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The Behavioral Cycle
Where do your strengths lie?

Read more about the Natural Brain Preferences you are particularly strong in!

OBSERVE

How do we observe
Our brains constantly receive vast amounts of information from our six senses. For example, in an open-plan office, we may see multiple computer screens, smell coffee, overhear colleagues discussing tasks, and hear phone calls. However, not all brains process this information in the same way. Some of us tend to focus on one task at a time, while others stay open to all available information. This difference lies in how our brains prioritize information and decide what to attend to and what to ignore. All brains have developed both styles that are described below, but one style often dominates. The superior parietal lobe is crucial for observing and acts as a key gateway to the prefrontal cortex.

Directive Observing

Directive brains excel when focusing their attention entirely on one thing at a time. Their brains process small portions of information in depth. This is due to a mechanism called “sensory gating,” which restricts the amount of information entering our conscious awareness.
However, because they tend to prioritize deep processing of a limited amount of information, they may not be sensitive to external sensory stimuli and might miss subtle social cues.

Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • Focus mode activated!
    You can concentrate super well. Look for tasks that require your full attention, you can really excel in these.
  • Calm in chaos!
    You can completely shut out in a busy work environment. Find that cozy spot in the open office and get to work quickly. Distractions or not, you’re unaffected.
  • Eyes on the prize!
    You have the goal clearly in sight, allowing you to stay focused on monotonous everyday tasks. Use this focus to make progress step by step and effectively achieve your goals.
Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • Did I miss something?
    You can unintentionally miss subtle social cues from colleagues. Specifically ask your colleagues to point these out to assist you.
  • Am I still not done?
    You can get so absorbed in your work that you forget to take breaks. Try setting reminders in your schedule at fixed times for breaks.
  • From one thing to another!
    You may find it challenging to switch between different tasks. Inform your colleagues that you prefer to focus on one task/project at a time for optimal results.
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Perceptive Observing

Perceptive brains thrive in environments where many things require attention at once. Their brains process large amounts of information simultaneously, and are skilled at rapidly switching gears and determining which information requires more attention. Their “environmental antennas” are always on, actively gathering and processing information. However, this heightened sensitivity to sensory input can sometimes lead to overwhelm and a rapid decline in focus.

Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • Subtle signals? Quite clear, aren’t they!
    You’re open to your surroundings and pick up on every subtle signal. Keep looking and listening around you, gathering all the information to determine your next steps.
  • Switching gears quickly is a breeze!
    You can divide your attention well, making it easy for you to switch between different tasks. Keep it lively and regularly alternate tasks.
  • You pick up on everything!
    You can easily handle situations where many things come at you simultaneously. Turn this information into tasks to quickly get started.
Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • So many stimuli!
    You may be sensitive to too many stimuli in your environment. Try working with noise-canceling headphones and let your colleagues know when you prefer not to be disturbed.
  • Where did my concentration go?
    In an overly quiet environment, you may struggle with concentration. Try to find a balanced amount of stimuli, such as music, to improve focus.
  • Start without a finish!
    You may find it difficult to finish tasks. Try dividing your work into subtasks, allowing you to progress step by step towards completion.

THINK

How do we think
The brain perpetually interprets incoming data, associating it with previous knowledge and emotions. It inquires, “Does this align with prior learning?” and “Is this source reliable?” Nobel laureate Kahneman’s “System 2” signifies this energy-consuming, conscious analytical thinking. Conversely, “System 1” involves swift, intuitive thinking to discern relevance. Some brains naturally incline towards Thorough Thinking, while others lean towards Intuitive Thinking. The ventrolateral prefrontal and frontopolar cortex play essential roles in these thinking processes, enabling our brains to purposefully understand the world around us.

Thorough Thinking

Thorough brains have a natural inclination towards weighing all available information and meticulously considering its importance before arriving at potential solutions. This remarkable ability to utilize all available information and make sense of even seemingly unrelated issues enables the discovery of novel solutions when existing ones prove inadequate. Since thorough brains tend to carefully consider each detail, it may lead to time pressure in certain situations. To circumvent this, it helps to focus on the most crucial information or to ask for help to identify the key issues that require consideration.

Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • I’ll figure it out myself!
    You don’t need clear instructions to take effective action. Create your own plan, even if the instructions are unclear.
  • I’ll find a solution!
    Because you research everything meticulously, you can find new solutions that others might miss. Dive into the details to get inspired!
  • What’s the bigger picture?
    You try to understand the bigger picture. Keep carefully considering the relevance of all options and possibilities to sharpen your perspective.
Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • Does it have to be finished today?
    You may feel pressured by upcoming deadlines. Try to plan how much time you can dedicate to brainstorming, planning, and execution in the process to maintain an overview.
  • Sometimes, less is more!
    You might lose yourself in the amount of information and details. You can ask colleagues to help you determine which information is essential to achieve your goal.
  • It can always be better!
    You want to do everything perfectly, which can lead to delays. Collaborate with colleagues to determine what is necessary to achieve your goal and decide together when it’s good enough.

Intuitive Thinking

Intuitive brains have a natural inclination towards drawing conclusions rapidly based on the most crucial information available. This cognitive style allows us to compare current situations with similar past experiences and come up with solutions faster than other people. Since intuitive brains rely mostly on past experiences and the main issues to consider, it can lead to errors or missed opportunities. Therefore, it is important to occasionally take a step back and examine the situation from an analytical perspective or to ask for help to ensure that all pertinent information is considered.

Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • This solution is very logical!
    You’re quick to come up with solutions. Keep thinking on your feet in the moment and you will easily come up with solutions.
  • This is really important!
    You can quickly distinguish what’s truly important from what’s trivial. Trust yourself and use the available information to make decisions.
  • Bring the past into the present!
    You can easily recall past situations and use them to tackle problems. Use your experience to come up with efficient solutions.
Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • The present and the past!
    You may cling too much to past experiences. Try combining them with current experiences and check with colleagues if they have similar ideas.
  • Dig a little deeper!
    You might form opinions (too) quickly, which can hinder you. Try asking for additional information that can broaden your perception before jumping to a conclusion.
  • Hit the ground running!
    At times, you dive into work without a thoughtful plan. Try step by step planning for new projects and check it with colleagues to hit the ground running.
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DECIDE

How do we decide
The brain, tasked with many decisions daily, uses different styles for complex choices. The superior prefrontal cortex, allowing for thoughtful decisions, carefully evaluates pros and cons. In contrast, the premotor cortex supports practical, goal-directed decisions. Some brains lean towards practicality, while others emphasize thoroughness in their decision-making process. These decisions range from automatic ones like braking the car to deliberate ones such as choosing a seat on a train. The nuanced role of the brain in decision-making underscores its versatility and adaptability in different situations.

Considerate Deciding

Considerate brains tend to prioritize listing all choice options and value the input of others. This means taking a thorough approach to decision-making and striving to consider all angles. They may also be naturally inclined to consider the long-term consequences of decisions. Since considerate brains weigh many decision options and value consensus when making decisions, it can lead to delays in the decision-making process. Finding a balance between thorough consideration and timely decision-making is key.

Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • All information sorted!
    When making decisions, you carefully consider all options. Seek out relevant information and take it into account in your decision-making process.
  • Here are the options!
    You can substantiate and list choice options well. Make a list of your options, including the long-term consequences, so you can share them clearly at a glance!
  • Everyone agrees!
    You naturally create support for your choices. Use this strength to involve others in decision-making.
Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • Do I have enough information?
    Wanting to consider all information in a decision-making process can lead to delays. Try to limit your choices to a maximum of three options.
  • Do you agree!
    At times, you can become too dependent on your colleagues for the next step. Try making a decision independently and then validating it, rather than co-creating.
  • Where did the time go?
    You enjoy taking your time with decisions, but sometimes this causes significant delays. Try setting a time limit for a decision; this will force you to focus on the main goal.

Practical Deciding

Practical brains excel in situations that require bold, quick decisions. They tend to prioritize action over prolonged contemplation, and may revisit and refine choices at a later stage. This can inspire confidence in colleagues and help move projects forward with speed and efficiency. Since practical brains tend to prefer making quick decisions on their own, this may sometimes create misunderstandings. To prevent this, they need to make sure to effectively communicate the rationale of their decisions to others.

Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • The goal in mind!
    You can make decisions quickly. Keep your goal in mind to make pragmatic and purposeful choices.
  • Decision, consequence!
    You easily focus on the key points. Use this strength to effectively assess the consequences of your choices and make decisions based on these critical aspects.
  • Right or wrong choice?
    You’re not afraid to make the wrong choice. Keep the momentum going by diving in right away, with occasional pauses to consider other options.
Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • Living on the edge!
    Sometimes, making a quick decision comes with risks. Try to consider at least three options before making a final decision.
  • Do you also work here?
    Sometimes, unintentionally, you might exclude others during decision-making. Try actively involving your colleagues in the decision-making process and let them have a voice in the outcome.
  • Overconfident, me?
    A quick decision can sometimes come across as overconfident. Take a moment to carefully think about the different options and validate them with your colleagues.
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PLAN

How do we plan
Work processes involve various tasks, from complex projects to simpler ones, and brains approach these tasks differently. Organizing brains prefer to structure tasks ahead of time, organizing them into hierarchies for efficiency. Conversely, improvising brains adjust plans on-the-fly, displaying flexibility with time and an inclination towards in-the-moment planning, rather than rigidly adhering to preconceived structures. These differing neurocognitive styles showcase how tasks and schedules are uniquely actioned. Planning depends on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in combination with the anterior cingulate cortex.

Organizing Planning 

Organizing brains typically prefer to structure and plan tasks and projects well in advance and sort tasks into hierarchies and dependencies. They generally divide up time into fixed blocks, allowing to see complex projects through to completion. Since organizing brains generally have a need for a structured way of working and organizing, they may encounter difficulties if briefings and goals are unclear or if projects are constantly changing. To prevent misunderstandings and ensure success, it is important to communicate the need for clarity in terms of goals.

Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • Structure provides stability!
    You structure projects into task overviews. Make concrete plans to prioritize effectively.
  • Who needs deadlines anyway!
    You’re highly effective at planning ahead. Create a clear vision of where you need to go, and you won’t need the pressure of deadlines to shine.
  • Planning, planning, and more planning!
    You can easily process a lot of information at once. Convert this into tasks that you can effectively and efficiently allocate into time blocks!
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Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • Squeeze this in as well?
    You may find it challenging to deal with unexpected things. Try to allocate some extra time in your schedule for ad-hoc tasks and situations to create space for yourself.
  • What do you mean?
    Vague objectives are a thorn in your side. If something is unclear, discuss it immediately with your colleagues for a clear understanding of expectations together.
  • Did you just think of that now?
    You may find it challenging to handle ad-hoc tasks. Discuss with your colleagues that this causes you stress and that you excel more in planned projects.
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Improvising Planning

Improvising brains have a natural tendency to jump straight into assigned tasks without overthinking. They are flexible with their time and can easily reschedule work activities when needed. They don’t rigidly adhere to a preconceived plan and excel when urgent ad hoc tasks need to be done. Since improvising brains tend to take on work in an ad hoc manner, they do run the risk of leaving urgent and/or important tasks incomplete. To prevent this, make sure to plan in time blocks where the focus is only on the most urgent and important tasks.

Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • Who needs structure anyway!
    Structure isn’t a determining factor for you to be successful. Seek out situations where you can move flexibly and structure isn’t necessarily needed.
  • Handy, like a pressure cooker!
    You excel at completing tasks under time pressure. Seek out those tight deadlines at times to bring out the best in yourself.
  • The only constant is change!
    You can quickly adapt to changing situations. Look for opportunities to be flexible and provide ad-hoc assistance with projects and tasks to add value for yourself and your team.
Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • It’s not finished yet!
    Due to the lack of fixed schedules, there may not be enough time for important tasks. Try to estimate urgency in advance so that you can finish the most important ones before starting anything else.
  • What truly matters?
    Sometimes, you may find it challenging to complete important tasks. Try making a list at the beginning of the week with the five most important things you want to have checked off by the end of the week.
  • Were you working on anything?
    Because you prefer working ad-hoc on various tasks, you may involve others in this. Keep in mind that others prefer working with clear goals and schedules and would rather not be constantly interrupted.

ACT

How do we act
Brains vary significantly in the way they act, with some moving slower but with greater precision, while others prioritize speed despite the increased chance of errors. Precise brains utilize the supplementary motor cortex and inferior frontal gyrus, continually adjusting motor areas for increased accuracy. This method, while reliable, is not swift. On the other hand, Fast Acting brains rely on a more direct pathway from information processing to action, utilizing the motor cortex and the cerebellum. While these brains act swiftly, they may have less accuracy.

Precise Acting 

Precise brains would rather accomplish fewer tasks in a work day than let any slide. They excel in roles where editing or correcting somebody else’s work is crucial or when making mistakes must be prevented at all costs. Precise brains thus need time to do their work, prioritizing quality over quantity. Since precise acting brains prioritize high work quality, this may lead to serious time pressure. To ensure that they get their work done, it’s essential to manage time wisely. They may benefit from allocating specific time blocks to each task to ensure prioritizing effectively while still delivering high-quality work.

Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • It’s under control!
    You act with precision and control. Take on those complex tasks that nobody wants, especially, and bring them to a successful conclusion!
  • Dotting the i’s!
    You excel in tasks where details matter. Work step by step towards the finish line to achieve your goal accurately.
  • Mistakes, what are those?
    You’re less prone to making mistakes due to your precise way of working. Offer assistance to others to help them improve the quality!
Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • Is there any time left?
    Because you work very precisely, it takes longer to complete tasks. Try to schedule fixed time blocks for specific tasks with specific deadlines.
  • Should I add that to the list as well?
    Because you want to do tasks very precisely, it can sometimes feel overwhelming when more tasks keep piling up. Try to be sharp with your priorities and discuss what you can delegate with your colleagues.
  • Sometimes, an 8 is good enough!
    Due to your pursuit of perfection, you may feel stressed. Discuss with your colleagues and stakeholders when the output is good enough, and involve them in assessing the outcome periodically.

Fast Acting

Fast brains have the natural ability to complete many things in a short amount of time. They prefer to accomplish as much as possible in a day, rather than focusing on precision work where errors are not permitted. Strengths lie in roles where a high work pace is required, and some level of flaws is tolerated. Since fast acting brains have a tendency to get mountains of work done, this often comes at the expense of delivering high-quality, precise work. Make sure to ask help from other people to correct or review work when quality is key.
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Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • Fast, faster, fastest!
    You act quickly and have a high work pace. Gather information proactively to ensure a swift start when diving into tasks.
  • What’s one mistake anyway!
    You can complete many tasks quickly and efficiently. Forgive yourself if a mistake slips through occasionally due to your speed!
  • Let me start!
    You can handle large volumes of work well. Therefore, focus on projects and tasks that need a kickstart. Do the groundwork and then hand it over for the details.
Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • Do you want it quick or good?
    Because you act very quickly, the quality may suffer. Try scheduling specific moments in the process for quality checks and ask colleagues for assistance.
  • Big steps, done quickly!
    Due to your intense focus on reaching your goal quickly, you may unconsciously skip steps. Try working with checklists so that you can see at a glance which steps still need to be taken.
  • The four-eye principle!
    Due to your fast pace, mistakes can easily occur. Try to allocate extra time in your planning before the deadline for an evaluation with colleagues and stakeholders.
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EXECUTE

How do we execute
Every brain, when engaged with tasks, has a preferred style. Persistent brains, which utilize the inferior frontal gyrus, can focus on one task for long periods, excelling at repetitive duties but can struggle with distractions. Conversely, dynamic brains, relying on the temporoparietal junction, favor varied, brief tasks in changing environments, adjusting quickly but struggling with lengthy tasks. Despite this, they easily achieve the ‘flow,’ a state of effortless concentration and enjoyment, reached when deeply engaged with challenging tasks. It’s the perfect balance between boredom and anxiety, where performance peaks and engagement thrives.

Persistent Executing 

Persistent brains have a natural inclination to focus on a task or project for a sustained period of time before moving onto the next one. Persistent brains tend to perform best when they can concentrate on a specific task for at least 90 minutes before switching to a different one. One of the major advantages is that they can make great progress when there are no distractions. Since persistent brains require time to get into the flow, they may perform worse in a dynamic environment with many interruptions. Therefore, it is best to find a quiet work environment where they can focus and avoid distractions as much as possible to maximize productivity.

Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • Block by block!
    You can work on the same tasks for extended periods without compromising quality. Use this strength by planning specific time blocks to fully concentrate on these tasks.
  • Giving up, what’s that?
    You rarely give up on difficult tasks. Ensure you maintain your focus so you can make significant strides towards your goal.
  • With a smile towards the finish line!
    You’re incredibly goal-oriented and can work with focus for extended periods. By regularly evaluating your progress, you maintain your focus and stay motivated to achieve your goals.
Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • I’m exhausted!
    Continuous work on tasks and projects can be very draining. Try to schedule regular breaks with reminders in your calendar so that you don’t forget them.
  • Didn’t I do this an hour ago?
    If you keep doing the same routine work, you might get bored. While you can stay alert, the repetition can become dull. Try alternating tasks and challenge yourself to do things in a different way.
  • What was I doing again?
    When switching tasks, it may take a while to get back into ‘the zone.’ Ensure you are not disturbed during important tasks to maintain focus.
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Fast Acting

Fast brains have the natural ability to complete many things in a short amount of time. They prefer to accomplish as much as possible in a day, rather than focusing on precision work where errors are not permitted. Strengths lie in roles where a high work pace is required, and some level of flaws is tolerated. Since fast acting brains have a tendency to get mountains of work done, this often comes at the expense of delivering high-quality, precise work. Make sure to ask help from other people to correct or review work when quality is key.
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Strengths and how to effectively use them
  • Fast, faster, fastest!
    You act quickly and have a high work pace. Gather information proactively to ensure a swift start when diving into tasks.
  • What’s one mistake anyway!
    You can complete many tasks quickly and efficiently. Forgive yourself if a mistake slips through occasionally due to your speed!
  • Let me start!
    You can handle large volumes of work well. Therefore, focus on projects and tasks that need a kickstart. Do the groundwork and then hand it over for the details.
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Potential challenges and how to overcome them
  • Do you want it quick or good?
    Because you act very quickly, the quality may suffer. Try scheduling specific moments in the process for quality checks and ask colleagues for assistance.
  • Big steps, done quickly!
    Due to your intense focus on reaching your goal quickly, you may unconsciously skip steps. Try working with checklists so that you can see at a glance which steps still need to be taken.
  • The four-eye principle!
    Due to your fast pace, mistakes can easily occur. Try to allocate extra time in your planning before the deadline for an evaluation with colleagues and stakeholders.
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