Drivers are characteristic ways of behaving which are usually strengths but may become weaknesses under stress. As change is stressful, drivers tend to creep in to action plans:
- Hurry up: rush and overlook significant areas (may delay until urgent)
- Be perfect: first time but takes to long so never finish
- Please people: without asking – worried to get it wrong/upset people
- Try hard: something new – but not succeeding or finishing
- Be strong: must cope – stiff upper lip, avoid own shortcomings, can’t admit weakness
If you are a Hurry Up
- plan your work in stages, setting interim target dates
- concentrate on listening carefully to others until they have finished speaking
- learn relaxation techniques and use them regularly
If you are a Be Perfect
- set realistic standards of performance and accuracy
- practice asking yourself what the consequences really are – do this whenever you find a mistake
- make a point of telling others that their mistakes are not serious
If you are a Please People
- start asking people questions to check out what they want instead of guessing
- please yourself more often and ask other people for what you want
- practice telling other people firmly when they are wrong
If you are a Try Hard
- stop volunteering
- make a plan that includes finishing a task – and then stick to that plan through to a conclusion
- check out the parameters of a task so that you only do what is expected
If you are a Be Strong
- keep a task and time log so that you can monitor your workload
- ask other people to help you
- take up a spare time activity you can really enjoy