Why do we behave as we do? A large part of that answer comes from (1) the way each of us ends to receive information, and (2) our information processing styles. Some of us prefer to receive information in a do-it-yourself, hands-on fashion. Others of us prefer to see what is happening. Others prefer to hear the information.
In terms of information processing, some of us prefer to learn and by things in a step, by-the-numbers manner and emphasize order in everything we do. Others of us are much more creative, more influenced by color and mood, more oriented to feelings and more people-oriented. Yet others of us are people who are driven by the question, “Why?” and people who feel compelled to get “the big picture”, to build conceptual models to explain things. Another group of us are driven to focus on detecting and solving real problems (and also tend to be mavericks and very independent)
Still others have combinations of the four styles. As an example, I am both a conceptualizer and a problem-solver These two information processing styles are polar opposites and sometimes create internal conflicts. With me, one side of me says “build a conceptual model or big picture’ and the other says “to hell with the big picture – solve the damned problem, now.” The other polar opposite is the step-by-step, detailed-oriented style paired with the creative, more feeling style influenced by color, mood and people. There is tension between the two.
Let me issue a friendly challenge. You tell me who one or more of the four information processing styles you primarily use, and (without any other information about you) I think I can tell you some things about the way you think, learn, and behave. Willing to give it a try? It can be fun.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I have been waiting all my life for that input, truly. Such words of optimism and support are inspiring. Moving, even.
LatentumCattus
Level 6
Dec 23, 2019
1
@wordywalt - LOL, sorry - I was commenting to Sticks, but didn't want to ring the notification bell.
I'm sure there will be a drum-roll soon enough, in any event...
OK, I'll bite and I know we're on the honor system. However, I do reserve the right to not confirm deets.
In order, my preferences are:
Step by step learning
Big Picture conceptual
Detect and solve
Creative feely mood driven
Obviously, any or all can come into play in specific scenarios, but this is the order in which I feel most comfy.
Lemme know your thoughts, I'd be interested to know.
EDITED TO ADD - Also reserving the ability to call out anything too general that can apply to everyone!!! 
LatentumCattus
Level 6
Dec 23, 2019
0
First, it appears that you do have some strength in all four sectors, which makes you quite flexible.
Next, as a step by step person, you are driven to focus on details. +You are quite neat and like to maintain operate in a neat environment. Sloppy or careless people irritate you. You prefer to think of things in a black or white manner, with few shades of grey. You would tend to choose and do well in an occupation like accounting or engineering. If you are the boss, you are the boss and there is no question about that. You dress in a neat, color coordinated (but not colorful) manner. You prefer to do things in a routinized way that you have established.
As a big picture person you are constantly strive to form conceptual maps which link things together in a truly coordinated and comprehensive manner so that you maps explain how and why. You would be a good academician as you deal with abstract ideas well. You literally live in your mind, in that sense.
Your conceptualizing skill and your attention to detail would make you an excellent researcher. You detest sloppiness in thought and lack of attention to detail. You rely on logic and reason.
How'd I do so far?
@wordywalt - OK, so far...
Neat and operate neat - 5 out of 5. My kitchen is immaculate.
Sloppy/careless people - 5 out of 5. Add needlessly ignorant to that list for the trifecta.
Black and white - 3.5 out of 5. I view it as a necessity, as warranted, but try to keep it grey.
Accounting/Engineering - 4 out of 5. Project manager, but close enough.
Clothing - 3 out of 5. I would have been super impressed if you said "no logos".
Conceptual maps - kinda generalized, put a pin in that one.
Living in my mind - 4.5 out of 5, half point off because it's obvious I'm not a cat. Otherwise 
.
Researcher - 4 out of 5, I'm good at it, but get bored quickly.
@LatentumCattus love it!
@LatentumCattus I think you and I, if our fields of endeavor overlapped would have made great co-project managers. I designed, implemented and managed several projects during my career. We are both conceptualizers. You ate a detail person, and I am a problem-solver. I would have gotten on your nerves by occasionally bot attending to detail, but my problem-solving skills would have come in handy.
@wordywalt - Perhaps. I have managed people for a long time and hope that I put aside annoyance and try to get the best out of people.
My right hand is typically the deets handler, so long as they respect me enough to snap out of analysis paralysis when I need them to.
My creatives would be the developers - let their minds fly, but tie their incentives to solid milestones.
The engineers are the problem solvers and so long as I don't let them get away with tinkering too long, they can route out every function they like.
The picture builders are my peers in the PMO, the stakeholders and the bosses. Keep them in the realms of reality and the project comes in on time and under budget.
Fun times, fun times. Then everyone wonders why I take naps in the mid-afternoon.
@LatentumCattus You are obviously a really good project manager. I took my naps at noon and after dinner, then often worked until 1 or 2 AM alone. .
@wordywalt - Oh, yeah, I don't miss those 37-hour days. Cattus is in a position to take it easy now; that kind of work is best left to the young ones now - more stamina.
@LatentumCattus At age 82,i could not do it today either. But, no matter how demanding, I loved it. I felt more alive then then at any other time in my life.
@wordywalt - I understand what you are saying. I felt alive scrapping for a project with a global impact.
Now I feel alive being content.
Hmmmmm... Thank you for this thread.
@LatentumCattus Thank you as well. I enjoyed the interchange. Perhaps we will find another over time.
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