"Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain cool and unruffled under all circumstances." Said by none other than Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States

I am not the person that remains cool and unruffled. Actually, I am quite the opposite, I tend to get charged up when an injustice is done or rights have been violated or trampled upon, especially when they are my own. I just so happen to have come across a few pouters, as of late. Individuals that, even after counsel, choose to pout following a decision that doesn't go their way; I'm not talking about my children or other minors. I am talking about adults. tsk.    

I can very clearly state that I am not a pouter. I am usually vocal (surprise) and then quick to accept and move on. That is the "flexible" side of my nature. 

So in thinking, I can rather quickly divide the workforce up into four different types...

1. The Pasta - This is the guy that accepts any decision or task thrown at him without even grumbling. He loves to be micro-managed and is not a self-thinker, not at work, anyway. He has no emotion one way or the other. He doesn't care at all about the decision or task because he doesn't care about the outcome or the system/people.

2. The Cucumber - This is the guy that remains cool and unruffled through it all. He always has the upper hand because he is not ruled by emotion. Therefore, he usually gets his way because he is smart and knows how to work the system/people.

3. The Chili Pepper - This is the guy that gets fired up right away and wants to know the what and the why. He cannot stay quiet about anything, there is always commentary . But after the fire, comes the rich flavor that works with almost anything and will later bend over backwards for the system/people.

4. The Little Cheese - This is the guy that hears everything and thinks it is related to him or his department. He wants the system to work for him, he believes the system owes him. And should he not get his way or recognition, he will drop pens, slam drawers, or storm around until someone asks what the matter is. He will work until he thinks someone else is working less and getting more.

Not exactly a Myers-Briggs test, but I can look back on every office I have every worked in and I am able to pick out these four characters over and over again. They are classic office-types and each has their own way of being disruptive (even the cucumber - for he can appear dispassionate). Which are you? Do you recognize the disruption when it is occurring? And disruption is not always bad, for that is when change good change can occur, too. There is probably a little of each in every one of us. It may just take some personal mastery to make those parts work to your best advantage, but isn't that just what Jefferson was talking about? 
 
"Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain cool and unruffled under all circumstances."

© by rayannethorn

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A cucumber with feathers would be kind of scary and definitely past its sell by date :)

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