?

Quite frankly yes. 

It’s you…not being you.  And that can be a problem.

For those on a serious quest for the inspired career move, having issues with learning, not understanding the relationship advice you’re getting (and therefore you MUST be an ogre) ignoring your natural tendencies will leave you feeling awkward.  You can technically force yourself to operate under someone else system but that’s the underlying discomfort you feel…

..and it’s probably feeding that growing monster of resentment that you’re carrying on your bare back.

You’d be amazed at what knowing and respecting your own personal style of operation can do for you.  You’d be super productive and a lot happier with your circumstances. 

And to think that people go on, for YEARS, oblivious to this fact and suffering a faceless unhappiness because of it!  Looks like there’s more to that “Be Yourself” thing huh. 

This is the part where I tell you that you can shell out fifty bucks or so over here at Kolbe.com to find out about yourself for your best life.

OR

You can thank your bloggy stars that JEMi knows JUST how you feel and is about to discuss the general guideline that test shows you.

*smile*

Your Natural Instincts Aren’t Wrong

There is this standardized test of sorts called the Kolbe Index used by individual persons as well as businesses to help pinpoint your natural instinct to solve problems.  (It can help you figure out a lot more than that but for now this is what we’re focusing on.) 

The Kolbe Index was developed by Kathy Kolbe and is based on conative psychology.  Simply put, conation is the WHY behind the things that you do.  It’s the name of that natural instinct you have when approaching a new task. 

Basically the Index classifies four types of folk

The Quick Start

The Fact Finder

The Implementor

The Follow Thru

Essentially, from the day that we are born, our conation is fully developed.  This means you come out of the womb with your way of doing things and going against your grain will simply get under your skin.  On the lower end of the scale?   ”Eh, I wouldn’t have done it that way but whatever”.  On 12 on a scale of 1-10?  “Torture.”

So what do these four categories mean in regards to you?

The Quick Start:  If you’re a Quick Start, you are the type of person who does well with hands-on learning.  Trial and error makes your world go ’round.  You’re not really the type to wait around for a thick manual of instructions. Rather, the Quick Start works well with the unknowns and the risks of a situation and is really good at improvising.

The Fact Finder:  The Fact Finder really values that thick manual of instructions the Quick Start is so eager to chuck.  For a Fact Finder, the best way to proceed is by thoroughly researching information before proceeding into action.  If this is you, all questions are fair game. 

The Implementor:  The Implementor is a builder at heart.  She’s fine with getting her hands dirty and prototypes just might make her smile.  With physical objects being the ultimate preference, The Implementor learns best by working with tangibles and space. 

The Follow Through:  The Follow Thru is great at storing and organizing information.  She’s into creating and/or following a sequence of events and approaches learning, working, and simply doing things this way. 

Go With Your Flow

The problem many people face comes from attempting to initiate in one mode (that’s what those four categories are called) when they are naturally inclined to another mode.  If you’re the type of woman to organize lots of stuff into a neat system (for instance, perfect filing systems make your heart race), charging into a new project head on without a system in place wouldn’t be your idea.  It’s been proven that ignoring one’s conation explains a problem with learning for some.  So if you happen to be one of the inquisitive Fact Finders, well winging it just won’t fly quite right with you even though you technically can.

Interestingly enough, it doesn’t matter what mode you’re most incline to.  One isn’t considered superior to the other - you’ll simply shine the brightest when respecting your MO.  The best part is if you’re not so pressed to conform, you can work very well with the other types of people around you who do things differently from you.

Do you know why some might FEEL superior to you?

If you’re in a job/career created by Follow-Thrus and they are always just whizzing around your in circles with their awesome get-things-done systems, you’ll generally be out of your element.  You CAN function, of course, but it would be more of you accommodating the Follow-Thrus rather than initiating as one. 

See what I mean?

Depending on what your natural tendencies are, you’ll compliment different modes in different ways.  So no, you are not a thorn.  You’re a different type of flower in the bouquet!

How Do I Compliment Thee.. Let Me Count The Ways

It’s an awesome thing to know how it is you operate…so how does it say you play with others?  After all, more often than not, you have to work with other people.

According to Kolbe, there are 3 Zones of Operation with each mode.  This means, when dealing with others, we either INITIATE, RESPOND, or PREVENT.

So - if you INITIATE, it’s how you’ll act based on your natural inclination.  It’s how you will insist on doing something.  If you’re RESPONDING, this is how you’re willing to accommodate the others.  Last, but not least, when you PREVENT - this shows how you won’t act with others or how you will, at least, prevent problems. 

With this in mind, take a look at yourself on this list - it’s a tell tale compilation of some of your strengths even when you’re not getting a chance to flex your natural need to …. research.

Quick Start - Deal With Risks and Uncertainties

INITIATE: Will promote experimentation, take risks, discover alternatives, ad lib

RESPOND: Willing to go along with risks, try alternatives, use metaphors, interject spontaneously, follow another’s hunch

PREVENT: Won’t be impulsive, be ambiguous, cause distractions, force change and disruption

The Fact Finder - Gathers and Shares Information

INITIATE:  Will collect data, establish priorities, create analogies, put it in writing

RESPOND:  Willing to review the data, work within priorities, give specifics, go with the highest probability

PREVENT:  Won’t require documentation, get bogged down by minutiae, overanalyze 

 The Implementor - Handles space and tactile efforts (Builds or demonstrates)

INITIATE:  Will create tangible goods, develop prototypes, master mechanical devices, detect solutions with tactile senses

RESPOND:  Willing to work with tangible goods, use models, use tools and equipment, envision concrete examples utilize protective gear

PREVENT:  Won’t require concreteness, force tangible solutions, have to see a prototype, need to physically demonstrate

The Follow Through - Stores and Organizes Information

INITIATE:  Will design systems, seek order, arrange logistics, force closure

RESPOND:  Willing to maintain order, work within the system, adhere to the plan, maintain concentration, stay in sequence

PREVENT:  Won’t be rigid with plans, get stuck in routines, follow a schedule, act sequentially

Copyright © 2005. All rights reserved by Kathy Kolbe.

  And Now That You Know…

If you’ve been feeling incapable by comparison or just couldn’t put your finger on that off feeling you experience, you will really benefit from the conative theory.  Think about it, how you operate dictates how you respond in relationships, solve problems, handle an issue, rise (…or fall) in a career.   Being in tune with your own tune makes the noise around you more like music.  Play up your strengths and use that edge to further yourself in the aspects of your life that matter to you the most.  Find ways to implement your style into the everyday tasks you are required to perform. 

Oh -

And I just had to share this with you to beautifully illustrate conation in action;

Imagine a race between four animals:  an otter, a mole, a squirrel, and a mouse.   They’re headed for a goal several feet away.  Which animal will win?  Well it depends.  If the goal is underground, my money’s on the mole.  If it’s in a tree?  Hello Mr. Squirrel.  Underwater, it’s the otter.  And if the goal is hidden in tall grass, the mouse will walk away with it.  Now, all these animals can swim, dig, climb, and find things in the grass.  It’s just that each of them does one of these things better than the others.  Putting all four animals in a swimming race, say, would lead to the conclusion that one was better than the others, when the truth is that their innate skills are different…

…As long as Otter, Mole, Squirrel, and Mouse are forced to race in the same terrain, at least three of them will be out of their element, looking and feeling like failures.

                                          - Martha Beck, article ”How to Be Wildly Successful”

 

On the flipside of that story, if the animals were to team up, they’d “rule the backyard” as Martha says.

It’s possible that you’ve become so accustomed to going against your grain that you’ve felt like you had less to contribute than the next gal and that’s simply not true.  Whether dealing with others or making a new way for yourself, embrace that natural instinct of yours and it is sure to serve you well. 

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Photos by:  * !S4N7Y! *

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