Home Library Translate
A A A
Share »
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on LinkedIn
Connect »

Blog: Consulting and Organizational Development

Menu

  • This Blog's Home
  • Guest Writer Submissions
  • Policies
  • To Subscribe to a Blog
  • About
  • Feedback

Consultant — What’s Your Natural Approach to Gathering and Processing Information?

By Carter McNamara on December 10, 2011

In a project, whether you are conducting a formal, systematic assessment or just doing a rather informal assessment, your natural approach to gathering and processing information will influence how you work.  The Myers-Briggs folks provide some useful dimensions to consider.  (Myers-Briggs is a registered trademark of Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc.),

Intuitive Versus Sensing Approaches to Gathering Information

There are a variety of assessment instruments that are often referenced when helping people understand their own unique styles when solving problems and making decisions, for example, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicatorâ instrument.  One of the dimensions of the Myers-Briggs is “Intuitive versus Sensing,” which considers how a person gathers information.  (Myers-Briggs is a registered trademark of Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc.),

Intuitive

A highly intuitive person often gathers information instinctively.  They thrive on ideas and possibilities.  They might seem oblivious to what is going on around them, yet they often effectively solve problems and make decisions based on surprisingly valid information.  Many times, they might not even know how they did it.  Some experts on leadership and management assert that highly experienced people often have developed intuition that enables them to make quick, effective decisions.  A major advantage of this approach is that it can save a great deal of time.  A major challenge can be how to explain their choices to others.

Sensing

These people thrive on facts and information.  They are detail-oriented and accuracy is important to them.  They are aware of their physical surroundings, of who is saying what.  They solve problems and make decisions by considering the “data” around them.  One of the major advantages of a sensing person is that their actions are often based on valid information.  Thus, they are able to explain their reasoning and their actions to others.  A major challenge is the time and care required for them to solve problems and make decisions.

Thinking Versus Feeling Approaches to Process Information

Another major dimension of the Myers-Briggs Indicatorâ instrument is “Thinking versus Feelings,” which considers how a person makes decisions about information.

Thinking

A thinking person often uses a highly objective, sometimes rational approach to organizing, analyzing and making decisions about information.  At their extreme, they might shun consideration of emotions.  The thinking person probably prefers the rational approach to problem solving as described above in this subsection.  The advantage of this approach is that it often generates valid problem solving and decision-making.  A major challenge can be that it might require an extensive amount of time to come to action.

Feeling

The feeling approach is used most often by individuals who are quite sensitive to their values in processing information.  When people focus on their values, emotions often come into play.  A major advantage of this approach is that it can help to ensure that people are happy and fulfilled in the situation – that their values have been considered during the process and are reflected in the outcome.  A major challenge is that there are a variety of short-term factors that can influence a person’s emotions other than the current major problem or decision, for example, their not having had enough sleep or having eaten right.

Also see:

  • Consultant — What’s Your Natural Approach to Problem Solving?
  • All About Consulting — Using Consultants, Doing Consulting

————————————————————————-

Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD – Authenticity Consulting, LLC – 800-971-2250
Read my blogs: Boards, Consulting and OD, and Strategic Planning.

« Previous Next »

Search Our Site

Meet this Blog’s Co-Hosts

Carter McNamara of Authenticity Consulting, LLC, provides organizational development, consultant training and Action Learning services, and is developer of the Free Management Library. [Read more ...]

Recent Blog Posts

  • Technical and Interpersonal Skills Aren’t Enough for Consulting
  • How Disconnected Conversations Can Hurt Your Consulting
  • Challenges in Consulting to Small Organizations (Part 3 of 3)
  • Challenges in Consulting to Small Organizations (Part 2 of 3)
  • Challenges in Consulting to Small Organizations (Part 1 of 3)
  • How to get your clients to participate in their consulting projects (Part 3 of 3)
  • How to get your clients to participate in their consulting projects (Part 2 of 3)
  • How to Get Your Clients to Participate in Their Consulting Projects (Part 1 of 3)
  • What really motivates you as a consultant? What really motivates your clients?
  • How Can I Market My Consulting Business (Part 1)

Categories of Posts

  • Action Planning
  • Assessments (Conducting)
  • Consulting Process
  • Diagnosis/Discovery
  • Evaluations
  • General Resources
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Managing Change
  • Marketing and Sales Skills
  • Proposals and Contracts
  • Roles of Consultants
  • Systems Analysis
  • Uncategorized

Related Library Topics

  • Action Planning
  • Assessments (Conducting)
  • Business Planning
  • Consultants (Hiring)
  • Consultants (Overview)
  • Customer Satisfaction
  • Diagnosis/Discovery
  • Ethics
  • Evaluations
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Managing Change
  • Marketing
  • Organization Development
  • Organizations (Overview)
  • Problem Solving
  • Project Start
  • Proposals, Contract
  • Research Methods
  • Systems Thinking

Library's Blogs

  • Boards of Directors
  • Building a Business
  • Business Communications
  • Business Ethics, Culture and Performance
  • Business Planning
  • Career Management
  • Coaching and Action Learning
  • Consulting and Organizational Development
  • Crisis Management
  • Customer Service
  • Facilitation
  • Free Management Library Blogs
  • Fundraising for Nonprofits
  • Human Resources
  • Leadership
  • Marketing and Social Media
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building
  • Project Management
  • Quality Management
  • Social Enterprise
  • Spirituality
  • Strategic Planning
  • Supervision
  • Team Building and Performance
  • Training and Development
About Feedback Legal Privacy Policy Contact Us
Free Management Library, © Copyright Authenticity Consulting, LLC ®; All rights reserved.
  • Graphics by Wylde Hare LLC
  • Website maintained by Caitlin Cahill

By continuing to use this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy.X