Thinking Patterns

Reflective thinkers like to think about everything before making a decision, while impulsive thinkers make quick decisions based on little information.

Holistic

'right-brain' dominant people prefer to see the 'big picture' when learning new things, are not interested in details and process information simultaneously.

SENSES

Auditory

Some people remember things they hear, they are good listeners, like verbal instructions and/or prefer to discuss new information.

Visual

Some people remember much of what they read and prefer instructions to be written, others remember and understand best when shown pictures, others use their imagination and many a combination of these modalities.

Tactile

People with this preference have a strong need to manipulate things and use their hands while listening or concentrating.

Kinesthetic

Some people like to be actively, physically involved in work projects and remember best through their own experiences; others have a strong intuition and need to feel good to understand and remember easily.

PHYSICAL

Mobility

Some people find it hard to sit still and need to move around a lot, especially when they are working or concentrating hard. Others prefer to stay put and avoid getting up when they work on something difficult.

Intake

Some people work better when they nibble, eat or drink while concentrating, while others find it distracting when working on difficult tasks.

Time

People have different peak times when their brains are most active and then they can concentrate most easily. For some it's the early or late morning, for a few it's the afternoon and for many others it's the evening.

ENVIRONMENT

Sounds

Some people need it quiet when working on something difficult, others prefer sound or music in the background.

Light

Some people prefer bright light while others work far better in low light situations - too much light disrupts their concentration.

Temperature

Some people like warm temperatures when working but others concentrate better when it's cool.

Workplace

Straight back chairs with desks suit a formal working style. Lounge chairs or lying on the floor when concentrating suit people with an informal working style.

SOCIAL

Alone

Some people concentrate best when allowed to work on their own.

Pair

Some people prefer to have another person to work with.

Peers

Some people perform best when they can share their ideas and work within a group of like-minded people who are all at a similar level.

Team

Some people love to be part of a team (sometimes as leader) and work most easily with others.

Authority

Some people accept authority and need very regular feedback, while others prefer not to have authority figures present, and don't need supervision.

ATTITUDES

Motivation

Some enjoy work, are self-starters and high achievers. Others can lose motivation easily, like incentives and need all other preferences matched to improve their work motivation.

Persistence

Some people always finish what they begin while others stop when they lose interest and need frequent breaks and lots of encouragement to complete tasks.

Conformity

Some people need rules and regulations and always like to do what's 'right'; others follow their own rules and like doing unconventional things, often going 'against the stream'.

Responsibility

People who take responsibility do what's expected of them and consider the consequences of their actions carefully. Others don't consider work the most important thing in their lives, can be easily distracted from their duties and often forget what they promised.

Structure

Some people need clear guidelines and a framework to work within; others prefer to work independently without needing instructions.

Variety

Some people like change, variety and challenges, hardly ever doing the same thing twice. Others work better under routine and like predictability and steadiness in their work.