Practical & Matter-Of-Facts:

How to talk to Practical & Matter-Of-Facts

• Get to the point
  Explain what the purpose of the conversation is. Do not waste time on chitchat. Be concise and avoid vague statements.
• Be factual
  Be accurate with facts and present them in a structured way. Start at the beginning and proceed step by step. Be prepared to go into details especially concerning “when, how and why.”
• Be concrete
  Talk about the tangible, realistic and practical aspects. Use examples. Avoid talking too much about “the big picture” and how things relate on a higher level unless the ST requests this. Focus on the here and now.
• Include experience
  Recognise the need for knowing the tried and tested ways – what works. Ask about past experience in similar situations.
• Refer to logic
  Focus on logic and analysis. Pros and cons. Remember that efficiency and logical and coherent arguments are important.
• Focus on tasks
  Talk about specific tasks and problem solving. Be matter-of-fact. Remember to distinguish between personal and impersonal matters.
• Be direct
  Be objective and direct in your communication. Avoid ambiguity and do not soften your message. Tell it like it is. Ask specific questions.
• Acknowledge accomplishments
  Be concrete and give examples of good results. Do not use truisms as praise.
• Motivating words for ST
  Examine, apply, simplify, specify.

Sympathetic & Friendlys:

How to talk to Sympathetic & Friendlys

• Show a personal interest
  Start by asking how the SF is doing. Remember that a good atmosphere and trust between you is essential. Be friendly.
• Know your facts
  Get the facts right and present them in a structured way. Start at the beginning and proceed step by step. Be prepared to go into details especially when it concerns people and their relationships.
• Be concrete
  Talk about the tangible, realistic and practical aspects. Use examples. Avoid talking too much about “the big picture” and how things relate on a higher level unless the SF requests this. Focus on the here and now.
• Focus on human aspects
  Involve values, concern for others and personal views as important data. Focus on how to meet practical needs of people in their everyday lives.
• Include experience
  Accommodate the need for knowing the tried and tested ways – what works. Ask about past experience in similar situations.
• Make conversation
  Avoid talking too much without the SF being involved. Show interest and sympathy. Ask specific questions. Be open to hearing personal reactions. Focus on building the relationship.
• Be positive
  Keep criticism at a minimum. Tone down your language. Be people centred. Remember that caring for others is important for the SF.
• Give sincere compliments
  Acknowledge results, but also remember to praise personal involvement, cooperation and contributions during the process.
• Motivating words for SF
  Share, cooperate, help, describe.

Enthusiastic & Insightfuls:

How to talk to Enthusiastic & Insightfuls

• Show a personal interest
  Start by asking how the NF is doing. Remember that harmony, a positive attitude and an authentic relationship between you is essential.
• Present the vision
  Explain how the NF fits with the vision in a meaningful way. Remember to focus on why what you are talking about is important for human growth and development. Talk about the “higher purpose”. Present options.
• Present the big picture
  Talk about concepts and themes and clarify correlations and context. Be associative, not sequential. Avoid too many details unless the NF requests this.
• Focus on the long-term perspective
  Be future-oriented. Talk about new solutions and opportunities for development of human potential – especially in the long run.
• Be open
  Acknowledge initiatives concerning new and different ways of doing things. Do not turn down ideas too fast. Challenge the imagination. Ask open-ended questions.
• Make conversation
  Avoid talking too much without the NF being involved. Dialogue is the most important tool for the NF. Show interest and empathy. Tone down your language.
• Incorporate values
  Consider values and needs of people as important data. Allow and invite personal views and idealistic thoughts.
• Give sincere compliments
  Appreciate the ideas and unique role of the NF, and remember to praise contributions to the process and personality not just accomplishments.
• Motivating words for NF
  Create, discover, reform, imagine.

Logical & Ingeniouss:

How to talk to Logical & Ingeniouss

• Present the vision
  Start by telling about the vision and what the NT’s intellectual contribution to advance the vision is or could be. Present options.
• Focus on competence
  Establish credibility quickly. Be convincing. Recognise theoretical knowledge and competence. Remember that focus on problem solving is important.
• Describe the big picture
  Talk about concepts and themes and clarify correlations and context. Avoid too many details unless the NT requests this.
• Focus on the long-term perspective
  Be future-oriented. Talk about the opportunities for strategic progress and improvement of the current structures – especially in the long run.
• Be open
  Acknowledge proposals about new and different ways of doing things. Try not to reject ideas too fast. Give autonomy. Ask open-ended questions.
• Debate ideas and analyses
  Present exciting challenges to conquer. View questions and critique as a contribution to a better analysis and a better strategy. Be prepared to argue. The NT appreciates a good debate.
• Be direct
  Be objective, systematic, logical, analytical and straightforward in your communication. Do not soften your message. Tell it like it is.
• Acknowledge ideas and accomplishments
  Appreciate the NT’s ability to think outside the box and challenge the existing notions. Acknowledge results and “intellectual mastery”.
• Motivating words for NT
  Develop, critisise, theorise, conceptualise.

Practical & Matter-Of-Facts:

Problem Solving Strengths of those who prefer Practical & Matter-Of-Fact

• Facts and details
  Focuses on the facts and details of the problem – ”what do we know, what needs to be done, when, why, and how did we do it before?”. Handles detailed information easily.
• Systematic
  Approaches a task systematically and step by step. Works on one thing at a time. Presents data in a logical manner and in the right progression in order to put forward arguments.
• Practical and results-oriented
  Uses own and others’ experience and works effectively on a realistic solution that can be implemented in real life and in the short run. Ensures quality.
• Unsentimental
  Is good at cutting through and making ”tough” decisions if that is what is supported by facts and logic.
• Analysis
  Analyses the task and identifies logical solutions focusing on feasibility and effectiveness. Weighs up the pros and cons to come up with a bullet proof, practical and correct solution. Chooses the objectively best solution.
• Task centred
  Focuses on the task at hand. Is a very effective problem solver, especially when previously tried and tested methods can be used to deal with well-defined tasks. Answers the questions that have been asked.

Help those who prefer Practical & Matter-Of-Fact to:

• The overall perspective
  Step back and consider the purpose of the task in a large perspective. Hold back on the details. Are we trying to solve the right problem? Consider the impact of the solution in the long run – especially concerning the people involved.
• Think outside the box
  Brainstorm options. Try new approaches. Look for other possible solutions beyond the already proven ones. Practise solving problems with imprecise instructions and try out tasks where you do not have experience to draw on.
• Focus on people
  Consider the human aspects, the values, and how the solution will be perceived by the people affected – now and in the long run. Cooperate with others to get their perspective on people’s needs.
• Put things into context
  Consider the context and what consequences a solution will have in other areas and for other people. Is the solution still appropriate? Is the solution valuable in other contexts?
• Adapt
  Where appropriate, adapt the solution to people’s needs and the large context – even if it is not ”the right solution” in your opinion.

Sympathetic & Friendlys:

Problem Solving Strengths of those who prefer Sympathetic & Friendly

• Facts and details
  Focuses on the facts and details of the problem – especially with regard to the practical needs of people. Has a good handle on the details of how something is or was, and is concerned with how the situation is or was perceived by others.
• Systematic
  Focuses on reality and approaches the task one step at a time. Takes into consideration other people’s opinions and needs in the decision making and problem solving process.
• Practical and results-oriented
  Uses own and others’ experience as a starting point. Sets short-term concrete goals. Ensures that the solution can work in practice, including whether people will be positively inclined. Service-minded.
• Cooperative
  Solves tasks well with other people. Supports and encourages in the process.
• Values-based
  Clarifies the values which are important and what feels right or wrong. Uses this as the basis to decide what is possible and not possible in relation to the task.
• People in focus
  Tries to find the right solution based on reliable data and what makes as many people as possible happy in the short term. Adapts the solution to people’s needs and feelings.

Help those who prefer Sympathetic & Friendly to:

• The overall perspective
  Step back and consider the purpose of the task in a large perspective. Hold back on the details. Are we trying to solve the right problem? Consider the impact of the solution in the long run – especially concerning regulations, resources, economic impact etc.
• Think outside the box
  Brainstorm options. Try new approaches. Look for other possible solutions beyond the already proven ones. Practise solving problems with imprecise instructions and try out tasks with no experience to draw on or where you are not able to work with others.
• Put things in context
  Consider the large context and what consequences a solution will have in other areas – both negative and positive. Is the solution logically defensible? Can the solution prove valuable in other contexts?
• Objective analysis
  Make an objective and logical analysis of the problem. Remember to include the unpleasant facts. Keep a cool head. Put emotional information and people’s needs aside for a moment.
• Adapt
  Where appropriate, adapt the solution to what is logical and valuable in the long run – even if it seems unkind or you think it will take too long before the solution produces results.

Enthusiastic & Insightfuls:

Problem Solving Strengths of those who prefer Enthusiastic & Insightful

• The big picture
  Has the overall contexts and values in mind. Insightful. Can often ”feel” when something is not right. Contemplates the long-term consequences and the context into which the solution must fit.
• Creative
  Thrives on big challenges and is creative and innovative. Works well in an unstructured setting. Brings many solutions to the table.
• Flexible
  Is flexible in problem solving – believes there are many ways to solve a problem. Thinks out solutions that are adaptable to new opportunities with a particular focus on strengthening human relations.
• Values-based
  Assigns value and worth to ideas and things. Seeks solutions that create the most meaning and value for people – now and in the long run. Focuses on making the world a better place.
• Cooperative
  Solves tasks well with others. Is enthusiastic and motivates and inspires others to develop their potential.
• People in focus
  Idealistic. Seeks solutions that release energy and make people grow, both individually and more widely. Focuses on the effect a solution may have on the people involved.

Help those who prefer Enthusiastic & Insightful to:

• Be realistic
  Examine the mundane factors which may be necessary to bring a solution to life, including economic and structural limitations. Be careful not to overlook important details or facts.
• Use experience
  Do not reinvent the wheel every time. Establish if there is experience to draw on. Keep what works well – do not change for the sake of change.
• Focus
  Hold back generating possibilities until you have collected more facts about the task at hand. Include short-term perspectives and what logically makes sense to launch right now. Be careful not to make decisions based solely on personal values and ideals
• Objective analysis
  Make an objective and logical analysis of the task. Remember to include the unpleasant facts. Keep a cool head. Put aside your ideals and concerns for people’s needs for a moment.
• Adapt
  Where appropriate, adapt the solution to what is logical and valuable right now – even if it seems unkind or too short-sighted and unambitious to you.

Logical & Ingeniouss:

Problem Solving Strengths of those who prefer Logical & Ingenious

• Strategic
  Is good at handling ambiguous, complex tasks where it is necessary to conceive new strategies to address the challenges – a ”chess player”.
• Innovative
  Likes to solve problems without prior experience to draw on. Is rarely “stuck” and finds a way forward. Thinks out many different options. Is innovative and creative.
• Long-term perspective
  Contemplates the longterm consequences of the different solutions. Seeks an ambitious, visionary and future-proof solution that does not hinder flexibility.
• Analytical
  Remains objective and analyses and criticises to ensure no mistakes can be found in the logic. Looks for patterns and connections. Applies theory and principles to the problem in order to bring clarity and a broader view.
• Independent
  Works independently. Has a strong focus on own and others’ competence. Wants to be challenged mentally. Relies on own analysis.
• Debates
  Takes many different standpoints to examine the problem and challenge the proposed solutions. Debates and advocates in order to improve status quo. Plays ”the devil’s advocate”.

Help those who prefer Logical & Ingenious to:

• Be realistic
  Examine the mundane factors which may be necessary to bring a solution to life, including human relations. Be careful not to overlook important details or facts. Match ambitions with what is possible in terms of time and resources.
• Use experience
  Do not reinvent the wheel every time. Establish if there is experience to draw on. Initiate only necessary changes – do not change for the sake of change. Be careful not to overthink or complicate things unnecessarily. Accept that also routine tasks need to be done.
• Focus
  Hold back generating possibilities until you have collected more facts about the task at hand. Do not ignore specific conditions and data which may argue for solutions that generate results in the short run.
• People focus
  Involve the human aspects, the values, and how people will perceive the solution. Remember to show consideration for people in the process. A bad process can lead to a bad result – even though it may be a ”correct” result. Cooperate.
• Adapt
  Where appropriate, adapt the solution to meet human needs and desires in the short term – even if the solution is not as visionary and ambitious as you would wish for.