Did you get an allowance when you were growing up?  Some of us were given generous allowances.  Some received less.  And, some received none at all.  A few of us were wise and saved some of our allowance.  A few spent all they received.

Every day each of us is given another kind of allowance – 24 hours in which to live life the way we choose.  It is the same allotment of time for everyone.  There is no inequity in this gift.  Time, however, is different than money; we cannot save it or bank it.  We can only spend it.  And, once it is gone, it is gone.  We cannot retrieve it.

Did you know that not everyone views time the same way?  The way we view and spend our time is greatly affected by our personality style, just as everything else we do is affected by it.  So, let’s take a look at each of the different styles to see if we can gain some understanding, because as you will see, the differences can be a source of great misunderstanding and frustration.

Before I jump into it, however, let me just refresh your memory a bit.  Remember that the Dominant (D) type personality is all about results, getting things done, forward motion, and achieving goals.  The Inspiring (I) type wants to have fun, go with the flow, have flexibility, and enjoy life along the way.  The Supportive (S) type is laid back, helpful, enjoys team-work, and likes the “tried and true”.  And, lastly, the Cautious (C) type is detail-oriented, structured, proper, and correct.

With that little bit of review, then, let’s see how our traits tend to influence our view of time.

The Dominant type individual tends to attack time.  They have places to go, things to do and people to meet.  They are on a mission and time is short for them.  Because they are “doers,” they tend to wake up in the morning with a to-do list a mile long and frequently feel there is just not enough time in their day to get everything accomplished that they want to do.  And, for them, it is all about the task.  They are not keen on anything that interrupts their mission.  So, if you are not on their list for the day, you are not a priority.  I know that feels harsh and hard, but it is true!  And, please realize that it isn’t personal.  It is just that their priority is accomplishing their goal for the day, which is to check everything off their list as completed.

The Inspiring type tends to be very flexible with their time.  In fact, they don’t want to feel restricted by time or a schedule.  They prefer to fly by the seat of their pants.  In other words, they like to just sort of flow from one task or event to another.  And, if a distraction comes along to interrupt their work, it tends to be welcomed.  They much prefer talking and visiting and socializing.  They tend to fill their day with all sorts of activities, the more the better, and especially if those activities involve a lot of other people.  If you are not aware of this and happen to be another personality style, this c’est la vie attitude toward time can be very frustrating and you will find yourself constantly irritated.  They are not intentionally being disrespectful when they are tardy.  They are just not as driven by structure as some of the rest of us.

The Supportive type individuals also tend to be more flexible with their time.  Because their focus is on helping people, they can often become distracted from the task at hand, and give their time to someone who needs them.  They will lay aside whatever they are doing in order to lend a helping hand.  That is admirable, but can often get them in trouble when having done that causes them to be behind in their other obligations.  They also live life at a slower pace, so they do not appreciate being rushed to do anything.  In fact, the more you try to rush them, the slower they become.  They need plenty of time to accomplish something, so if you expect them to do something quickly, you may be sorely disappointed.  When working with them, respect their slower pace and give them the space and time they need to do what you are asking.  Remember, their goal is to please!

Cautious type personalities tend to live by a schedule.  They even have a detailed, well-thought-out plan and schedule for their vacation!  Life is more comfortable and manageable for them when it is structured.  They also tend to think and live in increments.  To them, being on time means being 5 to 10 minutes early.  They hate being late to anything!  For them, they would rather not go someplace than to be late.  In their mind, that is rude.  They are on time and they expect you to be on time as well.  And, they tend to be insulted if you are not punctual.  Like the D’s they also have an agenda for their day and do not appreciate interruptions.  While the I-type person may welcome a distraction, the C-type does not.  If you value your relationship with them, make an appointment when you need to talk with them.

When we misunderstand this issue of time for the different personalities, we tend to judge and label others.  The D we may judge as hard, harsh and uncaring.  The I-type we may label as irresponsible and rude for being late.  The S-type we label as wishy-washy or slow.  The C-type may be characterized as cold and unapproachable.  But, when we learn to value each person and understand the way they view life, it does two things: 1) It helps us to respect them and be more cognizant of what they need to perform well; and 2) It helps us not to take their behavior personally.

We need to be aware of how our own personality and actions affect others and make the adjustments we need to make in our behavior so that we are not offensive to others.  And, we also need to be aware of other people’s personalities so that we can appreciate the differences and fulfill the scripture that says, “…as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).

I am a speaker and trainer. I would love to have the opportunity to speak to your group. To find out more about me or to book me for an upcoming event, go to www.align90.com