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Centrality of Flexibility in Growth and Development

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” 
Using the Pearman FlexIndex

Throughout my career as a coach and consultant, clients have shown me just how important flexibility is in dealing with challenges and in personal growth.  The research I completed using multiple variables with the database at the Center for Creative Leadership provided ample evidence that the more flexible individuals were consistently rated more effective by others and demonstrated both more resilience and use of capabilities. As a result of experiences with clients and research, I wanted to make sure that a new exploration of psychological type measured flexibility as related to the use of mental resources.  This insight is embedded in the Pearman Personality Integrator.

Flexing in the use of your mental resources is essential to adapting to challenges appropriately and coping with the complex demands of modern life.  To flex you need to read what is required, know how to respond, and respond in a way that produces constructive results.  In practical terms, that means you may need to flex in the following ways:
  • When you feel that some behaviors are not entirely natural but required in your day to day life…so flexing across modes (Natural and Demonstrated) is important.
  • When you need to switch from one mental function (e.g. Te to Ne) to another…..so flexing across mental functions requires a willful use of very different energy.
  • When you need to use different forms of the mental function (from basic to complex)….so flexing in the use of the levels of complexity and richness of a mental function impacts the use of energy needed to activate the use of a mental function at the appropriate level.
Each form of flexing serves to increase an individual’s capability of responding effectively to challenges and demands.  

Flexing between Modes: Natural and Demonstrated

When answering questions on the Pearman, individuals indicate what feels Natural and what they have to Demonstrate on a day to day basis.  Obviously there could be these results:

Natural: Demonstrated are aligned
Natural: Demonstrated are not aligned—a ten point spread in the Pearman report

And these patterns could occur with low, medium, or high scores.  When aligned and low, the natural question is if these behaviors need attention.  If Aligned and high, exploring a potential overuse of behavior is useful.

When the Natural and Demonstrated scores are not aligned, the potential for strain exists.  A behavior that is naturally used but suppressed, or that isn’t so natural but demonstrated with high frequency, presents the potential for strain.  These conditions could produce an energy vampire that drains important psychological energy that could be used elsewhere.

When you have to flex between modes (natural and demonstrated), you are able to keep the conditions from being a drain on energy.  Within the Pearman FlexIndex, both Connectivity and Rejuvenation could be essential to managing this dimension effectively.

Flexing across Mental Functions

Imagine a situation in which you find that your natural tendency to Extravert Thinking leads to constantly critiquing and arguing for a certain analytical position, however, you realize that to influence the group you need to ask open big picture questions (Ne) soliciting multiple ideas of possible choices.  If you do this with ease, you are flexing smoothly; if not, you flex dimensions may need some attention.  You have to fully understand the nature of each mental function, and how to use it appropriately.  You need to know how these mental functions serve your individual approaches to daily life.  Of special concern in this kind of flex are the sub scales Proactivity and Variety Seeking will enrich this kind of flexibility.  

And each mental function is related to a different aspect of flexibility.  This is noteworthy in that it may suggest that when you work on flexing a particular function, you will find it more easy if you have developed this flex dimension.  The relationships between the dimensions of Flexibility as measured by the Pearman and mental functions are:

Extraverted Sensing (Se) with Composure.
Extraverted Intuiting (Ne) with Rejuvenation.
Extraverted Thinking (Te) with Connectivity.
Extraverted Feeling (Fe) with Composure.
Introverted Sensing (Si) with Variety Seeking.
Introverted Intuiting (Ni) with Rejuvenation.
Introverted Thinking (Ti) with Proactivity.
Introverted Feeling (Fi) with Variety Seeking

Flexing within a Function

One of the most subtle and powerful forms of flex is using the right level of complexity within a function.  Often individuals develop a certain level of proficiency and do not further develop the function to maximize what it can contribute to understanding and problem-solving in a situation.  The basic forms of each function are often “quick” hits within a given dimension but incomplete. Of special focus of flexing within a function, Variety Seeking and Rejuvenation will provide the experience and energy necessary to flex.  Identifying what form of the function to use is an elegant use of flexibility.

Extraverted Sensing (Se)
Basic: Momentary focus on situations; Complex: identifying interrelated facts in a situation

Extraverted Intuiting (Ne)
Basic: expressing a hunch; Complex: brainstorming by linking ideas and possibilities, and seeing interrelationships
 
Extraverted Thinking (Te)
Basic: identifying what is illogical; Complex: exploring multivariate possibilities, elements, and underling factors that contribute to a situation

Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
Basic: being inclusive of others; Complex: engaging others to explore ideas, initiating with others to find common groups and aligned ideals

Introverted Sensing (Si)
Basic: verifying information; Complex: tagging information for multiple purposes and using ways to categorize information into various modes of utility

Introverted Intuiting (Ni)
Basic: seeing a pattern; Complex: seeing multiple scenarios, identifying key symbols and layers of meaning in situations

Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Basic: listing pros and cons in a situation; Complex: exploring underlying principles and multiple possible theories or perspectives that influence a situation

Introverted Feeling (Fi)
Basic: rejecting options because of perception of misalignment; Complex: finding an interplay of ideals and values, looking for underlying dynamics to promote well being and personal meaning


Some Blending of Mental Functions and Flex Dimensions

"The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers."
          Brian Greene

Introverted Perceiving 
Introverted Perceiving processes provide for gaining clarity and specificity about details and seeing possible choices in a situation.  While Introverted Sensing (Si) serves to identify reliable and realistic information that can be verified and is stored in accessible categories, Introverted Intuiting (Ni) serves to anticipate next choices, to see a pattern or image that gives a hunch about the situation.

If there is a ten point spread in your demonstrated and natural use of these mental functions, review your Flex Index score to discern how to increase the capacity to flex with minimal strain. Flex facets of Variety Seeking and Rejuvenation have a strong relationship to Si and Ni respectively.  By increasing the variety of experiences and opportunities for rejuvenation you will build capacity to enhance Introverted Perceiving. 

Introverted Judging 
Introverted Judging processes provide for internal reflection and processing of information that is analytically reviewed, and in evaluating the alignment of ideals and values with perceived options and choices.  While Introverted Thinking (Ti) serves to identify logical outcomes of available options in a situation, Introverted Feeling (Fi) serves decisions by insuring that choices reflect “the rightness” of options being selected.

If there is a ten point spread in your demonstrated and natural use of these mental functions, review your Flex Index score to discern how to increase the capacity to flex with minimal strain. Flex facets of Proactivity and Variety Seeking have a strong relationship to T and Fi respectively.  By developing a habit at anticipating and planning ahead and by increasing the variety of experiences you will build capacity to enhance Introverted Judging.


Extraverted Perceiving 
Extraverted Perceiving processes provide for a full awareness of what is happening in the moment and identification of emerging patterns and possibilities in a situation.  While Extraverted Sensing (Se) serves to scan the immediate environment, prompt awareness of how you are physically moving in your setting, Extraverted Intuiting (Ne) serves to bring into awareness possibilities and patterns not immediately apparent.

If there is a ten point spread in your demonstrated and natural use of these mental functions, review your Flex Index score to discern how to increase the capacity to flex with minimal strain. Flex facets of Composure and Variety of experiences have a strong relationship to Se and Ne respectively.  By developing tactics to increase composure and increasing the variety of experiences and opportunities for rejuvenation you will build capacity to enhance Extraverted Perceiving.

Extraverted Judging
Extraverted Judging processes provide for expressively sharing your logical analysis of gaps among choices and causal linkages to desired outcomes, and using empathetic strategies for connecting people with one-another and with value-oriented choices.  While Extraverted Thinking (Te) serves to debate and critique to find the most suitable option, Extraverted Feeling (Fe) serves to express the importance of aligning mission and values with available choices and to find personal connections for those responsible for implementing the decisions at hand.

If there is a ten point spread in your demonstrated and natural use of these mental functions, review your Flex Index score to discern how to increase the capacity to flex with minimal strain. Flex facets of Connectivity and Composure have a strong relationship to Te and Fe respectively.  By increasing linkages with others and developing tactics to remain clam you will build capacity to enhance Extraverted Judging. 

Fortunately, each dimension of flexibility as measured by the Pearman is open to development, thus increasing the overall impact of flexibility on individual effectiveness and well being.

“There can be no life without change, and to be afraid of what is different or unfamiliar is to be afraid of life.” 

For more information-- http://info.mhs.com/Pearman

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