Kathy’s Perceptual Style is Vision. She perceives the world as a place of infinite possibilities full of options and opportunities all of which build toward her vision of the future. She is an explorer and adventurer who is not thrown by surprises or the unexpected. Kathy sees life as a constant challenge to which she must react quickly and instinctively. What moves her most is the opportunity to have impact, make a difference, and leave her mark. In a world of possibilities, she is excited about turning them into realities. 

Kathy faces the realities of a situation with serious intent and with an optimistic perspective that a solution will be found and confidence that if one is not, there are always other alternatives to explore. For her, mistakes are an inevitable part of life to be learned from. Life is an exciting, chaotic, and fast moving adventure that requires improvising and rapid ad-hoc decision making to take advantage of all the possibilities and directions available.

Kathy intuitively sees new directions that others do not and makes the most of this advantage by moving decisively. This ability to intuit new, useful directions and to take swift advantage of opportunities as they arise, gives her a strategic edge over others. She knows that the world has shape and coherence not because of what it is but because of what it is becoming. As such, she knows that plans are important, but also know that they will have to be changed as new possibilities and opportunities present themselves. She sees where she wants to be and is frustrated by those who want to focus on the details between here and there.

Kathy is unafraid of taking risks and accepts that the possibility of high rewards carries with it an equal possibility of failure. She sees her failures not as an ending but as a way of learning and discovering new opportunities. She takes risks and improvises because it is the only way to respond to a world that she knows is not routine or predictable. She loves to play with, explore, and develop new ideas, and she examines all aspects, possible outcomes, and consequences without preconception or judgment.  

Kathy readily changes direction when progress towards achievement of her vision is slow or blocked, and as she moves forward, she constantly tinkers, experiments, and improvises in order to increase the likelihood of success. She is strongly committed to achieving her vision but is extremely flexible about the path taken to get there. She changes plans quickly and drops approaches that are not working. She does not accept the limits and constraints imposed by impersonal and objective facts because in her world anything is possible. She moves in new directions not through logical choice, but by seeing the available paths and moving down the one that is most expedient at that moment.

Kathy thinks non-linearly about problems, uses her intuition, and tries multiple possible solutions as she troubleshoots. She gathers information by skimming rapidly, dipping down into the meat when she discovers something that intrigues her or feels important. She works well with incomplete and partial information and does not need all the details to set a course and engage in action. She prefers to communicate in bold simple images and creates slogans, brief summaries, or bullet points to capture and express her understanding. She interacts energetically with others, listening just long enough to get a sense of what they are saying and then responding decisively. She discovers meanings through dialogue, active discussion, and quick bantering exchanges.

Kathy is highly persuasive and easily convinces others that the current topic is what is most important. She enlists others to join her with equal excitement and commitment. She speaks confidently and influentially, and her enthusiasm and passion draws others to her vision. She is captivated by the energy of the moment and uses impromptu, improvised, ad-hoc communications rather than planned, rehearsed, or canned material to convince and sway her audience.  

Kathy sees multiple possible successful scenarios, and she coordinates complex information and activities so that all efforts lead towards success. She dives into work intensely and is often impatient with the slower paces of other people. When her interest is piqued she will engage and seek ways to influence and have impact, but when she is bored or sees no opportunity for impact she withdraws and moves on to something or someone else. When focused on an issue she works it to the exclusion of all else, often until she is exhausted. Ultimately she knows that she must set her own course and choose her own direction as she maneuvers through the myriad of possibilities that life presents.

Gary Jordan, Ph.D., has over 27 years of experience in clinical psychology, behavioral assessment, individual development, and coaching. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology – Berkeley.  He is co-creator of Perceptual Style Theory, a revolutionary psychological assessment system that teaches people how to unleash their deepest potentials for success. He’s a partner at Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd., a consulting firm that specializes in helping people discover their true skills and talents.  For more information, visit http://www.yourtalentadvantage.com .

Bob’s Perceptual Style is Methods. He perceives the world in a rational, matter-of-fact manner and sees a world that is sensible, logical, and factual. Things are what they are. His great strength is determining objectives and establishing a course of action that systematically leads to the desired result. He sees a world of things to be done, projects to be carried out, responsibilities to master, and tasks to perform all of which require solid, well-structured plans.

Bob follows an ordered set of steps that when performed in a repeatable, logical sequence, inevitably end with the achievement of his objectives. He knows that even the most complex task can always be broken down into a sequence of simple steps. Each step leads forward to the next one, one step at a time, until the job is done. For Bob, there is a correct method by which each problem, undertaking, or objective can be best handled. Acting any other way just makes things harder than they need to be. Discovering and applying this method is what drives him. The art lies in identifying the steps and planning the correct sequence.

When given the time to prepare and thoroughly gather new information and new perspectives, Bob is open to change that is logically and rationally implemented. But he doesn’t care for surprises because the unexpected requires new planning and analysis rather than quick reactions and spontaneity and good planning and analysis take time. When people need to get something done, Bob is the one they turn to because of his expertise and because he cares deeply that things are done well. He finishes what he starts, persevering because he knows that good plans produce results if the plan is followed to the end.

Bob is plan rather than goal oriented. Once the desired result has been determined he does not question it. Instead, he seeks to find the steps that will produce the desired outcome with the most efficient use of time, money, and energy. He succeeds by following a plan and applying the proper rules for the situation at hand, and he always knows what the rules are because knowing them allows him to act skillfully. Rules and roles are tools for behaving properly and proper behavior is the key to executing a plan. He believes that failure of a solution is due to human error in the application of a correctly designed course of action.

Bob believes that the facts, when properly presented will speak for themselves, and he sees no point in adding opinions, judgments, reactions, or feelings. He uses a rational application of facts to make decisions and solve problems, and he is confident that through this method he will arrive at the correct conclusion. He strives to be objective and fair, to act as an expert who understands and presents the facts and logic of a situation.

Bob uses language to describe rather than to embellish, persuade, connect or interact. He describes what he sees simply, logically, and clearly. He is a good listener who hears what people say accurately, but he doesn’t read subtle cues that could tell him how people are feeling about what they are saying, or read between the lines for hidden meaning. He observes people carefully, arranges his observations logically, plans, and then acts deliberately and skillfully on his conclusions. He takes people at face value. He says what he means, means what he says, and expects others to do the same. He knows that emotions get in the way of logic and rationality, so he doesn’t talk much about his feelings, nor does he show them strongly. He avoids becoming overly involved with people outside of his closest friends or family on a personal or emotional level, and views both as distractions from the objectivity necessary to function effectively.

Bob loves situations that demand thoroughness, follow through, and completion. Taking on a task, organizing it, implementing it, and bringing it to completion deeply satisfy him. He prefers settings where he understands his role, where he can act on clear and structured expectations, and where he knows what he is doing and what the rules are. He believes the world to be straight-forward and uncomplicated. Those aspects of the world that appear complex or mysterious are merely unanalyzed simplicity or rationality.

Bob’s ability to see structure and impose order allows him to help others function in the face of chaos and uncertainty, and he is matter-of-fact and consistent in high-pressure environments. He doesn’t get involved in political maneuvering or intrigues and others rely on him to move debate and discussion away from personal or political directions and towards concrete issues and agreement on the facts. His respect for facts and logic gives him integrity and expertise in the eyes of others.

Lynda-Ross Vega: A partner at Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd., Lynda-Ross specializes in helping entrepreneurs and coaches build dynamite teams and systems that WORK. She is co-creator of Perceptual Style Theory, a revolutionary psychological assessment system that teaches people how to unleash their deepest potentials for success. For free information on how to succeed as an entrepreneur or coach, create a thriving business and build your bottom line doing more of what you love, visit www.ACIforCoaches.com.

Bill’s Perceptual Style is Flow. He perceives a world of unity and relationships in which every piece is connected to every other piece; a rich world where the parts fit together and support and nourish each other. He trusts in the flow of experience and believes what is important and necessary will emerge as a matter of course as it reflects the underlying harmony and cooperation inherent in the world. He knows the relationships he sees are not always obvious, especially to others, and that they reveal themselves only through his patient careful attention, and even then only slowly, in hints, intimations, and whispers.

Bill creates and sustains powerful but subtle relationships that form the glue of a community. He maintains the balance between the myriad elements of his world through constant attention and tending. His attention, while caring and supportive, is subtle and not readily apparent to those around him as he acts indirectly, behind the scenes, and outside the spotlight. Belonging is critical to him, but being the center of attention is not his style. 

Moving smoothly and easily between daily events as his awareness emerges and recedes, Bill attends, in proper proportion, to events and people where connection and relationships require his attention. He builds connections steadily and patiently because he knows that relationships require time. He avoids pushing, demanding, or abrupt action because he trusts that what needs to be done will be done in its proper time.

Bill facilitates the development of an environment that is comfortable, one that fosters and encourages people. When his environment shifts away from cooperation, team building, and community, he quietly influences its realignment, putting his own personal needs aside if necessary. Bill has learned that taking care of himself is best done by taking care of the community within which he lives and works. While this is done with great care it is not passive, as he skillfully weaves a web of connections that binds those within his community closely to him.

Bill welcomes new events that support his traditions and values, and will adopt smoothly to change that he experiences as connected to the flow of his personal history. While he deeply distrusts arbitrary change, others often seek him out during times of upheaval because his skills are invaluable to restoring stability, coherence, and identity.

Bill uses his relational communities to gather and transmit informal information, after he has intuited what to pass on and what to withhold. He makes this determination through his understanding of what will most effectively and inconspicuously build alliances, promote participation, and instill commitment from people within his community. His information sharing is so careful and unobtrusive that others experience the connection within the community but are often unaware of his contribution to building it.

Bill often acts as a listening post to the members of his community without the need to give advice, pass judgment, or provide opinions. He will offer aid and assistance when asked but it takes the form of empathy and support rather than strategy and action plans. He encourages development and growth, and empathizes with those who are struggling. People respond to his personal engagement with them and the warmth and concern he shows them. Bill is rarely in a rush and always has time to interact with those who are troubled or just want to talk.

For Bill, the world is not a series of unrelated facts but a single whole full of patterns, impressions, and connections. He communicates his experience in stories that provide others with the necessary context but may alter or leave out factual points. His stories are a way to build personal connection and find common ground with others rather than a means to convey data and facts. 

Bill is at his best smoothing the sharp edges of chaotic environments and erratic relationships. He builds a sense of cohesion within groups and creates a sense of group identity to which others willingly commit. He secures commitment to the community by thinking of others, making contact, doing favors, and staying in touch with all community members. It is important to him that outsiders accurately perceive community values, so he attends carefully to the image that his group projects and makes sure that it is consistent and appropriate.

His activities are ultimately focused on support and maintenance of his community. He is a keeper of community history and tradition and uses the history of the community to keep it grounded. He knows that understanding the past holds the key to providing continuity between the past, present, and future. He is the one who remembers everyone’s birthday, special occasions, and personal tidbits. He finds ways to stay in touch and often gives small meaningful gifts for no apparent special reason. These are his way of holding onto and building relationships and community.

Gary Jordan, Ph.D., has over 27 years of experience in clinical psychology, behavioral assessment, individual development, and coaching. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology – Berkeley.  He is co-creator of Perceptual Style Theory, a revolutionary psychological assessment system that teaches people how to unleash their deepest potentials for success. He’s a partner at Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd., a consulting firm that specializes in helping people discover their true skills and talents: www.aciforcoaches.com