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A one-size-fits-all approach to productivity fundamentally doesn’t work. Because it assumes that we all think and structure our workday the same way. And today’s work is multifaceted. It’s global. It’s 24/7. So the goal is to personalize your productivity.
Prioritizers
The Prioritizer, their thinking is characterized as being very analytical, linear, fact-based. They’ve never met data they didn’t like. They’re very efficient. They like tech tools. They tend to be early adopters and they’re great at prioritization. They’re the folks in your office that you wonder, how did you get all this work done? Almost a superhuman quality about them.
Planners
The Planner, their thinking is characterized as being very planned, sequential, organized. They’ve never met a project planning tool that they didn’t like. They’re great at finding overlooked flaws. You want this person to check your documents. They’re also great at putting together the project plans and really mapping out a sequential flow for any and all types of projects.
Arrangers
The Arranger’s thinking is characterized as being intuitive, kinesthetic, communicative. This is a person that does their best work with and through people. They’re intuitive meeting facilitators, they often keep lists and use color. Their tools matter. They really want to make sure they have the right pen or the right notebook and the way it looks and feels is really important for them. If you get on an elevator with an arranger, by the end of the ride, you’re gonna have told them about your vacation, your kids’ names, your pet’s names, and you’re going to lunch with them, whether you wanted to or not.
Visualizers
The Visualizer, their thinking is characterized as being very big-picture, intuitive, integrating. These are your risk takers. These are the folks that are always asking: Why not? Project plans feel like straitjackets to them. They do their best work when they have a lot of different variety and are able to juggle different types of tasks. Short intervals of work time also work well for them. And they’re highly visual. So out of sight is out of mind. This is your colleague who has papers all over their desk and Post-it notes everywhere and they can find everything. They know where everything is and that’s how they keep track.
Once you identify your personal productivity style, you wonder, well, am I only this? I mean there are four different styles. So think about your productivity style as your preference, as in handedness. So if your style is an arranger, that’s your preference. But recognize that you’re gonna pull from all the other three types. We just wanna lean into that preference ’cause that’s where you’re gonna find the greatest ease and that’s where your strengths are as well.