Last week I wrote about the history of the four temperaments (the Liberator, Organizer, Facilitator, and Innovator) and focused on the Liberator preference. Today I would like to cheer for folks with the Organizer temperament. This preference shows up in 38% of the global population.

If you have an Organizer preference, you are goal-oriented, practical, and function best with clear direction. You are a list person. You might add something to your list that you have already done just for the joy of checking it off. You appreciate structure, show up on time or early, and have a plan. Winging it or functioning in a constantly changing, unpredictable environment will stress you out.

The clear milestones that occurred in your school years were easy for you to navigate. Once you completed your education, you likely made a practical career choice. Your job satisfaction is rooted in your ability to be a solid, loyal contributor. You gravitate towards larger, well-established employers and avoid risky start-ups. You love the security and stability that allows you to plan for your future and reach your goals.

Here are some other common traits or capabilities of a true Organizer. You are:

• Practical, making choices that align with realistic goals.
• Most satisfied in a career that offers advancement.
• Conservative with your finances, focused on saving for your future.
• Driven to do things excellently and frustrated by others who slack off or do a sloppy job.
• More comfortable doing things yourself than delegating to others.
• Comfortable with problem-solving, creating efficiency, and organizing just about anything.

The ethos of the United States culture is well aligned with the Organizer preference. Concepts like working hard, following through, saving your money, and planning for the future are deeply American values. If you travel to other countries, you may be challenged by different attitudes or standards related to things like time, cleanliness, or goal achievement.

Your natural ability to make plans and conserve resources is essential to our survival. From an evolutionary standpoint, you make sure we have enough wood to stay warm and food to survive the long winters.

If you are relating to much of what has been said here, you may be a bit surprised to find out that folks with other temperaments don’t care about the same things you do. They also do not have your gift for getting stuff done, on time and within the budget.

Take a moment to thank the Organizers in your life. They never forget your birthday; they have the best Christmas decorations ever and are superior bargain shoppers. What could be better than that?