PeopleSmart in Business eBook - The Platinum Rule

Ranges of behavior
Whether a person is more Open or Guarded, remember there are degrees
of these characteristics that vary from individual to individual.
When the chips are down, Open people tend to spare others’ feelings
at the expense of completing a task. Guarded people want to get things
done, even though feelings may get hurt as part of the emotional cost
of accomplishment. Th is does not necessarily mean that Open people
do not believe in responsibly doing their work; it just means that people
are a higher concern. Similarly, it does not mean Guarded people do not
value other people. Th ey simply think the best way to deal with people
is by a more controlled style of behavior.
Survey of Open versus Guarded Behaviors
Follow the same guidelines for this set of nine questions as you did
for the Direct and Indirect ones earlier in this chapter. Focus on the
same person that you did previously.
Is the Person More Open or Guarded?
1. (S) More open to getting to know people better and establishing
new relationships, OR
(C) Exerts more control over who he/she gets involved with, including
how well you get to know them
2. (C) Focuses conversations on tasks, issues, business, or subject at
hand, OR
(S) Allows conversations to take the direction of interest of the
parties involved, even though this may stray from the business or
subject at hand
3. (C) Tends to make decisions based on objectives, facts, or evidence,
OR
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