Everyone takes in information differently. Our personalities influence what we see and don’t see. In this episode, I explore the two dichotomies that help explain how people take in information. Then, I discuss strategies leaders can use with folks who have preferences for each dichotomy in order to maximize the impact of what we take in and how we communicate that to others.

Sensing preference

Tangible realities
Concrete information from five senses
Orientated towards present reality
Real-life experience
Take time to reach conclusions
Need details to put together concepts and theories
Experience

Tips for leaders who prefer sensing:

Tell people where you are going
You can’t ever collect it all
Get help thinking about the future
Watch out for missing the big picture

How to lead those with a sensing preference:

Talk about the here and now
Give plenty of details up front and lead them through to the conclusion
Reference how practical experience is forming this communication/decision

Intuition preference

Intangibles
Concepts and patterns – plus the sixth sense
Oriented towards the future
Ideas, possibilities, visioning
Reach conclusions more quickly
Starts with meaning first -> works back to details
Inspiration

Tips for leaders who prefer intuition:

People don’t always get it until they see how it’s really going to happen
Demonstrate how you’ve done your homework
Get help looking at all the details
Watch out for missing important details

How to lead those with an intuition preference:

Talk about the future
Set the stage for the big picture and fill in the details later
Reference how inspiration is leading to this

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45: How Leaders and Followers Take in Information

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