Let’s start by considering what keeps fuel in the tank for those of us who have a primarily Outgoing and Task-Oriented behavioral style - the more DRIVEN folks… It could be because this is my primary style, but I find this to be the easiest to build systems around (and with any luck, you’ll feel the same way about your primary style too).

These often DIRECT and DEMANDING individuals nearly always get excited about one simple thing: GETTING RESULTS! When the group with the primary style is able to see things getting done and have a reasonable degree of control of the process, sustainability is rarely a concern. While only around 10% of the population has this primary style, they are the ones who can seem to go on and on without stopping to recharge; more often than not, accomplishment is what recharges them!

For those of us who have this primary style, or even if you’re helping build a system for someone who does, we’d do well to put some checks and balances in the process to make sure the massive results we’re working to achieve are accurate but we should also take care to avoid placing painstakingly detailed steps into the system since that will tend to wear us out rather than fuel us up. We should also make sure we set specific times to stop and view our progress. Many of us with this DETERMINED approach can get caught up in the DOING and lose sight of just how much we’re getting DONE. Taking note of what we’ve accomplished will serve to boost our spirits as well!

But remember, 90% of the population does not have this primary style so there’s still more we need to consider!

Systems We Enjoy

Since those of us with that DRIVEN style only represent about 10% of the world, let’s press on by looking at what we should consider building into our systems for productivity if we happen to fall in the next 30% that happens to be just as Outgoing but more People-Oriented: the INSPIRING ones…

While this more INTERACTIVE style happens to be the second highest in my overall blend, when I’m operating on cruise control as well as when I’m under stress, it’s dwarfed by the part of me that simply DEMANDS results. That said, the above average amount of this I can display when things are going smoothly gives me a personal level of insight for what we can consider for folks with this as their primary style!

The one thing that tends to put fuel in this groups’ tank is an experience they enjoy - having fun whenever possible! When it comes to creating a system that can be sustained over the long haul and produce significant results, the old Pontiac commercials come to mind: We build excitement! While the last group we looked at is often fine to keep their heads down indefinitely as they push to get more done than any normal person would usually consider, this bunch enjoys being INVOLVED with others while they’re working on a task and they’ll appreciate any IMPRESSIVE recognition that can be included along the way for any milestones that are met. In their case, all work and no play won’t make Jack a dull boy… It may actually make Jack leave the process all together in search of something he actually likes doing!

Almost any system will require a certain amount of detail to ensure results are actually achieved, but too many of those details will wear this bunch out! (That’s where I can really relate!) For that long term sustainability, simple and fun systems that include opportunities for celebration along the way INFLUENCE them to stay the course. And like the last group, a fast pace will tend to keep them dialed into the process.

The remaining 60% of people around us will prefer their systems to be a bit more low key though.

Supportive Systems We Can Stick With

Having looked at some things we can consider adding to our systems when we have either of the two more Outgoing styles, let’s change our pace a bit and focus on what we need to considering building into our systems if we’re have the primary behavioral style that likely makes us one of the nicest people in the world - the SUPPORTIVE style.

Since this group represents the largest segment of the population at around 35%, there’s a significant chance that you either have this as a large part of your overall blend (even if it’s not your primary style) or you deal with someone on a daily basis who does! Whether we’re working to build systems into our own routines that we can sustain over the long haul to achieve high levels of productivity or we’re coaching one of team members on how they can do this, massive amounts of change won’t SERVE us in reaching the goal! Folks with this primary style tend to be very SINCERE in their desire to help the people around them but they often prefer a more STATUS QUO approach to testing the waters of any new idea that’s thrown their way.

While these folks may not race out of the gates as quickly as the first two primary styles we looked at, they’re usually incredibly STEADY and dependable. Just like the INSPIRING group, they truly care about the people around them but they’re probably going to be a bit more SHY and would rather not be the center of attention. 

If it’s our own system we’re working to create, including opportunities for reassurance from a boss or a mentor to confirm that we’re on the right track can keep our tank full. If the system is for one of our team members, building in routine times where we can show sincere appreciation - one on one and quietly - can help them stay the course, even when change or an occasional confrontation pushes them out of their comfort zone. Since individuals with this primary style are almost always more focused on SERVING the people around them than doing something that just benefits them, we’d also do well to make sure we’re clear about the impact they make and the value they add to those they care about.

Having covered 75% of the people we’re likely to interact with, let’s close the loop by looking at the primary style that often has systems in place to maintain their systems. They may even have systems to sustain their systems that maintain their systems, because finishing what they start is that important to them!

Systems for Accuracy and Precision

Several years ago, Cindy and I led a session covering The DISC Model of Human Behavior for a local client where a friend of mine was one of the participants. He and I had served on a board together prior to that so I had a solid understanding of his day to day responsibilities and I knew that he was really good at what he did. That said, he worked in a highly regulated field and he had to provide a ton of information to several different monitoring agencies. It didn’t surprise me at all that someone with a significant amount of this final primary behavioral style would excel in a role like…

To this point, we’ve looked at tools we can each consider, whether we’re more DRIVEN, INSPIRING or SUPPORTIVE, as we build systems that help us be more productive over the long haul - at work or at home. Before we wrap this up by looking at the last of the four primary styles, we have to keep in mind that none of us have just one of these! Even if one style is significantly more prevalent than the other three, like my DETERMINED (and even DEFIANT) approach tends to be under high amounts of stress, our entire behavioral style blend will impact our overall approach. My focus on each of these primary styles, and the things to consider when building systems to sustain long term productivity, is with the hope that you can apply each based on your own unique blend and achieve everything you’ve set your targets on - and more - moving forward!

Now back to my friend… As Cindy and I wrapped up our session with the group he was a part of, he made a comment about having a list that he referred to daily that helped him make sure he had completed everything else on each of his other lists. And that’s exactly the kind of system that helps folks with this CRITICAL THINKING style achieve meticulous results on a routine basis!

At around 25% of the population, this CONSCIENTIOUS group thrives accuracy and precision. Their methodical approach helps them CONTEMPLATE each step of the process they are engaged in. While they’re often very CAUTIOUS about anything they do for the first time because their desire to make sure the end result is CORRECT, they pay close attention to the instructions they’re provided with and create detailed procedures that they can follow any time they need to revisit the same task in the future.

If someone as Fast-paced as me rushes the folks in this group without providing them with enough time to CONTEMPLATE how each step they take can impact the end results, it will cause them to experience stress. Building those detailed processes, and even creating lists that help them make sure they’re completing their lists, is a prime example of how they prepare for the times they’ll have to deal with those pressures and still achieve the excellent results they thrive on. Even though they may not be able to plan out every step of every day, having these detailed systems as their foundation helps them sustain productivity on an ongoing basis even when they’re thrown a curve ball!

I’ll close with one final thought… None of this has been meant to suggest that someone with any of these primary styles can’t be productive when they’re forced to operate in another approach. Nor should it be considered as permission to blow off responsibility by simply saying, “since I’m more DRIVEN, I don’t need to pay attention to the details or anyone else’s feelings…” We need to develop enough maturity to adapt to whatever we need to in order to produce the results we’re expected to - especially when we’ve accepted any level of leadership! But when we can create systems in our lives that help us maintain high levels of productivity, and when we’re able to build those systems around our unique behavioral style blend, we stand a much better chance of keeping our tanks full in the process for years and years to come!