Laura Wolfe Coaching LLC

Supporting the Evolution of Careers, Leaders,

& Climate Consciousness

Got P?

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Spent a week last month doing Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Practitioner Certification training. It was a cool week; thanks Sherrie H! You probably know that the MBTI is one of the most popular and well-known personality type instruments in the world and is based on the work of Carl Jung.

One of the MB type dichotomies is Judging/Perceiving (J/P) which indicates a person’s preferred way of dealing with the outer world. Traditionally, American business and industry has valued the J side.

Characteristics associated with those who have a preference for judging include:

  • scheduled
  • organize their lives
  • systematic
  • methodical
  • make short- and long-term plans
  • like to have things decided
  • try to avoid last-minute stresses*

It makes sense that studies examining type preference of managers, business owners, & MBA students show an overrepresentation of Judging types. Clearly, characteristics associated with a preference for J are of great value to business.

It is interesting to consider the J/P dichotomy in light of new thinking about starting and managing a business, especially entrepreneurial ventures. I’m thinking specifically about the concepts agile and LEAN which are pretty popular buzzwords these days. Agile refers to being adaptive and rapid and flexible. The idea of LEAN startup includes creation of rapid prototypes that are tested and revised based on feedback, allowing for faster evolution of the product than traditional methods.

The other side of the J/P dichotomy includes these characteristics associated with people who prefer perceiving:

  • spontaneous
  • flexible
  • open-ended
  • adapt
  • change course
  • like things loose and open to change
  • feel energized by last-minute pressures*

P exemplifies a lot of what agile and LEAN are about. Today’s business environment may be a good place to use your perceiving side and/or to work on developing more P, huh?

Reminds me of my little citrus grove that lives in an agile and LEAN way. We have two lemon trees, two orange trees, one lime and one grapefruit. Although they are all planted in the same area, the shade, water and drainage conditions vary. It is fascinating to watch the trees bloom whenever possible. I’m no expert, but it seems that whenever one has gotten enough water and enough sun, a few blooms pop out. Just by their nature, these trees jump on any available opportunity to produce, responding rapidly to their unique environment. And, what’s more, they don’t all bloom at the same time. Crazy as it sounds, two trees are blooming right now while we are harvesting lemons and grapefruits!

Are you agile and LEAN, adaptive and rapidly evolving based on feedback? Do you know if you have a preference for J or for P? Consider the Myers-Briggs; it is a fascinating tool for increasing self-awareness and for development as well as team building.

* Source:  From Introduction to Type and MBTI Manual. Mountain View,CA: CPP Inc.

Travel, Trust and Other Things Learned

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world mapMy friend Sue is on a work assignment in India. Her trip precipitated an online discussion among a group of us about traveling there. It got me thinking about my international travel experiences and what they forced me to do.

I remember being scared witless in a taxi whirling amidst rickshaws, busses, cows, pedestrians and much other craziness. I really hoped the driver I could barely communicate with was up to the challenge. And he was. I learned that traveling requires trust in complete strangers.

It also makes you to rely on the kindness of these total strangers, many with whom you can’t even hold a decent conversation. Which leads me to something else international travel does, especially travel to remote third world countries: it forces you to communicate non-verbally. Using and interpreting non-verbal cues improves with time on the road. Travel definitely cultivates problem solving skills. Sometimes you hear these same skills called decision making and there is some overlap with conflict resolution skills, all competencies especially important to organizations. And the more alien the environment, the more you must problem solve on your own. Or with the help of your traveling companion. Probably don’t even need to mention what is learned about diversity and other cultures through world travel but I’m throwing it in because it is so powerful.

These and other lessons are why international assignments are often part of leadership development programs.

If you have traveled and believe you have cultivated any of the above as a result, reflect it on your resume.

I taught at LSU for 11 years and shared this with every section of every class I ever taught: Do as much international travel as you can possibly do. The younger you can start, the better. If you think you don’t have money at age 20 or 21, just wait until you have a mortgage and kids. And, it’s harder to travel cheaply and nimbly when you are old.

I did Semester at Sea twice – Spring 1983 and Spring 1984 – and was never the same. Check your university and others for travel-study programs. It’s a great way to get credit.  Apply for as many scholarships to these as you can.

What have you learned from globetrotting?

If you have a travel experience to share, I would love to hear it. If you are planning a trip I would love to hear about that too!.

Bon Voyage!

Considering New Growth

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Green seedling illustrating concept of new lifeThe new year. A fresh beginning. Cool how life let’s us start over on a regular basis. I’m thinking about new growth right now; what I’m going to cultivate in 2012. Will let you know soon.

Check out this Forbes.com story if you are thinking about the same. How fantastic is it that so many resources for development are available at little or no cost these days? One mission of this blog is to share with readers just this kind of information.

If you aren’t sure what you want to cultivate in 2012 check out my What’s Next program. At the end of this intense 6-week process, you’ll have a better understanding of yourself and your current situation. Most importantly, you will have identified some productive next steps for moving your life in the direction you want to go.

Tonight (NY Eve 2011) we are going to party like it’s 1945 at The National WWII Museum and enjoy a three-course John Besh dinner plus show.

Our NY day tradition is to take the coins in the change jar to the CoinStar machine; this year we plan to get Amazon credit.

Do you have any New Year’s traditions?

Here’s to a connected, healthy and thriving 2012!!!

 

Time to Think About Pruning

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One of the reasons I loved our house when we first looked at it is because of the mature and magnificent flowering shrubs including sasanquas and camellias that surround it. The house was built in 1927 so the vegetation is probably about 80 years old. Although officially classified as shrubs, they stand taller than the roofline, at least 15 or 20 feet high. The sasanquas bloom starting in October. The white one is the first camellia to bloom and is always in time for Thanksgiving. The others open throughout December and January.

A key to healthy and beautiful growth is to cut these plants back as soon as they stop blooming. That will be very soon for the sasanquas and over the next few months for the camellias. Pruning is a must and if you do it too late, next year’s blooms are compromised. Pruning is as key to cultivating growth as food, water and sunshine.

Have you had a beautiful and productive year? Are you thinking about what you want to accomplish next year? Consider what you need to prune from your world. Is there something that served its purpose but is no longer necessary? Trim it from your life. Don’t wait too late. Removing the deadwood will allow you to focus your energy on healthy new growth and produce lovely new blooms in 2012.