An undeniably important step to creating a successful relationship is to understand some key aspects of yourself. Among them is understanding how you choose to go about accomplishing a task. This can be anything from cleaning a house or office to planning for the future. This can help you in friendships, romantic relationships, and in partnerships and teams in the workplace. Knowing your own work style and the style(s) of those around you, can help lower the stress and conflict around getting things done.
This is actually easier than it sounds. Gretchen Rubin, creator and author of The Happiness Project,(https://gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2015/03/podcast-4-one-sentence-journals-marathoners-vs-sprinters-parking-lot-snacks/) boils it down to three easy-to-understand work styles. She illustrates these styles by using running analogies.
The following example and descriptions can help you identify where you and your co-workers/family/friends fit. This will hopefully make it easier to work more effectively with others.
Suppose there is a team of three people, and each has a task to accomplish within a two-week period. At the end of that time, the team must correlate all the information for a final presentation.
You may have a team of people who have the same or very similar work styles. Usually, however, there will be different work styles and if the team members do not understand how each person works, there will be conflict and hard feelings.
The three type of working styles Rubin identifies are:
1.The Marathoner-The marathon worker would start as soon as s/he hears the task. S/he will work steadily over the entire two weeks. This gives a sense of control and lowers stress. There will be no rush and push at the end. The goal is to finish early. S/he will continue to review the work until the end, having the security of staying in touch with the work.
- The Sprinter-The sprinter will sit down with the information about his/her task, evaluate how long it will take to accomplish, and plan accordingly. S/he will have a good idea of his/her ability to accomplish the task and will schedule the exact amount of time it takes to accomplish the work. S/he needs a deadline in sight to be motivated. Because of his/her confidence in being able to get the work done, the tight time boundaries and looming deadline keep him/her focused. This worker meets the deadline with ease.
3.The Procrastinator-S/he will delay starting the task until the last possible minute. Fear and anxiety drive the procrastinator. S/he usually gets the task done, but it will be with great effort at the end of the time limit. Putting the task off helps him/her avoid a conscious and/or unconscious fear of not being able to do the task “well enough.” It causes stress and many times conflict within the group. When there are meetings to check on progress, the Procrastinator usually has little to say because s/he has been thinking about the task, not doing it. The adrenaline from the stress and time crunch covers the anxiety. These people are often extremely smart, competent and perfectionists.
There are pros and cons to each style of work.
The marathon worker gives bosses and co workers the security of knowing they can be counted on to do the work. The downside is it can be hard for them to handle unexpected delays and complications. They may not have the skills to deal with the stress and anxiety that arises. This is when the sprinter can come in and “save the day.”
The sprinter can be depended upon to get the job done, and can be counted on in a pinch. The problem arises for them when they have unexpected occurrences that add time to the task.
The procrastinator is good with time crunches, last minute work sessions and long hours to finish. They can handle stress. The problem is that postponing the task is not a choice but a necessity to handle their anxiety. They need to learn strategies to handle their fear and begin the task earlier.
Which type are you? Most of you will be a combination of all three with a preference for one style. Regardless of your answer, understanding yourself and others will enhance your relationships. When there is understanding, trust can be built which will decrease conflict and stress.
If you need help learning to be more balanced in your work I can help. Call me at (919)881-2001.
