action planning

We know that your type preferences underpin our behaviours and actions. Our unconscious responses to a situation or a task - based on our preferences - can be influenced by many things. The specifics of language - the words we or others use to describe things - can help or hinder, make or break, action planning and goal setting.

How do we help ourselves, and others, get better at putting the action into the plan, and the plan into action?

If you're involved in setting your own action plan, or supporting others in theirs, here are some things to take into consideration.

Goals, Goal Setting: these are concepts and words that are helpful for people who like their world to be organised and structured. They take one action, or a series of actions, and have one end goal / required result. A goal provides clarity, certainy, direction, a means whereby you can tick the box for completion and pat yourself on the back for a job well done, womething else achieved.

But for those with a Go with the Flow preference, those whose ideal world is spontaneous, flexible and open to exploration and possibilities, the words goals, and planning, can set up an immediate negative reaction, confusion, and stress. How can I possibly choose just one thing to go for? By changing the language we can free up motivation and positive energy for action.

So for the Go with the flow-ers (in type terms Perceivers ... or procrastinators, or put it off to the last moment sort of people), talk about "focus" not goals. Describe the desired and possible outcomes. Look at the journey. Help those who you are supporting see the goal mouth as an exciting door to future possibilities (especially for the big picture perceivers); possibilities that will open up when going through the goal area.

For the Artisans (in type temperament terms the specific, here and now go with the flow-ers), get them to think about practical direction (especially STP) and intention (SFP) in the moment.

But even for those with a natural inclination towards goal setting and action planning, it's not always that straightforward.

For the leaders and directors can seem easy (ENTJ and INTJ). The challenge for the ENTJ might be to leave time and space for things to unfold. Sometimes it's about making a goal of not having a goal. For INTJ it can be about making the action happen in the outer world; taking the steps to bring the vision out into the open and into reality. So the goal here might have to be to get specific, in the here and now, and not introduce new ideas until others are done. Step back from the future vision and plan and execute the interim steps.

For the NFJs remember that good enough can be ok. Practicality can be perfection in itself.

And for the STJ, how about pushing yourself further into the future. Look beyond the immediate goal posts into the field beyond.