The Thinker: An Overview

Thinkers are both indirect and guarded. They are concerned with analytical processes and are persistent, systematic problem-solvers. They can also be seen as aloof, picky and critical. Thinkers are very security-conscious and have a high need to be right, leading them to an overreliance on data collection. In their quest for data, they tend to ask many questions about specifics. Their actions and decisions tend to be slow and extremely cautious, but they will rarely miss a deadline. Although they are great problem-solvers, Thinkers could be better decision-makers.

Thinkers tend to be perfectionists, serious, and orderly. They focus on the details and the process of work, and become irritated by surprises and “glitches.” Their theme is, “Notice my efficiency,” and their emphasis is on compliance and working within existing guidelines to promote quality in products or service.

Thinkers like organization and structure and dislike too much involvement with other people. They work slowly and precisely by themselves, are time-disciplined, and prefer an intellectual work environment. Thinkers tend to be critical of their own performance. They tend to be skeptical and like to see things in writing.

Thinkers’ primary strengths are their accuracy, dependability, independence, follow-through and organization. Their primary weaknesses are their procrastination and conservative natures, which promote their tendency to be picky and over-cautious. Occupations that they tend to gravitate toward are accounting, engineering, computer programming, the hard sciences (chemistry, physics, math), systems analysis and architecture.

The greatest irritation for Thinkers is disorganized, illogical people. In business environments, they want others to be credible, professional, and courteous. In social environments, they like others to be pleasant and sincere.

Environmental clues include highly organized desks with clear tops. Their office walls contain their favorite types of artwork: charts, graphs, exhibits or pictures pertaining to the job. Thinkers are non-contact people who prefer the formality of distance. This preference is reflected in the functional but uninviting arrangement of their desks and chairs. They are not fond of huggers and touchers, and prefer a cool handshake or a brief phone call.

To improve their balance and behavioral flexibility, Thinkers need to: openly show concern and appreciation of others; try shortcuts and time-savers occasionally; adjust more readily to change and disorganization; improve timely decision-making and initiation of new projects; compromise with the opposition; state unpopular decisions; and use policies more as guidelines than hard and fast laws.

THINKER STYLE

• Cautious actions and decisions
• Likes organization and structure
• Dislikes involvement
• Asks many questions about specific details
• Prefers objective, task-oriented, intellectual work environment
• Wants to be right, so can be overly reliant on data collection
• Works slowly and precisely alone
• Good problem solving skills

UNDER STRESS, THINKERS: WILL WITHDRAW

EXAMPLE of Typical response to stressful situation:
"I can't help you any further. Do what you want."

MAY APPEAR

• Over-reliant on data and documentation
• Resistant to change
• Slow to act
• Slow to begin work
• Unable to meet deadlines
• Unimaginative
• Withdrawn
• Resentful

NEED

• Guarantees that they're right
• Understanding of principles and details
• Slow pace for "processing" information
• Accuracy

To Increase Behavioral Adaptability, Thinkers Need To...

Openly show concern and appreciation of others

Occasionally try short cuts and timesavers

Adjust more readily to change and disorganization

Work on timely decision making

Initiate new projects

Compromise with the opposition

State unpopular decisions

Use policies as guidelines, rather than laws