Birth Order
"Know thyself" is a powerful principle that leaders, managers and effective people intuitively know.
When you understand your own strengths and preferences you are in a position to maximise those strengths and compensate for any weaknesses either by working differently or surrounding yourself with people with different strengths.
Most of us have a dominant birth order personality that matches our birth position. But that personality is influenced by variables such as temperament, gender and other family circumstances. So it is not so much where you are born in your family but how you function that counts. How a person functions generally correlates with birth position.
Your birth order personality relates both to your working style (i.e. how you work and what motivates you) and also your relational style (i.e how you relate to people). For many people that means working along different birth order lines. For instance, I am in the youngest in my family by seven years, which means I am like a functional first born. So I work like a first-born (achievement-oriented, ambitious and like to be in control) but I relate like a youngest (very good at outsourcing to others and a poor decision-maker). It sounds complicated but it is not.
Birth order theory outlines four types of personalities- first borns, second borns, only's and youngests. If you were 3rd of six children then circumstances would have meant that you either functioned predominantly like one of the big four above.
Here are the four birth order types and some of their characteristics:
First borns - the leaders, the drivers and the responsible types. These people like to manage others but first they need to manage themselves. They love to feel in control and can feel uncomfortable with surprises or feeling out of their depth. They are conservative in their outlook, which is both a strength and a weakness. Their ability to focus on a goal and their propensity to organise others means they can achieve whatever they put their minds to.
Their tendency toward perfectionism can mean they can be low risk-takers but they can be the rock around which organisations can be built. Approval of authority is important for this group so don't expect them to rock the boat too much. First borns, above all else, want to forge ahead.
Second borns - the 'people' people, the compromisers, and the flexible operators. They are likely to motivated by a cause and will enjoy working alongside people. They will often choose tasks or even a job that will give them a feeling of belonging. Friendships are important to this group so they will learn to get along and will help keep the peace in a group or organisation. They often need others to drive them but they are the glue that holds groups together. Relationships are important to this group so make sure they included in all activities. Seconds, above all else, put people first.
Only's - the quiet achievers, the finishers, they expect nothing less than the best. This group will raise the bar for everyone around them as nothing but the best will do. Their great strength is their ability to work for long periods of time on their own so they make great project finishers and strategic thinkers but they can be secretive and don't deal well with conflict. Recognition is important to this group. Only's, above all else, aim to please.
Youngests - the initiators, ideas people and the challengers. This group are the creative, live-for-the moment types who can put some fun and verve into activities. While the message for first borns is to lighten up it seems that this group need to take things more seriously sometimes. Great initiators and very impatient doers, they perservere to get something started but often are not the greatest of finishers. This group will often do anything to be noticed so make sure you pay heed to their efforts. Youngests, above all else, will blow your mind.
Which birth order personality do you most closely resemble? Does it match your birth order position? In reality, you probably nodded your head for some characteristics in each position. But which did you nod most vigourously while reading? That will give you an indication of your dominant birth order personality.
So what is the point? Know thyself and know the circumstances you are working in. There are times when your birth order personality should take over but there are times when you may need to operate or work like someone in another position. This may make you feel uncomfortable but you can do it.
I have a set of badges - one for each position - which I wear for different occasions and different jobs. Sometimes I need to be more like a first born particularly when I need to take a lead. But there are also times that I must act like a second born and learn to compromise and be more diplomatic than take a crash and burn approach. When it is time to take action and throw caution to the wind I will wear my youngest born badge.
Birth order knowledge is simple as it is intuitive but it is also powerful because as Kevin Leman author of The New Birth Order Book maintains, the affects ?. "can touch you in profound and sometimes disturbing ways years after you think you have grown beyond all that."
Michael Grose is a leading authority on birth order and its affects on personality. He is the author of the ground-breaking book 'Why first borns rule the world and last borns want to change it' published by Random House. You can obtain this book from the shop at http://www.parentingideas.com.au. Find out how you can get Michael to help your people unleash the power of their birth order personalities at http://www.michaelgrose.com
Latest News
 ABC News | Gary Berntsen Thinks CIA Needs 'Leadership Not Management' FOXNews - Also, the author of a new book — boy, is this timely — "Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership: A Practical Guide," Gary Berntsen ... Video: Analyst Weighs in on Obama's CIA Pick Feinstein/Panetta: Senatorial Prerogative, "Intelligence ... What Makes Someone Qualified to Serve? |
 Washington Post | Nuggets welcome Chauncey Billups' leadership MLive.com, MI - But maybe most significant, he provides the kind of leadership that has catapulted the Nuggets to the top of the Northwest division standings. ... Not just another game for Billups Billups brings new attitude to Nuggets -- Allen Einstein/NBAE/Getty Images |
 Discover Magazine | Ford touts its leadership in in-car connectivity CNET News, CA - During his keynote address at CES Thursday, Ford CEO Alan Mulally--along with several other Ford executives--emphasized that the car giant is interested in ... Ford Announces Plans for Continued In-Car Connectivity Leadership ... Ford Sync Upgrade Brings Turn-By-Turn Navigation, Coming To Every ... Ford to globalize its SYNC technologies and services - Update |
 WELT ONLINE | Whatever sympathy the Hamas leadership might have deserved has ... guardian.co.uk, UK - Whatever sympathy the Hamas leadership might have deserved has evaporated in this massive moral own goal. If this was not bad enough in itself, ... Video: UN Security Council approves ceasefire resolution Is this leadership? Hamas Leadership in Disarray |
Jason Giambi must add leadership to his job description with Athletics Boston Herald, United States - After years of questioning the intangible value of clubhouse leadership, generally defining it as nothing more than a productive player, Billy sees the ... Giambi, A's ready to give it another go |
 The Miami Herald | Democratic leadership hurting Congress, people Mid Columbia Tri City Herald, WA - Burris, D.-Ill. In the process, he led the Democratic caucus into a kind of parody of responsible leadership. Reid is legitimately scornful of Illinois Gov. ... US Democrats skeptical on stimulus tax breaks This is no time for more tax cuts Schumer, other Dems look to revise stimulus package |
Conference urges leadership News-Journal.com, TX - Yordanos Refu speaks to students Thursday during the Longview International Baccalaureate Schools Youth Leadership Conference at LeTourneau University in ... LeTourneau hosts youth leadership conference |
 Azle News | State Rep optimistic about change in House leadership Azle News, TX - However it came about, the change in leadership style is something Geren is looking forward to. Straus, he noted, possesses an impressive business resume ... Relative newcomer rises to House leadership Straus has earned the House's vote of confidence House roles may shift for South Plains legislators |
Missouri's senior starters figuring out leadership role Columbia Missourian, MO - One obvious problem for the Tigers was a lack of leadership. Once Illinois sprinted ahead of Missouri, there was no one to bring the team together or help ... |
World Financial Group Names Edward Mylett to Help Direct Field ... MSNBC - resident and WFG Executive Vice Chairman Edward Mylett has accepted the newly created position of Director of Field Leadership. ... |
Resources
-
Sorry Currently Unavailable