Do you feel stuck? Are you ready for some unique insights?
In my coaching and consulting practice I use different assessments, each designed to measure something specific. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator measures one’s preferences in fundamental daily action. The FourSight measures where you like to play in the creative process. And on and on. There are hundreds of assessments, each with varying degrees of research behind them.
A new tool that I am really excited about is called the Focus Energy Balance Indicator™. We just call it the FEBI.
The FEBI comes from the work of four remarkable women. Dr. Josephine Rathbone, a kinesiologist working the the thirties, identified four basic patterns of movement and established that certain patterns are easier for us than others. Thirty years later Dr. Valerie Hunt validated the patterns with sophisticated lab equipment. Betsy Wetzig, a dancer, connected the patterns to personality and called them “Coordination Patterns”. Dr. Ginny Whitelaw developed the instrument to capitalize on the theory and research. If you’re as fascinated as I am by this work checkout her book, Move to Greatness.
Physiologically, there are four fundamental patterns of movement (did I tell you I have an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science?). These physical patterns connect to our temperaments:
The Driver (Thrust pattern)
People who thrive in the Driver pattern love to direct and tend to stay focused on the issue at hand. They challenge ideas and enjoy being the winner.
The Organizer (Shape pattern)
People who thrive in the Organizer pattern tend to be steady, disciplined and enjoy taking one step at a time.
The Collaborator (Swing pattern)
People who thrive in the Collaborator pattern like to have fun. They are engaging influencers and are comfortable with improvising solutions.
The Visionary (Hang pattern)
People who thrive in the Visionary pattern like novelty. They are open to new ideas, let go of the status quo and enjoy thinking big.
Fascinating, Maggie. So what?
Perhaps you’ve noticed that you are really natural and effective in some activities. And there are other things you do poorly or never seem to get to? Chances are that you thrive when you are in your “Home Pattern”.
For example, I have client who is an Idea Machine. She thrives in ambiguity and she is extremely social. Her dominant patterns are Swing (Collaborator–very playful, comfortable with give-and-take). But her inability to put some discipline to her ideas keeps her from leveraging her talents.
Another client is an Execution Machine. He runs his unit, his life like an efficient factory and nothing slips through the cracks. But he has trouble partnering with leaders in other business units and can’t move to a more strategic point-of-view.
Both of these people want to capitalize on their strengths and they know, ino order to do that, they need to become more versatile. In another post I’ll describe how the insights from the FEBI and some enhancements to a personal practice is helping them create some breakthroughs.
The authors of Savoring: A New Model of Positive Experience suggest an exercise of taking a Daily Vacation Exercise.
