What Is Your Powerful Time Paradigm?

Time is a most fascinating phenomenon. It ticks away at a steady, consistent pace, but it doesn’t always feel that way! Some moments drag on, while others feel wildly fleeting! Time is a complicated concept to wrap your head around.

A Common Theme

It’s ironic that “managing time” is the way time is frequently framed when time literally can’t be managed. It’s fixed, determined by God!

What is possible, however, is to control you!

A Fresh Approach

I won’t deny that there’s a place for tips and tools for navigating time more efficiently. I’ve shared many of my own tips in that regard. However, today I want to invite you to take another approach to time. One that enables you to understand the unique way God has created YOU, including your own time paradigm. After all, it’s our thinking and what we believe about time that often gets us into trouble!

Each of the four personality types or behavioral styles has a different way of thinking about time. You are a unique combination of those four types. When you understand those various ways of viewing time it enables you to be more strategic in how you approach life and work and how you interact with others given their unique personality.

So how do the four basic personalities approach time? Let’s take a look with the help of my friends and explore some shifts that might serve you!

Because you and I are one-of-a-kind masterpieces, you may not fit neatly into D, I, S, or C, but you are more likely a combination of the four. Most people are dominant in one of the four with a strong runner up, but that’s not always the case.

I happen to be a D/C, meaning that I score highest in D with C not far behind. This makes for an interesting way of dealing with time. I’m eager – there’s no time like the present. However, as a C, I like to plan and have a penchant for details. When push comes to shove, my “Let’s go get-er-done” side wins.

I worked with a leader who was a D/I. You would think that with us both being D’s it would be a positive combination, however, his desire for speed and fun often conflicted with my need to plan and consider the details.

I’ve also worked with several C/S types who often research and plan to such an extent that it makes it tough for them to pull the trigger.

I’m sure you’ve experienced some situations where you’ve worked with others who operate with a time paradigm very different from your own. That doesn’t make your personality good or bad – or theirs for that matter. Each personality brings something valuable to the table. And they each have some areas to work on as well.

Meet a few of my friends to help you take a closer look at four the four personality types and their time paradigms:

— D —

Meet Driving Drew, or you might know him as Choleric, Fire, Ruling, Controller, or Lion.What shift would benefit Driving Drew and others like him?

Stop trying to control or conquer time and focus on ways to savor the time that you have. Start accepting the many facets of you – not just the doing side, but your being side and recognizing your limits so that you are able to do life in a more sustainable way. You have all the time you need!

— I —

Meet Influencing Izzy or you might recognize her as Sanguine, Wind, Socially Useful, Fun Lover, or Otter.

What shift would benefit Influencing Izzy and others like her?

Stop talking and trying to chase fun, and start listening and prioritizing and pursue purpose instead. You will still have plenty of time for fun!

— S —

Meet Steady Steve or you might recognize him as Phlegmatic, Earth, Peacemaker, Avoiding, or Golden Retriever.

What shift would benefit Steady Steve and others like him?

Stop ignoring that time races on and is passing you by and start taking action even if it rocks the boat a bit or ruffles a few feathers. Your time is valuable!

— C —

Meet Cautious Cathy or you might recognize her as Melancholy, Water, Getting, Perfectionist, or Beaver.

What shift would benefit Cautious Cathy and others like her?

Stop trying to make everything perfect – there will never be enough time to accomplish that because perfect is impossible! Instead, start doing your best, within the time allotted, and celebrating what you do get done. You don’t have to be perfect to make the most of your time!

Now that you have a better idea around your time paradigm, how do you switch up to have a better relationship with time?

Here are a few suggestions:

If you are like Driving Drew…

• Learn to delegate.
• Adjust your expectations for what others.
• Slow down!
• Learn how to relax. Remember rested people produce better work!
• Make people a priority.
• Schedule time to relax, connect with friends and family, and self-care.
• Include others in the planning process.
• Less is more! Maintain margin in your schedule.

If you lead people like Driving Drew…

• Assign tasks that will challenge and allow them the opportunity to be in charge.
• Appreciate their hard work and acknowledge what they are able to accomplish.
• Encourage them to delegate – help them to see the benefit.
• Give them options when it comes to tasks.
• Encourage them to plan their work and work their plan.
• Help them to see the value of being a part of a team.

If you are like Influencing Izzy…

• Don’t commit to tasks on the spot. Wait an hour, a day, or more to give your answer when you’ve had time to really consider what you are committing to.
• Deal with your people pleasing issues.
• Start your day with a plan. Tackle your most difficult task first.
• Run your plans by someone you trust until you are more realistic about how much time tasks take.
• Talk less, listen more.
• Focus on your “why” so that when distractions come your way you will be pulled forward by something that truly matters to you. If you don’t have a big enough why…it’s time to find one!
• Make time to get organized.
• Reward yourself with fun people time.
• Learn to do tasks by yourself. Yes, solo!
• Break tasks down into more manageable steps.

If you lead an Influencing Izzy…

• Pair them up with someone with great planning skills – they will enjoy the team approach and be more likely to stay on track.
• When they volunteer, help them to think through whether or not they will be able to follow through.
• Remind them to plan with tomorrow in mind.
• Recognize them when they get things done on time! Notice when they stay on task!
• Appeal to their fun side when giving them tasks.
• Help them to break big tasks down into smaller tasks that are less overwhelming.

If you are like Steady Steve…

• Be more assertive. Take charge even when something feels uncertain.
• Resist the urge to blame others for your lack of getting tasks done. Take responsibility for your own productivity.
• Work on building your confidence.
• Set goals and deadlines for yourself.
• Make a plan each day and tackle your most difficult task first to help you address procrastinating.
• Face what causes you to procrastinate.
• Be kind, but don’t let chit-chatting keep you from accomplishing what needs to be done.
• Create systems so that you don’t forget things.

If you lead a Steady Steve…

• Communicate deadlines very clearly.
• Allow them more time than you might others – his pace is slow.
• Support them; check in to see what assistance he might need.
• Encourage them to step out and try new things – you believe in him!
• Consider what might motivate him – it will be external.
• Be sure to respect and praise their efforts.
• Keep the peace! Conflict and drama keeps him from being productive.

If you are a Cautious Cathy…

• Learn to do the best job possible within the time allotted.
• Remind yourself that there are many ways to do tasks besides your “right way.”
• Let go of the need for constant affirmation.
• Learn to limit time spent researching, planning, or analyzing.
• Start your day by doing your most difficult task first – everything else will seem easy by comparison!
• Look on the bright side and relax your schedule.
• Limit the details you share.
• Ignore the disorganization of others.
• Take tasks one at a time – don’t dwell on ALL that needs to get done.
• Don’t try to do it all.
• Resist the urge to manage others when it gets challenging to manage you.

If you lead a Cautious Cathy…

• Set clear deadlines. Remind them to do their best in the time allotted.
• Affirm their work! Encourage them often.
• Remind them to be positive and resist sharing all the details.
• Communicate your priorities clearly.
• Encourage them to let others help.
• Allow them to keep a routine as much as possible.
• Give them opportunities to use their knack for researching, analyzing, and doing detailed oriented work.

When you know your time paradigm and how to tame your tendencies, then you are poised to successfully manage YOU!

And when you understand the different time paradigms around you, and are aware of the adjustments that would help YOU interact better with others, they are more productive too!

What’s your time paradigm?