„‚ CONDITIONS THAT HINDER EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

The Sensing-Perceiving (SP) Manager
Unlike the SJ manager who sets up rules, regulations, and procedures, the SP manager
excels at putting out fires. An SP manager has a good grasp of potential situations and is
an excellent diplomat. The SP type is crisis oriented and makes decisions based on
expediency; neither regulations nor interpersonal relations are so sacred that they cannot
be negotiated by an SP manager. An SP manager is concerned with getting the job done
and is very reluctant to pay attention to theory or abstractions. Such a person often
makes commitments that he or she has difficulty carrying out when something comes up
that is more current or more pressing. An SP manager can be unpredictable and, when
not troubleshooting, can resist changes that are imposed by someone else. However,
such a person adapts well when a situation changes, always seeming to be one step
ahead. He or she is very practical and often sees breakdowns before they occur.
Beginning or struggling organizations are ideally suited to the SP manager.
The Intuitive-Thinking (NT) Manager
An NT manager is the true architect of change, questioning everything and basing
answers on proven laws and principles. Although he or she is not good at managing
maintenance or consolidation projects, an intuitive-thinking manager excels at and takes
pride in technical knowledge. An NT manager avoids crisis at all costs because
everything must make sense to him or her. The NT manager may delegate the execution
of organizational plans but afterward rarely feels that these plans were carried out
satisfactorily. Such a person often has difficulty with interpersonal transactions because
of his or her impatience and reluctance to show appreciation. A need to escalate
standards continually results in the NT manager’s feeling restless and unfulfilled. An NT
manager sees the long- and short-term implications of a decision, can recognize the
power base and the structure of an organization, and can make decisions based on
impersonal choices. More than any other type, an intuitive thinker seems to have the
vision to see all dimensions of a system, making him or her a very capable planner and
constructor.
The Intuitive-Feeling (NF) Manager
A manager who is an intuitive feeler is probably inclined toward personnel management.
He or she is committed to the personal progress of the staff, to seeing possibilities for
others’ growth, and to helping others to develop their potentials. An NF manager is
democratic and encourages participation; in fact, he or she often is overly concerned
with the staff’s personal problems. Interpersonal relationships often drain the time and
energy that an NF manager needs for his or her personal and professional life. However,
an NF manager’s ability to show appreciation can encourage staff; verbal fluency and
enthusiasm make him or her an excellent spokesperson for an organization. An NF
manager is often a good judge of the organizational climate; he or she shows great
patience, despite a tendency to opt for stopgap solutions. Such a person can find himself
The Pfeiffer Library Volume 6, 2nd Edition. Copyright ©1998 Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer ❚❘ 137