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WHAT'S YOUR PERSONAL PLANNING PROFILE?

Did you know that your personal planning style greatly affects the way you plan? Once you understand your personal style, you'll naturally become a more successful planner. You'll be aware of your strengths, and how to capitalize on them. And you'll have pinpointed the planning issues you're likely to have trouble with, and gained a head start in addressing them!

There are four main types of planners: The Perfectionist, the Chaotic, the Referencer and the Trendsetter. No one style is right or wrong. All have strengths and weaknesses, and it is up to you to determine which category or categories you fall into, and assess how you can make the most of your own personal planning style. It also helps to know in what ways other people's planning personalities may mesh or conflict with your own.

The Perfectionist

Perfectionists are great organizers, very methodical and prefer to take on one project at a time. They tend to get flustered when faced with unexpected change, and get frustrated when asked to juggle too many things at once. If you have perfectionist tendencies, you may want to take a change-management course, or invest in a book or video designed to help you manage change. Perfectionists are not happy when they are not in control, and unexpected change is one of the most common control-busters in today's high-pressure work environment

The Chaotic

Chaotics are happiest when they have many "irons in the fire." Plenty of projects on their plate at once gives them a sense of exhilaration and urgency. They thrive on chaos, change, and unexpected challenges. If you are a chaotic, you may find that you have trouble focusing on details, since you are more of a big-picture thinker. Another potential problem of chaotics is that they eventually take on too much, and all their projects may suffer. As a chaotic, you may find a time-management course helpful. It is important for you to develop your ability to be more patient, learn to minimize distractions, and focus on bringing your individual projects to completion before plunging into more responsibilities.

The Referencer

Referencers are extremely detail-oriented, even more so than Perfectionists. Referencers tend to view things in "micro" terms, and are reluctant to make decisions until all evidence is in, all research has been done, all bases covered and all approvals secured. They are exacting, thorough and meticulous. Referencers have trouble seeing the big picture, because they often get bogged down in minuscule details. They also tend to spend too much time analyzing alternatives.

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If you are a referencer, you may find it helpful to keep the broad, long-term goals of your projects posted where you can refer to them often. You might want to investigate courses or training products that deal with creativity, "thinking outside the box" and positive risk-taking. help promote campus and community celebrations this year, many campus departments have planned a wide variety of special events, lectures, and seminars. As we celebrate the remarkable strides made by women, we have every reason to feel tremendous pride in women's accomplishments.

The Trendsetter

Trendsetters are innovative, creative thinkers who excel at brainstorming and coming up with alternatives for a plan. They are confident and decisive but may have trouble accepting others' ideas. Trendsetters are not very detail-oriented, and are very willing to take risks and "fly by the seat of their pants." When they feel that their freedom or creativity is being stifled, they may become defensive or stubborn. If you are a trendsetter, you may find that a project-management course will help you develop your attention to detail, and focus your creative energies more sharply. You may also wish to think about being more open to others' suggestions and soliciting their contributions.

What if you are a member of a team responsible for planning a project? Different planning styles actually complement each other, and contribute toward getting the work done in the most efficient, effective way. The one thing team members have to realize is there is no single "right way to plan." By working together and combining planning styles, team members will come up with a plan that works best for the various personalities on their team.

Whether you are a Perfectionist, Trendsetter, Referencer, Chaotic or a combination of the above, once you are aware of your personal style, you'll find that laying the groundwork for an effective plan gets a whole lot easier.

The source for this article was Thinking Outside the Lines by Gail Cohen. Reprinted with permission of The National Businesswomen's Leadership Association, a division of Rockhurst University Continuing Education Center, Inc.

"SAFE SCHOOLS: Strategies to Reduce School Violence"

Kimberly Dodson, M.A., former correctional officer and child abuse/juvenile investigator with the Greene County Sheriff's Department in Greeneville, Tennessee, will present a lunch break seminar, "SAFE SCHOOLS: Strategies to Reduce School Violence," Tuesday, June 26, 2001, in the East Tennessee Room, D. P. Culp University Center, noon. During her tenure with the Greene County Sheriff's Department, Dodson worked with a variety of cases involving child physical and sexual abuse, neglect, missing and exploited children, and homicide. She currently volunteers her time with the Greene County Child Advocacy Center.

TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS: Don't Leave Home Without Them!

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