| I recently conducted a survey to look at the | | | | in the week-at-a-glance format. She doesn't feel |
| relationship between an individual's personality type | | | | her computer is reliable enough to use as a time |
| and his or her organizing and time management | | | | management tool. Another tried using the |
| style, and noticed that the majority of participants | | | | Outlook(R) calendar, but found it wasn't functional |
| said they have a calendar system that works for | | | | for her, since she isn't always at her computer. |
| them. As there are so many time management | | | | She believes a PDA would be useful as it would |
| systems available, both paper-based and | | | | allow her to easily transfer information between |
| electronic, I thought it would be interesting to find | | | | the two, but until she can afford one, she uses |
| out which calendar systems are most popular | | | | paper Day-Timers(R), one page per day format. |
| with each personality type, and asked my ezine | | | | She likes the monthly planner for seeing the |
| subscribers and visitors to my website to | | | | whole picture and the one page per day gives her |
| describe their time management system, what | | | | enough space to "explode the detail" when |
| they like and dislike about it, and their personality | | | | necessary. She also keeps a family calendar in the |
| type according to the Myers-Briggs Type | | | | kitchen. Yet another makes maximum use of |
| Indicator(R) (MBTI(R)). The MBTI measures your | | | | technology, combining a Palm Pilot(R) with desktop |
| preferences in four areas: | | | | contact management software, and synchronizing |
| The source of your energy (Introversion / | | | | the two regularly. |
| Extraversion) | | | | The only ENFJ participant uses Outlook(R) |
| Taking in information (Sensing / INtuition) | | | | combined with a Palm V(R). She likes the ability to |
| Decision-making (Thinking / Feeling) | | | | set recurring meetings and dates like birthdays, |
| Dealing with the outer world (Judging / Perceiving) | | | | organize a list of tasks and memos by category, |
| Because the Judging / Perceiving preference | | | | flag email for follow up, and set reminders. Other |
| pertains to the way you deal with the outer | | | | benefits she enjoys include only having to handle |
| world, it has the greatest influence on the way | | | | paper when she chooses to print something, and |
| you manage time and space, however, the other | | | | the Palm(R)'s compactness. On the downside, she |
| preferences also come into play, as described in | | | | mentions the Palm's fragility and the risk of losing |
| earlier articles. Your preferences in the four areas | | | | data. |
| listed above combine to form one of 16 different | | | | Individuals with preferences for iNtuition and |
| personality types. | | | | Thinking also reported using a wide variety of |
| This article is a summary of the responses I | | | | time management tools. |
| received, according to the participants' stated | | | | All of the ENTJ's who participated in this survey |
| personality type. Where specific time | | | | reported using a combination of paper and |
| management products were named, this | | | | electronic systems. One prints her own calendar |
| information has been included. | | | | from MS Outlook(R) on Day-Timer(R) computer |
| Due to their preference for planning and their | | | | paper (Desk size, 7-hole punched) and uses |
| attention to detail, the Sensing Judging types are | | | | several of the Day-Timer(R) accessories that are |
| generally considered natural organizers with a | | | | available. Another uses a combination of "brain |
| strong attachment to schedules and deadlines. | | | | power, paper calendar and electronic organizer". |
| Most formal time management systems on the | | | | ENTP's reported a distinct preference for portable |
| market were designed by and for SJ types. | | | | electronic systems. One found a Palm Pilot(R) to |
| Although one ISTJ participant stated that he | | | | be effective because she could sync it with her |
| doesn't use a time management system at all, | | | | computer, but no longer has the technology |
| the others showed a preference for a | | | | available to her. She has had little success with |
| paper-based system. Most like the | | | | paper calendars. Another uses a Palm Zire71(R) |
| week-at-a-glance format, either the Day | | | | with the Palm Desktop(R) system. The features |
| Runner(R) or the Taylor Planner(R), because it | | | | she considers most important are the color |
| allows them to visualize what they have to do. | | | | screen, the ability to take hand-written notes, and |
| One student supplements her daily planner with a | | | | alarms and snooze buttons. She found that a |
| wall-mounted dry-erase calendar as well as a | | | | paper planner was too much trouble to carry |
| dry-erase board containing her weekly time map. | | | | around. |
| ISFJ participants also showed a preference for a | | | | INTJ's, on the other hand, showed a preference |
| paper-based system. Although one stated that | | | | for paper-based planners. One stated a reluctance |
| she loves technology and was given a Palm | | | | "to go the Blackberry(R) route" because she likes |
| Pilot(R), she has no desire to give up her | | | | to flip ahead to whole weeks of appointments |
| Day-Timer(R), which has a monthly calendar that | | | | and to staple information to pages in preparation |
| allows her to see her commitments at a glance. It | | | | for various events. |
| also includes two pages for each day, with space | | | | As no INTP's responded to the survey, I will |
| for a to-do list and daily schedule, as well as blank | | | | share the following quotation from Larry |
| space for jotting down phone messages and | | | | Demarest's Out of Time: |
| important thoughts. Others are less concerned | | | | INTP's tend to be conceptual planners - their plans |
| with scheduling, but use daily to-do lists. | | | | being neither specific nor fully developed. They |
| The only ESFJ who responded to the survey | | | | work in blocks of time, and what gets written |
| indicated a preference for the Palm Pilot(R), which | | | | down may be sketchy and seem incomplete. |
| allows her to easily search for and retrieve | | | | INTPs are not likely to use the planning categories, |
| information and to sync with her Outlook(R) | | | | structure, or systems provided by the |
| calendar. She prefers to use paper for ideas that | | | | manufacturer of an organizer (unless it somehow |
| she needs to "sketch" visually and for | | | | happened to make good sense to a particular |
| face-to-face situations with clients where the Palm | | | | individual). Like many other aspects of life, most |
| Pilot(R) might seem a distraction or even rude. | | | | INTP's will find their own way of planning and |
| Unfortunately, no ESTJ's took part in the survey, | | | | organizing. (Though, this may not be typical, one |
| but according to Sandra Krebs Hirsch & Jean | | | | INTP reported using three calendars - two |
| Kummerow, authors of LifeTypes, and Larry | | | | electronic and one hard copy). |
| Demarest, author of Out of Time: How the | | | | As I found with my previous surveys on |
| Sixteen Types Manage Their Time and Work, | | | | organizing and time management, not many |
| ESTJ's like to-do lists and use a calendar or | | | | people with preferences for Sensing and |
| planner to keep track of what has been done and | | | | Perceiving responded. It may be that as |
| what still needs to be addressed. ESTJ's typically | | | | action-oriented, spontaneous individuals, they are |
| plan thoroughly, scheduling preparation time for | | | | not likely to be interested in doing Internet |
| meetings as well as for the meeting itself. | | | | surveys or in the topic of time management itself. |
| Although a wide variety of systems were | | | | In fact, the only SP respondent, an ISTP, said |
| reported, due to their preference for Intuition, | | | | about time management, "I think those words do |
| INtuitive Feeling types generally prefer time | | | | not go together for my type." She uses a thin |
| management systems that allow them to see the | | | | 2-year monthly at-a glance calendar, and writes |
| big picture. | | | | appointments with a time and an initial e.g. 5-T, |
| ENFP's reported using multiple calendars for | | | | which is enough to remind her. She puts labels of |
| different functions. One uses a Palm Pilot(R) for | | | | frequently called names, addresses, and numbers |
| scheduling, but creates a daily to-do list using | | | | in the back and keeps a paper clip at the front to |
| Microsoft Word(R), so that she can cross out | | | | attach temporary notes. |
| tasks as she completes them. Another uses an | | | | In Out of Time, Larry Demarest states that |
| electronic calendar and task list along with a | | | | ISFP's keep track of what needs to be done in a |
| manual tickler file consisting of a folder for each | | | | variety of different ways. Some use the popular |
| day of the month and a folder for each month, | | | | calendars and organizers while others attend to |
| where she keeps all the paperwork to back up | | | | due dates and plan for the priorities, leaving |
| her electronic system. A third uses a | | | | considerable leeway to be flexible and |
| Day-Timer(R) system, one page per day, folio | | | | spontaneous about remaining work. |
| size, with monthly calendar inserts to keep on | | | | Demarest also states that many ESTP's don't use |
| track, along with a calendar on the kitchen fridge | | | | a calendar or planner and that those who do tend |
| to keep track of family activities. | | | | to use them selectively. For example, one |
| INFP's had the widest participation rate in the | | | | reported using a planner for work but not for his |
| survey, and reported a variety of time | | | | social or personal life. Another records only the |
| management system preferences, encompassing | | | | important activities for each day. Some think and |
| both paper-based and electronic systems. One | | | | work in terms of chunks of time rather than |
| successfully manages her busy schedule with a | | | | hour-by-hour. ESTP's also report using electronic |
| PDA to schedule personal and private practice | | | | calendars and organizers. |
| appointments. She schedules job appointments on | | | | ESFP's keep track of their work, according to |
| her computer at work using Outlook(R) and syncs | | | | Demarest, in a variety of ways, ranging from the |
| her PDA and work computer upon arrival and | | | | prevalent, more formal systems and computer |
| again before leaving work. Another uses the Palm | | | | calendars to relying on reminders from team |
| Pilot(R) for scheduling and alarms, along with | | | | members and keeping a simple to-do list or a |
| Microsoft Streets and Trips(R) to find locations | | | | mental list. |
| and download to the PDA. She likes the ability to | | | | Before the new year arrives, take some time to |
| print her calendar and have the entire month in | | | | evaluate your current time management system, |
| front of her. | | | | and if it's not working for you, consider what |
| Another uses a Franklin Planner(R) "when she | | | | other people of your personality type find |
| thinks of it," sometimes recording tasks that have | | | | effective. If you've never taken the Myers-Briggs |
| been completed, in case she need to remember | | | | Type Indicator(R), maybe it's time that you |
| when she started something, and uses the | | | | discovered the many ways that a deeper |
| Microsoft Works(R) calendar occasionally as well. | | | | understanding of yourself can benefit you, both |
| One INFP designed her own multi-ring planning | | | | personally and professionally. |
| system. | | | | Although there are many online assessments |
| All INFJ participants identified very strong | | | | claiming to be the same as the MBTI(R), the best |
| preferences in terms of their time management | | | | way to understand your personality type is to |
| tools, although their preferences varied widely, | | | | take an official MBTI(R) instrument from a |
| and included both paper-based and electronic | | | | professional who has met the standards |
| systems. One likes the compactness, durability, | | | | necessary to be "qualified" to administer the test. |
| and portability of her black leather Day-Timer(R), | | | | |