"Guardians"... a formidable name for a formidable group. Associated with the "SJ" personality types, these four identities make up almost half of our population.
In the past I've identified them by small things like:
- Who remembers everyone's birthday?
- Who has a reliable schedule that doesn't often change?
- Who volunteers first?
- Who seems to effortlessly know and meet social expectations?
These people truly are Pillars of Community. They know the rules, know what is expected and work hard at keeping us all on the straight and narrow.
They are perhaps also the type that I least understand from a motivational standpoint, and SFJ's in particular. The priorities they align themselves with seem illogical to me at times, and for the life of me I can't understand the resistance to change. This type often has a blind trust in authority and in established rules that makes me uneasy. If the INTJ mantra is "Does it work" then the SJ community is the wall that we push up against constantly... the wall that says "It doesn't matter, this is how it's done."
That mentality can be endlessly frustrating but I recognize the value that it adds to a society in general. If not for the Guardians, certainly many existing Holidays would no longer be recognizable. Military divisions would not function properly. All of the important "maintenance" type duties in the world would be lost and forgotten as the Artists, Idealists and Rationals ran in every direction with no anchor to bring them back.
I feel it's important for me to learn yet more (always more) about the SJ types because I find myself surrounded by them where I work and they are the majority in most societies. My previous employment at a software development company was primarily dominated by NT's (Rationals). The words I would have used to describe most interactions among a bunch of NT's are probably intellect and mischief. Now that I find myself among many, many SJ types I think the words would change to something more like duty or consistency.
This in no way means that SJ's aren't smart or mischievous, or that NT's aren't responsible or consistent, but the GROUP expectations were very different. The NT's expected others to be on their toes at all times, ready for any clever trick that might be played on someone, or to prove themselves and their arguments when they wanted to change something. We were individuals working on things that interested us and could often bring progress by merging different goals into one. The SJ's seem to expect that there are no individuals. They work as if they are one machine: I'll do my part, and if you do yours then everything will be fine. I find that when it comes to things that impact everyone they have very little sense of humor. Individually they are hilarious, creative, interesting and caring... but when it comes to their environment they are very firm in what is acceptable and what isn't.
In my previous post on "Influencing Group Behavior" I described my Coffee Pot experiment. Yesterday (the day after I posted it) the experiment provided some amazing feedback that I did not expect.
Early yesterday I let one of my coworkers in on the experiment... one that I knew would appreciate the effort. I was warned by this person that my experiment would fail but I remained hopeful. By lunchtime that day, the container that I had placed under the coffee pot to catch the drops of water had completely disappeared from the kitchen. I busted out laughing, knowing that someone had either thrown it away or hidden it. At first I thought my co-conspirator might be playing a joke on me but found out through the grapevine that apparently the office administrator had received numerous emails complaining about the container, wanting to know who had decided on making this change.
Incredulous, I laughed even harder. Was something so tiny as the placement of a container up for group discussion and approval? If this experiment had been done at my previous job, surely someone would have either:
a.) Glued the container to the counter
b.) Turned the container upside down and stuck a sarcastic sign on it
c.) Filled the container with coffee and placed the old coffee pot out of the way to be a smart ass
Now I had to rethink my approach. I had anticipated that some might be confused or slightly annoyed about why this container sat where the wet paper towels had once been... but I didn't expect the influx of actual, formal complaints and complete removal of the container from the kitchen. It felt a bit extreme.
I had a discussion with another coworker about whether or not they had noticed the container. They said yes, and that they were confused about why it had been there. They thought it was gross. (It's an old container but it doesn't touch anything, just sits well under where the water drips) I explained my experiment and then asked what would have made them recognize what it was for. Is the coffee stained container too old and funky looking that it distracts from why it's there? Do I need a different container? Perhaps. The person also said that since it appeared empty there didn't seem to be a reason for it at all. I asked if placing a small bit of water in the bottom of the container would have helped to make the association and they agreed that it would.
I resolved to wait a few days and then try a nice, clean container with a little bit of water in it.
By the end of the day... the old coffee stained pitcher was back again under the coffee pot and I lost my composure yet again. It seems my co-conspirator had located the pitcher and replaced it for me, which will probably aggravate the office administrator. I don't think I would have been bold enough to find it and put it back. I was planning out new tactics to gently lead my friends into an era of change.
I realize now that the only way this will ever work without becoming an all out problem (complete with emails sent out to the entire department to "please not place other things under the coffee pot filter") is to just appeal directly to the coffee drinkers about my desire to "save the rainforest one paper towel at a time", as my conspirator joked. The only path to even a small chance of success is to appeal directly to their desire to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (which I see a LOT of).
While the overall goal of stopping the practice of wadding up paper towels isn't terribly important... I learned a valuable lesson here. Subtle (unapproved) change will not work. They must be given ample time to become aware of and consider the problem, decide on how they feel about it and then to determine whether or not they wish to take action. It's a tediously slow process in my opinion, but this is exactly what makes this group terrific. They are always considering whether the change is truly needed and truly for the best. This is why our societies remain in-tact and traditions stay alive. These people make the world go 'round.
Just make sure that you tell them up front what your intentions are and don't make any rash decisions or they will lash out...
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Influencing Group Behavior
Group behavior fascinates me. Social expectations and actions can be so easily influenced that I find it surprising and disturbing. There are masters of manipulation in areas of business, marketing and politics who understand the power of words delivered repeatedly and consistently. Modeling behavior that you desire others to mimic can be a powerful tool in building productive work environments. Tapping into subconscious motivations allows retailers to sell more goods as they experiment endlessly on consumers to find the best combination of ambient lighting, sounds and smells to trigger our desire to spend more money. Whether or not we like it, these tactics are being employed all around us. We are bombarded with it and most of us aren't even aware.
It is not a coincidence that the first thing you may see when you enter a food retailer is flowers. Flowers indicate to our subconscious a sense of "freshness" and may trigger feelings of happiness in us. Everything from the width of the isles to the height of the ceiling is deliberately done to make people want to spend more time in the store. My husband and I tried an experiment once after reading some articles about placement of items in grocery stores. The articles asserted that most people turn RIGHT upon entering a grocery store. I realized that I did indeed do this and so we decided to turn left in the store we shopped at from now on. Our grocery bill dropped without conscious effort on our part. You could say that since we expected that outcome, perhaps we just shopped more wisely and consciously... but I swear I felt like I was buying all of the same exact things and our total at the end was less. Try it yourself sometime. Look at where the fruits and vegetables are when you walk into a store... and then head in the opposite direction, making that your final area to shop.
I try to remain vigilant, recognizing when I hear the media pick up on a catch phrase in order to sway public opinion. Where do they originate? It hardly matters. What matters is repetition. If people hear things enough, they start to consider them basic truths. If a certain behavior is seen and picked up by others, soon those others could become a majority and by simple peer pressure, a large percentage of the rest begin to mimic that behavior. Ideas of politeness, political correctness, morality and even "common decency" or "common sense" come in to play.
Call me crazy, but I like to play with these tendencies from time to time. I try to use my experiments for good and everyone should know that while they may be my unwitting test subjects for a week or two, it is done out of mirth and a sincere interest in understanding, not out of malice. I promise that if you have ever been or ever become one of my observations, I still see you as a person and I probably like you too, or you wouldn't be so interesting!
My latest experiment is at work and involves the coffee pot. One day I noticed someone complaining about the wad of paper towels underneath the area where the coffee filter is, meant to catch any droplets after the coffee pot is removed. They mentioned that no one ever thought of simply removing the used coffee grounds from the filter... instead they put down paper towels, and they showed me the used coffee grounds inside the filter holder.
I wondered if this were true and watched for a few weeks. I started emptying the used coffee grounds to see if it stopped the water drops, but really there was still a lot of humidity in the filter holder so it continued to drip water.
I decided to try to get people to unknowingly fix the problem with a solution I would provide.
There is an old, plastic pitcher that sits near the back of the coffee pot on the side. I think it used to be to hold old coffee grounds for someone who did composting. At any rate, I decided this container could be my solution. I started first by emptying out coffee grounds with the container under the filter holder as I moved to the trash in order to keep it from dripping on the floor. I had a couple of "Hey! That's a good idea!" responses. Others noticed but said nothing.
The next stage is the removal of the paper towel ritual. Some are very attached to this process so headway will be slow here. I'm surrounded by a LOT of SJ personalities... Guardians of tradition. Typically this type is slow to endorse change unless they see a good reason for it.
I've started placing the plastic pitcher under the filter holder once the grounds are dumped into the trash and leaving it there to catch the errant drops of water. This will probably annoy some people at first, since now they have to move this object that is so blatantly in the way (... in the same fashion that they had to remove the wet paper towels) before they start a pot of coffee. I will persist. I look forward to the day when I walk into the kitchen and find the plastic pitcher under the filter holder without my having done it. I won't know who my new convert is... but it won't matter. The cycle will have begun. Soon others will begin to see this behavior and I'm convinced that it will catch on.
Soon, not placing the plastic pitcher on the counter under the filter holder will be taboo... like not wiping off the bathroom sink counter after you wash your hands. How can people be so inconsiderate?? ;)
It is not a coincidence that the first thing you may see when you enter a food retailer is flowers. Flowers indicate to our subconscious a sense of "freshness" and may trigger feelings of happiness in us. Everything from the width of the isles to the height of the ceiling is deliberately done to make people want to spend more time in the store. My husband and I tried an experiment once after reading some articles about placement of items in grocery stores. The articles asserted that most people turn RIGHT upon entering a grocery store. I realized that I did indeed do this and so we decided to turn left in the store we shopped at from now on. Our grocery bill dropped without conscious effort on our part. You could say that since we expected that outcome, perhaps we just shopped more wisely and consciously... but I swear I felt like I was buying all of the same exact things and our total at the end was less. Try it yourself sometime. Look at where the fruits and vegetables are when you walk into a store... and then head in the opposite direction, making that your final area to shop.
I try to remain vigilant, recognizing when I hear the media pick up on a catch phrase in order to sway public opinion. Where do they originate? It hardly matters. What matters is repetition. If people hear things enough, they start to consider them basic truths. If a certain behavior is seen and picked up by others, soon those others could become a majority and by simple peer pressure, a large percentage of the rest begin to mimic that behavior. Ideas of politeness, political correctness, morality and even "common decency" or "common sense" come in to play.
Call me crazy, but I like to play with these tendencies from time to time. I try to use my experiments for good and everyone should know that while they may be my unwitting test subjects for a week or two, it is done out of mirth and a sincere interest in understanding, not out of malice. I promise that if you have ever been or ever become one of my observations, I still see you as a person and I probably like you too, or you wouldn't be so interesting!
My latest experiment is at work and involves the coffee pot. One day I noticed someone complaining about the wad of paper towels underneath the area where the coffee filter is, meant to catch any droplets after the coffee pot is removed. They mentioned that no one ever thought of simply removing the used coffee grounds from the filter... instead they put down paper towels, and they showed me the used coffee grounds inside the filter holder.
I wondered if this were true and watched for a few weeks. I started emptying the used coffee grounds to see if it stopped the water drops, but really there was still a lot of humidity in the filter holder so it continued to drip water.
I decided to try to get people to unknowingly fix the problem with a solution I would provide.
There is an old, plastic pitcher that sits near the back of the coffee pot on the side. I think it used to be to hold old coffee grounds for someone who did composting. At any rate, I decided this container could be my solution. I started first by emptying out coffee grounds with the container under the filter holder as I moved to the trash in order to keep it from dripping on the floor. I had a couple of "Hey! That's a good idea!" responses. Others noticed but said nothing.
The next stage is the removal of the paper towel ritual. Some are very attached to this process so headway will be slow here. I'm surrounded by a LOT of SJ personalities... Guardians of tradition. Typically this type is slow to endorse change unless they see a good reason for it.
I've started placing the plastic pitcher under the filter holder once the grounds are dumped into the trash and leaving it there to catch the errant drops of water. This will probably annoy some people at first, since now they have to move this object that is so blatantly in the way (... in the same fashion that they had to remove the wet paper towels) before they start a pot of coffee. I will persist. I look forward to the day when I walk into the kitchen and find the plastic pitcher under the filter holder without my having done it. I won't know who my new convert is... but it won't matter. The cycle will have begun. Soon others will begin to see this behavior and I'm convinced that it will catch on.
Soon, not placing the plastic pitcher on the counter under the filter holder will be taboo... like not wiping off the bathroom sink counter after you wash your hands. How can people be so inconsiderate?? ;)
Saturday, July 19, 2014
If an INTJ sleeps in the woods...
...I just know there's a joke in there somewhere.
Last week I took a "vacation". I know I'm not the only one who comes back from their "vacation" feeling more tired than when they left, but this particular vacation was not one I'll be repeating any time soon.
Unless you're a Scout leader, chances are you haven't ever taken a half dozen kids (and a dog) camping. Even if you have, you probably didn't drive for 14+ hours to reach your destination before hand. If you can claim Yes and Yes to both of those statements then by all means, read no further. We are already bonded... kindred spirits in the shared experiences of this life, and even though I'm not really "a hugger", I'd probably give you one.
Don't misunderstand me... the kids were very well behaved. The dog surpassed even my wildest expectations of good behavior. The problem wasn't with them at all - it was with me.
I started with an upbeat attitude weeks before we left, making my lists and checking them twice - like Christmas in July! That was fun.
Then came the packing. That was also kind of fun since I could use my checklists and cross things off as I went. Very satisfying stuff there.
On then, to the driving. I dislike driving. Since we had two vehicles with us, both my husband and I had to drive the entire distance, and without each other's company. (That isn't entirely true. We actually took walkie-talkie's with us and used them shamelessly for small talk, jokes, I love you's and navigation.) We did stop half way to camp so we could rest overnight but that turned out about as well as one would expect:
"Let's stop, unpack the vehicles, set up the tent, unroll all of the sleeping bags, blow up air mattresses and try to sleep with 8 people and a dog in one small space before waking up, tearing everything down, re-packing the vehicles and taking off again." I don't think anyone slept that night.
The next day we finished our journey by going to a grocery store near the camp ground and buying food for the 8 of us for 3 days. You wouldn't believe how much food that is for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Vehicles that were already overloaded with stuff somehow found room for a shopping cart full of food before finishing the trek to the campsite. My husband is a packing genius.
Finally! It's time to relax! Hahahahahahahaha! Yeah right.
Unload the vehicles, set up the tents, start the fire, blow up air mattresses (... we have no electricity? bah), cook dinner, clean up, BS with family until 3:30 AM. Wait, what? It's 3:30?? Oh jeez, we need to go to sleep!
[Lay down... wake up at 6am, unable to sleep any longer and go build up the fire for breakfast]
By this time, I'm going on two nights of almost zero sleep in addition to driving a very long distance but somehow I manage to rally and stay awake all day, even if I'm not very motivated. My sister's fiance slow grilled the chicken for about 6 hours that day while my over-tired brain started running rampant.
There were signs in the restroom/shower area that warned about leaving food in anything but vehicles because bears are very common in the state park. In my sleep-deprived state of mind, I started to see disaster everywhere.
Don't spill the bacon grease onto the ground! Are you crazy?
This chicken smell is going to bring them in for sure.
STOP EATING THE LEFTOVER CHICKEN! GO WASH YOUR HANDS! Why don't we just smear the children with chicken to make sure the bears find them? Rub it on the tents why don't we?
All in all I hope I managed to keep most of those thoughts to myself but I'm sure some slipped out. I think my sisters thought I was nuts by the end of the day. I cleaned up food related items like a boss for most of the afternoon and evening. No time to visit. Must clean. Bears will come. Bears.
I tried to go to sleep "early" at around 9:00 PM. There were probably 4-5 instances of jolting awake in an adrenaline induced panic throughout the night.
What is that sound? Oh... it's raccoons.
What is that sound? Oh... it isn't growling, it's someone snoring. I wish I was snoring.
What is that sound? Oh... wait, I don't hear anything at all...
It was a terrible night and when we finally woke up in the morning, it was raining and I was nearing hysteria from lack of sleep. We ended up taking down our tent that morning and went to reserve a hotel to stay in for the last night before we were to drive back home.
Writing all of this after being home for a few days and getting some sleep makes me laugh, but at the time my poor mind was in survival mode. I regret that there was little to no actual "vacation" involved and that I didn't spend nearly as much time with my family as I wanted to. A rare opportunity to get everyone together was almost lost in the fog of my sleepy memories. Really not happy about that and a different sort of vacation will be in order soon to make up for it.
I completely underestimated how little I would be able to sleep with so many kids to be responsible for. When we are all in one tent, everyone kept everyone awake. When the kids had their own tent, I worried about whether or not they were OK. It was a lose-lose situation.
Next time we vacation, there will be beds, and blankets. There will be a stove that works even when it's raining. There will be rest. I am not new to camping, but this was a whole new level. Never again.
If anyone is interested in buying some camping gear, I know where you can get some stuff at a great price! I'd be willing to trade for say... an RV?
LOL
Last week I took a "vacation". I know I'm not the only one who comes back from their "vacation" feeling more tired than when they left, but this particular vacation was not one I'll be repeating any time soon.
Unless you're a Scout leader, chances are you haven't ever taken a half dozen kids (and a dog) camping. Even if you have, you probably didn't drive for 14+ hours to reach your destination before hand. If you can claim Yes and Yes to both of those statements then by all means, read no further. We are already bonded... kindred spirits in the shared experiences of this life, and even though I'm not really "a hugger", I'd probably give you one.
Don't misunderstand me... the kids were very well behaved. The dog surpassed even my wildest expectations of good behavior. The problem wasn't with them at all - it was with me.
I started with an upbeat attitude weeks before we left, making my lists and checking them twice - like Christmas in July! That was fun.
Then came the packing. That was also kind of fun since I could use my checklists and cross things off as I went. Very satisfying stuff there.
On then, to the driving. I dislike driving. Since we had two vehicles with us, both my husband and I had to drive the entire distance, and without each other's company. (That isn't entirely true. We actually took walkie-talkie's with us and used them shamelessly for small talk, jokes, I love you's and navigation.) We did stop half way to camp so we could rest overnight but that turned out about as well as one would expect:
"Let's stop, unpack the vehicles, set up the tent, unroll all of the sleeping bags, blow up air mattresses and try to sleep with 8 people and a dog in one small space before waking up, tearing everything down, re-packing the vehicles and taking off again." I don't think anyone slept that night.
The next day we finished our journey by going to a grocery store near the camp ground and buying food for the 8 of us for 3 days. You wouldn't believe how much food that is for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Vehicles that were already overloaded with stuff somehow found room for a shopping cart full of food before finishing the trek to the campsite. My husband is a packing genius.
Finally! It's time to relax! Hahahahahahahaha! Yeah right.
Unload the vehicles, set up the tents, start the fire, blow up air mattresses (... we have no electricity? bah), cook dinner, clean up, BS with family until 3:30 AM. Wait, what? It's 3:30?? Oh jeez, we need to go to sleep!
[Lay down... wake up at 6am, unable to sleep any longer and go build up the fire for breakfast]
By this time, I'm going on two nights of almost zero sleep in addition to driving a very long distance but somehow I manage to rally and stay awake all day, even if I'm not very motivated. My sister's fiance slow grilled the chicken for about 6 hours that day while my over-tired brain started running rampant.
There were signs in the restroom/shower area that warned about leaving food in anything but vehicles because bears are very common in the state park. In my sleep-deprived state of mind, I started to see disaster everywhere.
Don't spill the bacon grease onto the ground! Are you crazy?
This chicken smell is going to bring them in for sure.
STOP EATING THE LEFTOVER CHICKEN! GO WASH YOUR HANDS! Why don't we just smear the children with chicken to make sure the bears find them? Rub it on the tents why don't we?
All in all I hope I managed to keep most of those thoughts to myself but I'm sure some slipped out. I think my sisters thought I was nuts by the end of the day. I cleaned up food related items like a boss for most of the afternoon and evening. No time to visit. Must clean. Bears will come. Bears.
I tried to go to sleep "early" at around 9:00 PM. There were probably 4-5 instances of jolting awake in an adrenaline induced panic throughout the night.
What is that sound? Oh... it's raccoons.
What is that sound? Oh... it isn't growling, it's someone snoring. I wish I was snoring.
What is that sound? Oh... wait, I don't hear anything at all...
It was a terrible night and when we finally woke up in the morning, it was raining and I was nearing hysteria from lack of sleep. We ended up taking down our tent that morning and went to reserve a hotel to stay in for the last night before we were to drive back home.
Writing all of this after being home for a few days and getting some sleep makes me laugh, but at the time my poor mind was in survival mode. I regret that there was little to no actual "vacation" involved and that I didn't spend nearly as much time with my family as I wanted to. A rare opportunity to get everyone together was almost lost in the fog of my sleepy memories. Really not happy about that and a different sort of vacation will be in order soon to make up for it.
I completely underestimated how little I would be able to sleep with so many kids to be responsible for. When we are all in one tent, everyone kept everyone awake. When the kids had their own tent, I worried about whether or not they were OK. It was a lose-lose situation.
Next time we vacation, there will be beds, and blankets. There will be a stove that works even when it's raining. There will be rest. I am not new to camping, but this was a whole new level. Never again.
If anyone is interested in buying some camping gear, I know where you can get some stuff at a great price! I'd be willing to trade for say... an RV?
LOL
Friday, July 4, 2014
Idle INTJ Intellect - Let the Chaos and Creativity Commence!
I don't know if I've ever uttered the words "I'm bored" when not at work. Perhaps when I was little I might have tried to use it on my Mother with specific results in mind. (A trip to get ice cream or a new She-Ra toy? Heck yeah!) Aside from that though, I don't think I can recall a single time when I've actually been bored in my entire life... unless I was at work.
At home, this way of finding something to do results in "hobbies" that are on a never-ending rotation with no real results or mastery. I play guitar (horribly), I paint (even more horribly), I sing, write, organize, build, fix, bake, swim, practice Kung Fu... each with varying degrees of success. They rise and fall from my attention and lay dormant until I decide that I need to use one of them for an outlet, almost obsessively, for a short period of time. I pounce with intensity and enthusiasm, knowing that this time I will master it... finish it... excel at it. For a while I am free from my mind, indulging in sensory related activities, eagerly pulling everything I can from life's experiences. The sensory overload invigorates my creativity and curiosity. It's a blast. I have always equated it to what my dog must feel like when she escapes from the back yard to run amok around the neighborhood. She knows she'll have to come back home... but damn it she's going to have fun while it lasts. External things will all be forgotten again when that time to "go back home" arrives but until then, my mind is on a free-for-all.
Then, that shiny new mental playground I was waiting for presents itself, like a beacon... like a favorite drug. Hopefully this new idea is work-related, because if it isn't, a whole other side of me appears.
Nothing is worse for me than workplace boredom. From "9-5" I am expected to do something productive. I can't spend all day reading or writing or playing an instrument. I have a job to do, and when that job becomes boring, easy or tedious, things get weird.
When I don't have a complex problem to dedicate my mind to, my brain creates complex problems... simply because it wants to. I start analyzing people, motives, weather patterns, fictional characters, traffic, natural disasters, cereal ingredients... the list goes on forever. At the end of it all there is this overwhelming need to take action and so I plant seeds. Who knows which random idea will sprout into my next big problem to solve? I seem to have plenty of mental space to perform whatever routine work task I am assigned to and still daydream about all of these crazy ideas at the same time. This is the controlled version of my boredom where I provide strict rules about what is available for contemplation, and what isn't.
When I was younger this type of boredom did all kinds of bad things to me and had a way of spurring a whirlwind of mischief. I didn't have any rules in place; there were no boundaries of what could be acted upon. Before I learned my lesson, things could unravel very quickly as I started sticking my nose into areas that weren't mine to know about. I would start making recommendations that were never asked for when I found flaws. I mentally tallied whether or not we (the company) were making progress and how... and why. I quietly resented those who had important things to work on that I was not involved in.
As I became more aware of this tendency, I realized how detrimental it was to my career and even possibly to the company itself. My curiosity could derail a project or goal in a heartbeat if I started tearing it apart, fault by fault. The process of dismantling an idea, one that I find entertaining and valuable in all situations, others see as negativity... as meddlesome. Plenty of times, a single, pointed question that has lurked in my mind for days as I watched things unfolding has thrown a wrench in others' well-laid plans. I had no concept of weighing whether or not my input was even needed... of course it was needed! Something was wrong! Wouldn't they want to know as soon as possible about this problem so they could address it?
It took me a long time to realize that even imperfect plans could still turn out well. Projects with a few blips and bumps along the way were not doomed to failure. My way is not always the best way. While others might not lay out the full plan ahead of time, they are still very likely to make it to the end. My husband is an enigma to me in this way. The man is brilliant, and can fly by the seat of his pants with startling success. His form of interacting with the world is much more reactive, but no less valid. He is just as nimble at changing direction if something isn't working, but he doesn't know until that moment of discovery that he needs a new plan, or what it will be! To me, that mentality is mind-boggling. It almost gives me anxiety to think of living like that (hahaha!... no really).
Experience has shown me that I should use my talents for good and not for evil. There is a fine line between offering helpful, timely advise and being destructive. I can't lie... something perverse in me really loves knowing that one single sentence can inflict mortal wounds to brilliant ideas, like a sledgehammer aimed at the minuscule crack in a beautiful, marble statue. One good whack and the whole thing will crumble. It is a sick mind of the INTJ that sees nothing but possibility and fun in the splintered pieces laying all about when the dust settles because it means everything can be reassembled "correctly". This tendency horrifies and angers others and if I'm quite honest, it isn't usually necessary to that extent.
Since I'm not usually surrounded by others with this same mental sickness (heh) I have had to learn how to offer helpful information and restrain myself from being overly critical. Sometimes it is terribly hard to do but I've made progress in this area.
I'm not entirely sure, but I would bet a hefty sum that a lot of INTJ's have had experiences similar to what I describe. Perhaps you figured it out sooner than I did, and if so you have my admiration. The desire to point out flaws seems so ingrained in who I am that it takes a lot of effort and self-control just to keep my mouth shut. I've developed a sort of mental checklist that helps me decide whether or not I should get involved:
1. "Will this information be well received?"
If the answer is no, then I ask another...
2. "Will this information make the difference between success and failure?"
If the answer is no then one more is required...
3. "Will they discover this information on their own with time to resolve it?"
If the answer isn't a resounding yes, then I decide that I should at least mention it to someone who can weigh it into existing plans.
In this way, I have learned how to direct and control the results of my mental boredom. Sometimes I'm sure I still slip and put in my two cents where it isn't needed, but these are hopefully small things, done in passing and if others choose to hear them and take notice (or not) then it isn't very important.
End Note: If you managed to get through this entire post without thinking "What an arrogant ass" then you must be another INTJ or an ENTJ. Even I think I sound like a jerk when I re-read it, but it's all accurate in how I work and live so I suppose it can't be sugar-coated. After all... isn't providing accurate information my ultimate end-goal in life? lol Once I get the world figured out and have the cosmos properly organized perhaps we can have a BBQ and discuss how right we always are about things. Maybe you can live on the Island of Rational Thinkers with us when we conquer it. It will be a splendid place, teeming with book stores and rum. On my island... the rum will never be gone. Join us.
At home, this way of finding something to do results in "hobbies" that are on a never-ending rotation with no real results or mastery. I play guitar (horribly), I paint (even more horribly), I sing, write, organize, build, fix, bake, swim, practice Kung Fu... each with varying degrees of success. They rise and fall from my attention and lay dormant until I decide that I need to use one of them for an outlet, almost obsessively, for a short period of time. I pounce with intensity and enthusiasm, knowing that this time I will master it... finish it... excel at it. For a while I am free from my mind, indulging in sensory related activities, eagerly pulling everything I can from life's experiences. The sensory overload invigorates my creativity and curiosity. It's a blast. I have always equated it to what my dog must feel like when she escapes from the back yard to run amok around the neighborhood. She knows she'll have to come back home... but damn it she's going to have fun while it lasts. External things will all be forgotten again when that time to "go back home" arrives but until then, my mind is on a free-for-all.
Then, that shiny new mental playground I was waiting for presents itself, like a beacon... like a favorite drug. Hopefully this new idea is work-related, because if it isn't, a whole other side of me appears.
Nothing is worse for me than workplace boredom. From "9-5" I am expected to do something productive. I can't spend all day reading or writing or playing an instrument. I have a job to do, and when that job becomes boring, easy or tedious, things get weird.
When I don't have a complex problem to dedicate my mind to, my brain creates complex problems... simply because it wants to. I start analyzing people, motives, weather patterns, fictional characters, traffic, natural disasters, cereal ingredients... the list goes on forever. At the end of it all there is this overwhelming need to take action and so I plant seeds. Who knows which random idea will sprout into my next big problem to solve? I seem to have plenty of mental space to perform whatever routine work task I am assigned to and still daydream about all of these crazy ideas at the same time. This is the controlled version of my boredom where I provide strict rules about what is available for contemplation, and what isn't.
When I was younger this type of boredom did all kinds of bad things to me and had a way of spurring a whirlwind of mischief. I didn't have any rules in place; there were no boundaries of what could be acted upon. Before I learned my lesson, things could unravel very quickly as I started sticking my nose into areas that weren't mine to know about. I would start making recommendations that were never asked for when I found flaws. I mentally tallied whether or not we (the company) were making progress and how... and why. I quietly resented those who had important things to work on that I was not involved in.
As I became more aware of this tendency, I realized how detrimental it was to my career and even possibly to the company itself. My curiosity could derail a project or goal in a heartbeat if I started tearing it apart, fault by fault. The process of dismantling an idea, one that I find entertaining and valuable in all situations, others see as negativity... as meddlesome. Plenty of times, a single, pointed question that has lurked in my mind for days as I watched things unfolding has thrown a wrench in others' well-laid plans. I had no concept of weighing whether or not my input was even needed... of course it was needed! Something was wrong! Wouldn't they want to know as soon as possible about this problem so they could address it?
It took me a long time to realize that even imperfect plans could still turn out well. Projects with a few blips and bumps along the way were not doomed to failure. My way is not always the best way. While others might not lay out the full plan ahead of time, they are still very likely to make it to the end. My husband is an enigma to me in this way. The man is brilliant, and can fly by the seat of his pants with startling success. His form of interacting with the world is much more reactive, but no less valid. He is just as nimble at changing direction if something isn't working, but he doesn't know until that moment of discovery that he needs a new plan, or what it will be! To me, that mentality is mind-boggling. It almost gives me anxiety to think of living like that (hahaha!... no really).
Experience has shown me that I should use my talents for good and not for evil. There is a fine line between offering helpful, timely advise and being destructive. I can't lie... something perverse in me really loves knowing that one single sentence can inflict mortal wounds to brilliant ideas, like a sledgehammer aimed at the minuscule crack in a beautiful, marble statue. One good whack and the whole thing will crumble. It is a sick mind of the INTJ that sees nothing but possibility and fun in the splintered pieces laying all about when the dust settles because it means everything can be reassembled "correctly". This tendency horrifies and angers others and if I'm quite honest, it isn't usually necessary to that extent.
Since I'm not usually surrounded by others with this same mental sickness (heh) I have had to learn how to offer helpful information and restrain myself from being overly critical. Sometimes it is terribly hard to do but I've made progress in this area.
I'm not entirely sure, but I would bet a hefty sum that a lot of INTJ's have had experiences similar to what I describe. Perhaps you figured it out sooner than I did, and if so you have my admiration. The desire to point out flaws seems so ingrained in who I am that it takes a lot of effort and self-control just to keep my mouth shut. I've developed a sort of mental checklist that helps me decide whether or not I should get involved:
1. "Will this information be well received?"
If the answer is no, then I ask another...
2. "Will this information make the difference between success and failure?"
If the answer is no then one more is required...
3. "Will they discover this information on their own with time to resolve it?"
If the answer isn't a resounding yes, then I decide that I should at least mention it to someone who can weigh it into existing plans.
In this way, I have learned how to direct and control the results of my mental boredom. Sometimes I'm sure I still slip and put in my two cents where it isn't needed, but these are hopefully small things, done in passing and if others choose to hear them and take notice (or not) then it isn't very important.
End Note: If you managed to get through this entire post without thinking "What an arrogant ass" then you must be another INTJ or an ENTJ. Even I think I sound like a jerk when I re-read it, but it's all accurate in how I work and live so I suppose it can't be sugar-coated. After all... isn't providing accurate information my ultimate end-goal in life? lol Once I get the world figured out and have the cosmos properly organized perhaps we can have a BBQ and discuss how right we always are about things. Maybe you can live on the Island of Rational Thinkers with us when we conquer it. It will be a splendid place, teeming with book stores and rum. On my island... the rum will never be gone. Join us.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Poetry - Intuition
Intuition
Written 1/14/2009
By Misty Hollamby
Restless thoughts, poised at the edge of revelation,
Dancing, laughing just beyond my reach,
Calling to me like a mythical, fairy-tale creature.
I catch glimpses of their beauty, but
Unwilling words, refusing to be summoned to their duty,
Leave me alone with my abstractions.
What if the threads could for once be sewn into coherence…
Pointing away from their misleading source and
Instead toward something concrete?
What discoveries might lie alone in the depths of the mind,
Unable to be heard or seen by a reckless world?
What price will I pay for not finding them?
But no… my thoughts are changing again, fading,
Never following a line that can be traced, but rather flitting
Back and forth among the weeds like butterflies.
I will never catch them… but I know they are there.
They are become my secret that I shall never reveal.
Not even to myself.
Work - Intuitive Business Analysis - Part 2
Intuition is a difficult thing to describe. My experience with intuition in it's most basic sense seems to be simply a collection of knowledge points that, when combined, trigger some kind of little flag in my mind.
When I was younger I used to sometimes have very strong reactions to conversations I was having with someone. The best way to describe it was that the words I was hearing suddenly faded into the background as my brain focused intently on something else that was less tangible. I would not be able to recall a single word spoken to me during those moments, but I could intensely remember how I FELT. I later associated these instances with being lied to, but it took me a lot of time and experience to recognize it as such. It was difficult to learn to trust my "gut instincts" with people when it seemed like such an irrational way to relate to others. I wanted desperately to be able to accept others at face value, but learned that others sometimes had hidden agendas and motives.
When dealing with people, I now know that if I feel like something isn't on the up-and-up, I should become suspicious and I start analyzing. I've also developed a certain amount of reservation when providing information to others, I suppose as a form of self-preservation. I slowly test people as I come to know them, revealing little things that I know to see if they are a reliable confidante. If they build my trust over time, then I may come to rely heavily on them as a person I can speak freely with... provided that my intuition doesn't send up some other kind of warning.
My intuition though is at its strongest when dealing with computer systems. As I've grown older and accumulated more I.T. knowledge it seems to be easier and easier to just know what's wrong when something is broken. Experience is a part of it, but there is also an uncanny ability to point directly to the source of an issue without knowing exactly why. 90% of the time, I am right on the money.
For example: I was working on testing an IVR system recently and heard an "Unexpected Error" message that plays when some sort of failure occurs... basically a system error indicator. I have heard these messages in the past, and each time that I would call back to test the data again to try to reproduce it, I proceed without error... so I assumed it had been a temporary glitch in the test system or some sort of connectivity hiccup with the database. This time though, I knew something wasn't right. I had been systematically tracing every step, every change in the databases as I performed tasks in each system as I went along. There were two web-based applications, multiple mainframe sockets, Oracle database procedures, IVR logic and an underlying shared backbone application at work in this process, so my review and documentation had been slow and painstaking. I knew there shouldn't be an issue.
I checked the Oracle table and sure enough, the data had changed. I knew the Update procedure had run and succeeded... but there were a lot of other decision points in the IVR call flow between that update and the next voice prompt. Any one of those could have caused the error.
I reviewed all of the data as it had existed during the call and didn't find anything that should have caused a failure. The data was sound and the decisions matched the path I thought I should be on. My eyes settled on the Oracle update reference and I knew that something had gone wrong with the Oracle update, even though it was successful (according to the data).
After the vendor reviewed my test and the data I provided, they found that a Boolean result path was opposite of what it was supposed to be. When that update into Oracle was successful, it sent back the correct response... but the phone system developer had mapped the Success flag to go down the Failure path. The hilarious, evil, devious part of the thing was that once that Oracle table was updated, the test could not be reproduced because the query INTO that table on subsequent calls would turn the caller down a completely different path. One little keystroke, done years before when the system was developed, had caused an error that could not be reproduced. It was a hunch... one Unexpected Error out of a hundred that I'd heard in the last couple of years, but this time I knew that something was broken, and I could fix it.
A similar thing happened a few months ago. This time it was a set of events leading up to a chance review of data that caused me to stumble across it.
We had implemented another phone system about 8-10 weeks prior, and I decided to request a tally of the 'checkpoints' we had built into the system that basically do a count of every time someone passes a certain point in the call flow. Each one was labeled, and since I had been the Analyst and PM on the project, I knew the call flow inside and out... in my sleep. (Fifty revisions of a detailed change request literally appeared in my dreams before the project was rolled into Production.) The system was a nimble gathering of determined information that ultimately resulted in a push to the mainframe where the data was stored.
The familiar labels and their tally's landed in my inbox and after seeing a dramatic difference between the number of people calling versus the number of people who reached the end where the data is submitted, I decided I would outline where we were losing the callers to see if anything stood out. When I was finished, most of the dropped calls could be accounted for (transfers, etc) but there was one area that had a drop rate of over 50%! It was in an area that requested a four digit date to be input, that would then be verified against the Oracle database. It seemed strange that so many people would enter the wrong date and ultimately be routed out of the system.
I passed my findings along to the business and then it was on to other things that demanded my attention.
A few days later, on a separate project, I happened to be sitting with the DBA, reviewing data with him at his desk. He ran a few quick queries, briefly pulled up a table and scrolled a few times before we moved on to the next... but something had caught my attention. I stopped him and backed him up to the previous query results, looking at the field that held the date that so many people were unable to correctly enter. Some of the fields only held three digits. Three?? But it's a four-digit entry... MMDD. I knew that the phone system validated the input on the front end, so how could this be possible?
We realized that the Oracle field was a NUMERIC field... which was dropping any date with a leading zero. The very first record in the table, dating back to years ago, had only three digits. This explained why so many people were dropping off as they tried to authenticate against this field... up to 3/4 of the dates available in a year wouldn't work!!! Only dates in October, November and December were technically 'valid' as a four digit date that we were asking callers to enter.
The combination of timing and circumstance made it possible to find and fix the problem. I was both proud and disappointed in myself. Proud that we had found it, almost by happenstance... but disappointed that it hadn't been discovered in my own testing of our new system. For the sake of ease in test cases, I had been instructed that the default date of "1111" was entered into all of the test cases whenever asked for, and it didn't occur to me to question it or use anything else. In the name of speed in testing, we had committed a Q/A sin.
Intuition is a tricky thing. Sneaky. It creeps up on you when you aren't looking for it and sometimes it can "miss the forest for the trees". More often than not though, I believe it makes connections that seem unrelated to others... and helps me find the true source of how things work. There is something very satisfying in discovery; in new understanding. I am glad, all things considered, that I have such a powerful tool at my disposal... even if I can't control it.
When I was younger I used to sometimes have very strong reactions to conversations I was having with someone. The best way to describe it was that the words I was hearing suddenly faded into the background as my brain focused intently on something else that was less tangible. I would not be able to recall a single word spoken to me during those moments, but I could intensely remember how I FELT. I later associated these instances with being lied to, but it took me a lot of time and experience to recognize it as such. It was difficult to learn to trust my "gut instincts" with people when it seemed like such an irrational way to relate to others. I wanted desperately to be able to accept others at face value, but learned that others sometimes had hidden agendas and motives.
When dealing with people, I now know that if I feel like something isn't on the up-and-up, I should become suspicious and I start analyzing. I've also developed a certain amount of reservation when providing information to others, I suppose as a form of self-preservation. I slowly test people as I come to know them, revealing little things that I know to see if they are a reliable confidante. If they build my trust over time, then I may come to rely heavily on them as a person I can speak freely with... provided that my intuition doesn't send up some other kind of warning.
My intuition though is at its strongest when dealing with computer systems. As I've grown older and accumulated more I.T. knowledge it seems to be easier and easier to just know what's wrong when something is broken. Experience is a part of it, but there is also an uncanny ability to point directly to the source of an issue without knowing exactly why. 90% of the time, I am right on the money.
For example: I was working on testing an IVR system recently and heard an "Unexpected Error" message that plays when some sort of failure occurs... basically a system error indicator. I have heard these messages in the past, and each time that I would call back to test the data again to try to reproduce it, I proceed without error... so I assumed it had been a temporary glitch in the test system or some sort of connectivity hiccup with the database. This time though, I knew something wasn't right. I had been systematically tracing every step, every change in the databases as I performed tasks in each system as I went along. There were two web-based applications, multiple mainframe sockets, Oracle database procedures, IVR logic and an underlying shared backbone application at work in this process, so my review and documentation had been slow and painstaking. I knew there shouldn't be an issue.
I checked the Oracle table and sure enough, the data had changed. I knew the Update procedure had run and succeeded... but there were a lot of other decision points in the IVR call flow between that update and the next voice prompt. Any one of those could have caused the error.
I reviewed all of the data as it had existed during the call and didn't find anything that should have caused a failure. The data was sound and the decisions matched the path I thought I should be on. My eyes settled on the Oracle update reference and I knew that something had gone wrong with the Oracle update, even though it was successful (according to the data).
After the vendor reviewed my test and the data I provided, they found that a Boolean result path was opposite of what it was supposed to be. When that update into Oracle was successful, it sent back the correct response... but the phone system developer had mapped the Success flag to go down the Failure path. The hilarious, evil, devious part of the thing was that once that Oracle table was updated, the test could not be reproduced because the query INTO that table on subsequent calls would turn the caller down a completely different path. One little keystroke, done years before when the system was developed, had caused an error that could not be reproduced. It was a hunch... one Unexpected Error out of a hundred that I'd heard in the last couple of years, but this time I knew that something was broken, and I could fix it.
A similar thing happened a few months ago. This time it was a set of events leading up to a chance review of data that caused me to stumble across it.
We had implemented another phone system about 8-10 weeks prior, and I decided to request a tally of the 'checkpoints' we had built into the system that basically do a count of every time someone passes a certain point in the call flow. Each one was labeled, and since I had been the Analyst and PM on the project, I knew the call flow inside and out... in my sleep. (Fifty revisions of a detailed change request literally appeared in my dreams before the project was rolled into Production.) The system was a nimble gathering of determined information that ultimately resulted in a push to the mainframe where the data was stored.
The familiar labels and their tally's landed in my inbox and after seeing a dramatic difference between the number of people calling versus the number of people who reached the end where the data is submitted, I decided I would outline where we were losing the callers to see if anything stood out. When I was finished, most of the dropped calls could be accounted for (transfers, etc) but there was one area that had a drop rate of over 50%! It was in an area that requested a four digit date to be input, that would then be verified against the Oracle database. It seemed strange that so many people would enter the wrong date and ultimately be routed out of the system.
I passed my findings along to the business and then it was on to other things that demanded my attention.
A few days later, on a separate project, I happened to be sitting with the DBA, reviewing data with him at his desk. He ran a few quick queries, briefly pulled up a table and scrolled a few times before we moved on to the next... but something had caught my attention. I stopped him and backed him up to the previous query results, looking at the field that held the date that so many people were unable to correctly enter. Some of the fields only held three digits. Three?? But it's a four-digit entry... MMDD. I knew that the phone system validated the input on the front end, so how could this be possible?
We realized that the Oracle field was a NUMERIC field... which was dropping any date with a leading zero. The very first record in the table, dating back to years ago, had only three digits. This explained why so many people were dropping off as they tried to authenticate against this field... up to 3/4 of the dates available in a year wouldn't work!!! Only dates in October, November and December were technically 'valid' as a four digit date that we were asking callers to enter.
The combination of timing and circumstance made it possible to find and fix the problem. I was both proud and disappointed in myself. Proud that we had found it, almost by happenstance... but disappointed that it hadn't been discovered in my own testing of our new system. For the sake of ease in test cases, I had been instructed that the default date of "1111" was entered into all of the test cases whenever asked for, and it didn't occur to me to question it or use anything else. In the name of speed in testing, we had committed a Q/A sin.
Intuition is a tricky thing. Sneaky. It creeps up on you when you aren't looking for it and sometimes it can "miss the forest for the trees". More often than not though, I believe it makes connections that seem unrelated to others... and helps me find the true source of how things work. There is something very satisfying in discovery; in new understanding. I am glad, all things considered, that I have such a powerful tool at my disposal... even if I can't control it.
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