Motivating the Motivated
Logisticians (ISTJs) are perhaps among the most responsible personality types. But every type has something that trips them up and slows them down – even the indefatigable Logisticians.
For most personality types, we look to what could demotivate them, resulting in decreased productivity. However, any Logistician productivity issues may be due to concerns about remaining vital in an ever-changing world, not because they are not motivated. Of course, they want to produce, but they can become stuck in ruts based on adherence to what has always worked for them in the past.
Keep in mind, Logisticians are a Thinking personality type, and rationality will be the compass that they use to justify moving forward in a particular direction. But sometimes, before they can use that compass to guide them, they may need to lift the anchor of that which has always worked reasonably well in the past to free themselves enough to move forward.
To find out what is important to you on the job, take our Career Values inventory. What gratifies you about your job or career?
Tips for Being More Productively Fluid
Let’s look at some ways Logisticians might open themselves up to change, so they can be meaningfully productive.
Diplomatically Stand Your Ground
A flair for efficiency and continuity are often gifts that Logistician personalities possess. These personalities are detail-oriented and like life to be as stable as possible, which sometimes means extending the proven past into the unknown and potentially unstable future. In other words, they can be set in their ways.
The idea of a person being “set in their ways” often gets a bad rap, but clinging to past experiences doesn’t necessarily have to be a negative thing. Many cultures seem to have a bias toward innovation. However, we rely on experts to take their knowledge, acquired from the past, and apply it to present situations all the time. In some ways, learning what has worked in the past and adhering to it is just a means of becoming an expert.
However, being “too set in their ways” can be unproductive if Logisticians grow defensive about the established rules and standards, even as others are touting new ones. Such a conflict may cause them to struggle with coworkers or other important stakeholders in their enterprises. A little conflict should be expected and even welcomed in the interest of fully exploring and testing ideas from all sides. However, too much conflict can lead to wasted time.
Rather than giving in to new ideas and methods, you might consider being a placeholder and champion for these established methods but with an open attitude and a willingness to be convinced of new directions. Can you picture yourself taking a diplomat’s role? Diplomacy often involves compromise and negotiation, and it provides the bridge needed between two diverse positions.
Consider: Are there any changes on the horizon that make you feel uneasy? Instead of taking a defensive position, in what ways can you play the role of the diplomat? Perhaps consider learning some negotiating and compromising techniques.
Keep Connected
This tip is almost universal among Introverted personality types. It’s not that they don’t like others around to inform them, guide them, and help them work through their blind spots. It’s just that keeping their own quiet counsel feels much more comfortable than the input of many other people.
Receiving input from others may be less of a problem for Introverted, Thinking personality types than Introverted, Feeling types. Well-reasoned feedback might have fewer emotional elements to fuel the defensiveness of those who lean harder on rationality than those who lean on feelings. There may be some added objectivity.
Logisticians are the personality type most likely to say they consider themselves private people, with 98% of them making that assessment of themselves. Logisticians may sometimes apply a residual, mild layer of “it’s none of your business” to their work lives.
The connection here is between letting others in and accessing their information, perspective, and encouragement. You need information to form a well-reasoned opinion, so it may be important to find multiple ways to remain part of the information pipeline. (This can be true if you typically work with others or alone. Even independent workers can benefit from hearing what is happening in their areas of interest.)
Consider: Make it a point to spend time with various people in your workplace or in your field. Set up a quota – perhaps one lunch or coffee break a week or month with someone you don’t often get a chance to talk to. Make one of the main reasons for such meetings a chance to talk about your work, seek feedback, and take the pulse of others who work by your side.
Avoid Burnout
Logisticians can sometimes work themselves into the ground, and such behavior is ultimately the enemy of productivity. Diligence and effectiveness are usually important to Logisticians and often overshadow self-care. No matter what is going on with their personal lives or health, continuing to push forward anyway can feel like a duty to people with this personality type. The paradox of unfettered productivity is that it can lead to partial or total lack of productivity when there is no relief from physical or mental stress. The mind and body are fueled by limited resources, making regular replenishment indispensable.
The bad news is that people often work too long and too hard in a day or a week in our modern, competitive society. The good news is that physical and mental self-care and work-life balance are being taken more seriously in the workplace. However, the good news is only meaningful if the individual worker takes the measures necessary to live a more balanced life.
Here are some steps to developing a self-care regimen for Logistician personality types:
- Keep your workday as consistent as possible. Try to start and end work at the same time every day and week. When work ends, you may want to fill those hours with pleasurable activities that inspire enthusiasm in you. And, if you have a family, they will likely appreciate the boundaries that you set between work and home.
- Become serious about your nutrition and exercise. Sometimes, when work places great demands on a person, they stop taking time to cook healthy meals or increase their heart rate through movement. Don’t let the biological machine that you call a body break down from lack of proper attention. Find healthy foods that you like to cook and eat, and become active in ways you find appealing. How about a nice walk?
- Stimulate your mind with things that have little or nothing to do with work. There’s nothing wrong with vegging out in front of the TV occasionally. Television watching can be an enjoyable break from the workday. But also consider some hobbies or other ways to engage your mind in more proactive yet enjoyable ways.
- Find something that lights your fire outside of your work life. If your life becomes a cycle of pressured work punctuated by passive activity, you may find yourself with less enthusiasm for life, which will likely affect your enthusiasm for work. Besides, having fun and creative challenges as part of your life away from work can provide you with a wonderful, refreshing balance.
- Sleep is back. Not too many decades ago, sleeplessness was the sure sign of a productive person. Fortunately, that trend is also turning around, and most productivity experts view sleep as an essential commodity. Be consistent with the times that you turn in at night and rise in the morning, giving yourself plenty of time to realize the hours you need for sleep. Keep your room dark enough and cool enough to rest. Stop watching screens an hour or two before bedtime. Paper books and magazines won’t do the damage to your slumber that glowing screens might. Plan to indulge in food and drink early enough in the evening that your consumption doesn’t affect your sleep.
One of the two words in “self-care” is “self.” Nobody but you can be responsible for this important productivity tool. Now would be an excellent time to commit to more restorative times in your life, if you haven’t already.
Consider: Explore what job burnout means to you. It can look different at different times. Take our Job Burnout Test to find out more.
The Even More Productive Logistician
In some ways, discussing productivity with Logistician personality types is a bit like preaching to the choir. Discussing productivity with Logisticians is less likely to involve cranking up productivity from little or nothing and more about ensuring that factors in their lives don’t impede their natural desire for effectiveness. Sufficient flexibility, adequate collaboration, and balanced living are likely to bring some assurance of continued productivity to the lives of these diligent personalities.
If you are a Logistician, what productivity tips have you found helpful in light of your personality traits?