Because I am deliberative, I
refrain from sharing much about myself with others. I am reserved by nature. I
prefer to keep my thoughts to myself. Yet, when the situation demands
conversation, I can be talkative and sociable. Instinctively, I make a point of
reinforcing favorable results. I accentuate the good I see in others. I provide
people with concrete and specific details about what they do well. I help them
build on their talents. This, I contend, contributes to their continued
success. By nature, I customarily remain silent rather than join conversations
that involve the sharing of intimate or personal information. I generally try
to change the topic altogether. When my attempts are unsuccessful, I am likely
to excuse myself from discussions about the upbringing, finances, problems,
physical conditions, or mental health of myself and other people. Chances are
good that I am highly selective about how much I reveal to anyone about my
history, future intentions, or current affairs. Consistently I refrain from
intruding on people's privacy. Why? I realize this puts me in the position of
being asked and expected to answer very personal questions. Typically I let
others begin conversations. This is not my forte -- that is, strong point.
Perhaps I am content just to listen and observe. I prefer to keep my thoughts
to myself.
Because I am adaptable, I
keep my distance from those who fail to slow down long enough to take in the world's
loveliness and recognize the goodness of individuals. Aware of life's fleeting
nature, I discover something admirable in common objects, ordinary people, and
everyday experiences. I choose to live in the present. I exhibit the
flexibility required to deal with change.
Instinctively, I typically wait for difficult situations or problems to
arise. When something or someone unexpectedly blocks my progress, I find ways
to do things better. Sudden changes force me to consider upgrades or tactics I
had not thought of earlier. I do my best work when I am allowed to deal with
the day's challenges as they arise.
Other people need a well-defined plan of action and definite goals for
each day. In my case, however, such specificity might be counterproductive. It
ís very likely that I effortlessly adjust to the shifting challenges of the
day. I enjoy variety and change. I am comfortable allowing each day to unfold
on its own terms. I feel little stress when predetermined timelines must be
scrapped. I regard rigidly organized plans and routines as barriers rather than
helpful tools.
Because one of my strengths
is belief, by nature, I frequently point out issues, problems, or obstacles
before others see them. I have been labeled a pessimist. I commonly reply,
"I'm just being realistic. I choose to fix things before they wear out,
break down, or become obsolete." Because of my strengths, I choose to live
my life in a way that benefits individuals and society as a whole. I am highly
motivated to make the world a better place than I found it. My ideals and core
values influence how I spend my time and use my talents. I have a deep and
abiding concern for others. I find myself attracted to people who think about
the future. I am willing to work alongside possibility thinkers who dedicate
themselves to humanitarian or philanthropic causes. Like them, I imagine a
world without refugees, war, hunger, incurable diseases, and weapons of mass
destruction. Instinctively, I have faith in some of my convictions about life.
I contend they are
well-founded and enduring. I value my freedom and independence. This partially
explains why I detest being ordered around by certain people. I insist on being
in charge of my own life.
Because I am empathetic, I am
a good trainer and instructor. I am aware of how a person feels at the start of
a session. This enables to adjust my coaching techniques to fit the current
moods and interest levels of the individual. I probably take into account how
someone reacted during my last encounter. I often detect subtle and
not-so-subtle emotional and mental changes.
Driven by my talents, I routinely rely on my intuition to confront and
resolve difficult, perplexing, or distressing matters. I recognize that reason
alone fails to provide answers for numerous problems. It ís very likely that I
hear the emotions in another's voice. Usually I know without conscious
reasoning what someone is feeling. Many people are comfortable talking at
length with me. Why? I refrain from interrupting them. I can interpret the
unspoken messages hidden in their words and deeds. Instinctively, I recognize
that people feel most visible and valued when another human being puts
everything aside to hear what they have to say. Actually, the importance
I attach to heeding the
spoken word causes many individuals to think, "Finally, someone
understands me!"
Instinctively, I often am the
one who helps people understand how they are linked across time, distance,
race, ethnicity, religion, economic levels, languages, or cultures. I make it possible
for individuals to work together. I aim to break down barriers that separate
them. I automatically establish links between people. This usually requires
much persistence and patience on my part. I argue that relationships should be
nurtured slowly, not rushed. By nature, I routinely isolate facts that link
ideas, events, or people. I am especially sensitive to how one person's
optimistic or negative thoughts can affect the entire human family. This
prompts me to pay close attention to what individuals and groups think and do.
Because of my strengths, I rely on my awareness of others' feelings, thoughts,
and needs to guide me into and through partnerships. I consider various ways to initiate, nurture,
and sustain the linkages between individuals and groups. I bring people
together. I help them discover reasons to cooperate and support one another.