A manager requires his/her subordinates to be highly structured and organized in carrying out their work. They will not tolerate or accept work which is overdue and/or at odds with the original plan. They also have a clear set of annual plans that govern the marketing activities; subordinates are not allowed to simply make changes to the schedule or content of these activities.
How would you feel if you were to have a superior like this?
According to Isabel Myers and Katherine Briggs, the founders of Myers Briggs Type Indicator, all of us have the tendency to interact with the outer world using a Judging (J) attitude or Perceiving (P) attitude. In the J attitude, a person is concerned with making decisions, seeking closure, planning operations or organizing activities. A manager is very likely to prefer the J attitude over the P attitude where a person is more open to new information, changes and possibilities. Below are some of the characteristics associated with people who prefer J or P.
J Attitude:
- Scheduled
- Organized
- 4Systematic
- Methodical
- Open-ended
- Make short- and long-term plans
- Like to have things decided and settled
- Try to avoid last-minute stresses
P Attitude:
- Spontaneous
- Flexible
- Casual
- Open-ended
- Adaptable
- Like things loose and open to change
- Feel energized by last-minute pressures
Take a few moments to reflect – in most circumstances, are you more inclined towards a J or P attitude at work?
Now, think about your work environment – does your company or department exhibit a highly structured and organized work culture with scores of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), clearly spelled out job descriptions and Key Performance Indicators (KPI)? Or is it a relatively flexible work culture where employees are given the freedom to carry out their tasks as long as results are met?
If you prefer a P attitude, you’ll probably have a tough time working under a manager described above; most likely, he/she will see you as a procrastinator who is disorganized and lacks self-discipline. While you are thriving in your last-minute preparations and excitement from the adrenaline rush, he/she is having quite the opposite perception and reaction – boiling with anger and feeling stressed up over your “irresponsibility”.
Such clashes in boss-subordinate work styles can be challenging. Instead of fretting about the ‘nightmare’, equip yourself to deal with a J-inclined superior.
- Break down the assigned project into smaller tasks with individual deadlines. You can still enjoy the excitement of accomplishing each smaller task your way but remain focused and on-track with regard to the project deadline as a whole. This way, you also “train” yourself to make gradual progress rather than rushing only at the final project deadline.
- Jot down ideas or plans that are jostling about in your mind. As and when you have a new idea or information to proceed with the tasks, write it down in your notebook or self-adhesives and stick it around your workstation. When providing your boss with a periodic update, you can then transfer the information into a simple proposal or report. This way, seemingly haphazard ideas are presented in a neat and organized way to your J-inclined superior.
- Pre-empt your superior when you need to change a plan, prepare valid data and evidence to support your idea. Since your boss may not appreciate unexpected surprises, update him/her as early as possible when you need to shift direction so that he/she has sufficient time to accept and adapt. This would prevent a situation where the changes come as a surprise to your boss at the end of the project.