It can seem like people come from different planets when you face a breakdown in communication. You could be thinking, "What is wrong with him/her?"  But, understanding people's values and process of working can unlock the solution to a better working relationship.

SATURNS AND NEPTUNES IN THE WORKPLACE

Following are several examples of how each dialect “looks” in the workplace.

Saturn:

• Focus on what works now.

• Like an established way of doing things with a plan and an established routine.

• Usually reach a conclusion step by step.

• Are careful of and concerned about the facts.

• Work steadily with a realistic idea of how long it will take to accomplish their task.

• May be especially good at precise work.

• Accept current reality of a situation as a “given” to work with.

Neptune:

• Focus on how things could be improved.

• Dislike doing the same thing repeatedly (“drone” work).

• May leap to conclusions.

• May get their facts skewed, but consider this incidental to the final result.

• Follow their hunches and inspirations.

• Dislike taking precious time for “picky” details and precision work.

• Question why things have to be the way they are.

When breakdowns in communication occur, the people from each planet feel frustrated and wonder why “things aren’t happening.”  Saturns’ share that what frustrates them about working with Neptunes’ is that they:

• Pay zero attention to details.

• Do not support their comments with facts.

• Never get to the point.

• Don’t get the facts straight when they use them.

• Don’t say what they mean and tend to “leap around.”

• Hate their... (dots at the end of sentences), representing incomplete thoughts.

• Don’t stick to the sequence of the subject; they are “scattermatic” in approach.

• Change the game plan frequently.

• Don’t have a set course of action.

Neptunes say that Saturns are frustrating to work with when they:

• Are blind to the “big picture.”

• Need to have a set plan with all the steps and details in place.

• Are too practical.

• Micromanage.

• Are too concerned with process (methods and steps) rather than product (result).

• See everything as black and white, with no grays.

• Seem to lack insight and vision.

• Are too process-oriented.

In my next blog posting you will learn what you can do next to adjust your behavior through positive listening techniques.

Courageously yours,

I would love for you to share your courage comments by posting them below.

Sandra Ford Walston is a learning consultant, speaker, internationally published author of COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. www.sandrawalston.com

Sandra Ford Walston, The Courage Expert

Innovator, StuckThinking™

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