ARE YOU AN ALLERGIC TO DETAIL? Learn Your Organizing Style Series Time #3

Are you impatient with project follow-through because you can’t be bothered with all the small details? If so, you’re an Allergic to Detail.

Allergic to Detail, people thrive on working and living in the eye of the hurricane. They enjoy challenging projects and engaging in many activities at once. But, in their rush, they tend to overlook all kinds of essential details. Generally, these people aren’t really aware of their style until someone mentions it.

Want to be sure? Take this Quiz:

As you answer Never (N), Occasionally (O) or Frequently (F), rate yourself according to the following scale.

Never 0 points     Occasionally 1 point     Frequently 2 points___N__O_  F      

1-      I’d much rather formulate a plan than carry it out.                                                   

2-      When I assign a project to someone, I describe the desired outcome to and then leave the execution to someone else.

3-      I usually can’t be bothered to clean up my desk.

4-      I don’t like to take the time to review detailed numerical analysis.

5-      I always seem to be in a rush and leave something important behind when I leave the house.

6-      I write emails only when I can’t deliver a message in person or by phone.

7-      I forget birthdays, anniversaries, meetings, and appointments.

8-      I give my assistant free rein to screen my mail and handle routine correspondence.

9-      I get impatient with people who feel compelled to tell me every little detail about something.

10-   When reading my mail or email, I quickly scan items of interest and then “trash” the rest.

                          TOTALS

0-6 points           You’re not really an Allergic to Detail.

7-13 points         You have strong Allergic to Detail tendencies.

14-20 points       You’re a full-fledged Allergic to Detail.

WHY PEOPLE HAVE AN ALLERGIC TO DETAIL STYLE:

1-      You enjoy dealing with the broad picture.

2-      You’re too impatient to handle follow-up.

3-      You like to move quickly and therefore resist routine tasks.

Even people who don’t have this style can fall into it at certain times – for instance when they’re temporarily overloaded.

WHEN PEOPLE HAVE AN ALLERGIC TO DETAIL STYLE:

1-      You’re responsible for too many aspects of a job.

2-      You must cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

Allergic to Details are often found on the fast track and their energy and enthusiasm can be critical to the success of a new idea. However, most new ideas are only as good as their follow-through so Allergic to Details must make sure that this aspect of development is not neglected.

Now I have offered you a basic outline of this organizing style but if it resonates with you and you want to learn strategies and ways to make this organizing tendency to work for you can find it all in the book:

HOW TO BE ORGANIZED IN SPITE OF YOURSELF   

We all fit into at least one (if not more) categories, and I would love to hear your thoughts as you read through the series.