PeopleSmart in Business eBook - The Platinum Rule

Some are more, some less
It is important to realize that people vary in their location on this
scale of Direct to Indirect behaviors. Th ink of someone you know who
irritates you. Now that you know about Direct and Indirect characteristics,
have you fi gured out which trait best describes him or her? One
important consideration is to determine the person’s preferred pace.
Pace refers to natural rate of speed—whether he does things quickly
or slowly. Bearing in mind pace and other trait descriptors for Direct
and Indirect people, let’s determine whether that person is more Direct
or Indirect. Nobody fi ts exactly in the middle.
You may be wondering which are better—Direct traits or Indirect ones.
We can answer with an unqualifi ed, “It depends.” Sometimes it’s better to
act more Direct and sometimes it’s better to act more Indirect. Comparing
the two is like evaluating San Diego and New York City. Each is very
diff erent, yet we could build a strong argument in either one’s favor.
Appropriateness depends on the requirements of a situation. Th e
real question isn’t which is better, but how to best use the positive
aspects of each trait while recognizing accompanying less developed
attributes. Since each of our lives involves a variety of situations requiring
diff ering responses, remember there is no one best personality
type. Th e idea is to maximize people’s natural traits while understanding
and trying to minimize their accompanying drawbacks.
Survey of Directness versus Indirectness
Th is is an informal survey designed to provide you with a general description
of how you see others in daily situations. Answer as objectively
as possible. Th is is a non-judgmental assessment—there are no right or
wrong answers. Choose one person you know (socially, personally, or
at work) and answer these nine questions in terms of how you see that
person most of the time, in most situations. Th is will help you deter-
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