[Original image unavailable]It’s been almost a month since my last post and I feel that I need to explain.
I was assigned a very large project at my day job. This is the job that actually pays me money. I love working on my blog but sometimes the paying work has to come first.
I sank my teeth into this large project and simply lost myself for several weeks. My blog suffered, my house is a mess and the family has eaten so much take-out that they’re actually begging for a salad please!
And I’ve loved every minute of it!
But you know the old saying
All work and no play makes Babs a dull girl
But does it?
I got my first job when I was 14 years old and, except for two maternity leaves, I’ve been working ever since. I even worked all through college. I’ve never been without a job.
I love working so much that I turn my leisure activities into work. My favourite hobbies include: taking a course of some kind, planning something, refereeing soccer and working on my blog.
I can even turn simple cleaning into a task-oriented exercise by making a cleaning list so that I can tick off the check boxes as I go. Vacuuming done – check! Laundry folded – check!
There is no greater rush than being able to check something off of a list.
Yeah, I’m a real blast at parties.
Actually, I’m very uncomfortable at parties because there is nothing for me to do but socialize. Don’t get me wrong, I love people. I need people. But I’m much better hosting a gathering than I am attending one because, as a hostess, I am busy with tasks throughout the event. And I socialize through my tasks.
I never understood it and, over the years, this strange behavior of mine would frustrate me.
Why do I always have to “do”? Why can’t I just “be” sometimes?
Then I took a personality quiz on line the other day (yup, nothing better to do) and found out that I’m a task-oriented personality.
I had heard of personality “types” but I thought they were letters. You know, “Type A” versus “Type B” or “Generation X” and “Generation Y”. I hadn’t heard of these “task oriented” and “people oriented” personality types before.
It’s actually a very basic personality spectrum working on the basis that:
Task-oriented people generally “think” about things (including relationships)
People-oriented people generally “feel” about things (including tasks)
As I read more about it, I was so happy to discover that I finally “fit in” somewhere and that I am indeed very normal.
Do you wonder if maybe you’re a task-oriented personality too? Or maybe you’re a people-oriented personality? Outlining some characteristics of both might help you:
Task-oriented personalities tend to:
- focus on their to-do list and the things they hope to accomplish
- be concerned with productivity and efficiency
- have concrete goals and detailed lists
People-oriented personalities tend to:
- focus on the needs of the people around them
- be concerned with building relationships and keeping people happy
- place more importance on the feelings and happiness of people than on their to-do list
Don’t be concerned if you can’t slot yourself in one or the other. This type of personality testing is a line – you could fall smack in the middle, or lean to one side or the other. I am so far on the task-oriented side, there is no question where I fall. But there is no right or wrong answer here. Society needs personalities from the whole spectrum to work and all are important.
If you want to have some real fun discovering your personality type, you should check out the Meyers Briggs website. This famous type indicator formula breaks out into 16 different personality types. It’s fun to figure out which one you are. (I am INTP)
But it’s not only fun. Knowing about yourself can help you in your career, your relationships and in planning your life trajectory. (yes, even at 50+, I believe that I still have a lot of life “trajectory” left)
I wish I had known my “personality type” years ago. I would have spent more time embracing and taking advantage of what I see now are my strengths and less time fighting against my natural tendencies.
It’s not too late to learn. Knowing about personality type helps you to understand and appreciate differences between people. And getting to know yourself and the people around you better can only enrich your life and relationships.
In case you missed it earlier, here again is a link to the Meyers Briggs website.
Go ahead – find your type!
FYI. I have not received any payment (monetary or product) to promote visiting the Meyers Briggs website. I just think it’s really cool and wanted to share.
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Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
