Have you ever wondered why some people are more productive than others? Or why in certain days you are more productive compared to others? Why some people manage to do 100 things per day, while you do only 5?
Do you think that your productivity level might have something to do with your personality?
If the answer is yes, then you guessed right.
Scientists have discovered that there is a strong connection between your personality and your productivity level. And here are some solutions to increase productivity depending on your personality type.
Productivity Tips for Extroverts
Extroverts like to socialize, to have lots of friends and gain energy when they interact with other people. They like doing, talking, participating and socializing.
That is why they are more prone to becoming less productive in an environment where there are no other people, where there’s little action and where they have to do tedious jobs.
In order to maximize their productivity level, extroverts have to:
- Think out loud.
Extroverts like to talk, so thinking out loud and hearing their own voices can help them in focusing on what they have to do, visualize concepts and form thoughts.
- Teach others.
By teaching others, extroverts retain information much easier because this involves interpersonal interaction.
- Discuss.
By actively discussing a topic with the other team members, extroverts become more engaged and come up with amazing ideas and solutions to problems.
- Work in public spaces.
If your job allows you, you can work or even study in public spaces.
No matter if it’s a park, a café, a public library or any other place with lots of people, make sure that it is not too distracting or noisy. Extroverts gain energy when they are around people, even if they do not talk to them.
Productivity Tips for Introverts
Introverts are drained by social interaction. They prefer contemplation, deep reflection and thinking. They always think before they speak and do not talk for no reason. They like to work alone and find socializing quite exhausting.
In order to maximize their productivity level, introverts have to:
- Independent study and work.
No matter if they have to study or work, social interaction is not a productivity boost for the introvert personality type. Group study sessions and teamwork might be counter-productive and tiring.
- Mind maps.
Introverts love to see information in chunks and not as individual pieces. That is why mind maps are the perfect strategy to connect their thoughts and stay focused.
- Quiet spaces.
Introverts can easily get distracted, tired and out of their comfort zone in busy and noisy spaces. That is why it is crucial for them to find the right environment to increase their productivity.
Productivity Tips for Sensing People
Sensing people are connected to the outside world and rely on their senses to absorb knowledge. They are realistic and grounded into the now and here. They focus on the details and not the overall picture, are more practical and observant.
In order to maximize their productivity level, sensing people have to:
- Make diagrams and outlines.
In order to work and study more efficiently, sensing people needs to have information organized into an easy-to-understand structure such as charts, outlines and visual diagrams.
- The big picture.
Sensing people can get so lost in the details that they often forget about the big picture.
If you are one of them, you need to take a step back from time to time and think where you are heading to.
Ask yourself big picture questions, write them on post-it notes and stick them in strategic places such as your notebook or laptop so that you will not forget your main purpose.
Productivity Tips for Intuitive People
Intuitive persons are the personality type that want to know the “why” of things. That is why they always seek relationships and patterns.
They usually see the big picture, ignoring the tiny details, but they are innovative and get more engaged in theoretical than in the literal.
To maximize their productivity level, intuitive persons have to:
- Use energy wisely.
Intuitive persons often have problems staying focused for long periods of time.
So if you want to use your energy efficiently and be more productive, you should take a short break every 45 minutes of work or study.
- Use your imagination.
Intuitive persons burst with creativity, so they are more productive when they have to come up with ideas and let their imagination run free.
- Stop working mid-task.
Another good strategy to increase productivity is to stop mid-task.
No matter how weird this sounds, abandoning your work mid-way and moving to the next task will help you get a clear mind on what you have to do and let your subconscious process the task more creatively.
Productivity Tips for Feelers
Feelers usually take decisions with their hearts.
They do not always think before they do something. Individuals with this personality type also want to create a peaceful and harmonious environment for everyone around them.
To maximize their productivity level, feelers have to:
- Positive environment.
Feelers need to surround themselves with positivity and avoid drama.
For example, if there is someone around them who might need help or a shoulder to cry on, feelers will forget about work and anything else to offer comfort them.
That is why feelers need to stay away from emotional distractions.
Productivity Tips for The Judging Types
Judging types love to keep things organized, to follow a plan and have everything structured in an efficient manner. They are people who never miss a deadline and who like decisions and closure.
To maximize their productivity level, judging types have to:
- Work in a structured study environment.
Judging types work best in a structured environment, where they have a routine to stick to, a clean desk, calendars and sticky notes.
- Stay open-minded.
Although judging types like routine, they should be open to any changes that might come along the way.
Don’t be afraid to try something new, a bold strategy or a radical decision.
Productivity Tips for Perceivers
Perceivers have a go-with-the-flow mentality. They are spontaneous, hate routine and dislike the tedium.
However, there are some tricks that can help people with this personality type stay focused and increase their productivity.
- Divide your time.
For perceivers deadlines are flexible, so it’s quite hard for them to finish a project or a task in due time.
If you are a perceiver, what might work for you is to divide the main deadline into mini-deadlines. This way you will stay focused and will not find yourself writing the entire project on the last day.
- Avoid procrastination.
Easy to say and hard to do, especially for perceivers.
You can find anti-procrastination apps quite useful. Also, keeping a calendar where you write all your deadlines, tasks, projects, etc.
You can also try the “Don’t Break the Chain” technique if you need to find motivation. Assign for each day something to do (project, presentation, etc.) and draw a red X on the calendar once the task is finished. By doing the same each day it will be hard for you to give up the habit because you will not want to break the chain of consistency.
As you can see there are many methods to increase your productivity as long as you know which one fits your personality type. Take a personality test online (or more) and see which type is yours.
This might also offer you some answers to the questions from the beginning of this article.
About The Author
This is a guest post by Bria Pierce, a marketing expert, blogger and writer on 123writings.com.