PeopleSmart in Business eBook - The Platinum Rule

28
Two: I Know Who You Are, But What Am I?
Th ink deeply
Visualize Woody Allen, the quiet, unassuming director, actor, and
clarinet player who covets his privacy. In most of his movies, either
he or his characters agonize over what to do next, what and how their
feelings operate, and how to ultimately do the right thing. He typically
puts his emotions under a microscope where he analyzes and
reanalyzes them. Cautious Th inkers also can become overwhelmed by
indecision when pressure builds.
Due to compliance to their own personal standards, they demand
a lot from themselves and others and may succumb to overly critical
tendencies. But Cautious Th inkers oft en keep their criticisms to themselves,
hesitating to tell people what they think is defi cient. Th ey typically
share information, both positive and negative, only on a “need
to know” basis when they are assured that there will be no negative
consequences for themselves.
When Cautious Th inkers quietly hold their ground, they do so as
a direct result of their proven knowledge of facts and details or their
evaluation that others will tend to react less assertively. So they can
be assertive when they perceive they’re in control of a relationship or
their environment. Having determined the specifi c risks, margins of
error, and other variables that signifi cantly infl uence the desired results,
they will take action.
Cautious Th inkers entertain uniquely
Cautious Th inker entertainers want to move beyond the audience,
since they are motivated to deliver a one-of-a-kind, captivating,
near-perfect performance. Th ey want spectators to think, “What a
unique performance” or “Nothing else is quite like it!” When they take
their varied stages, Cautious Th inker entertainers have meticulously