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10 curses of the analytical thinker
By Alan Norton
May 5, 2011, 6:56 AM PDT
Takeaway: Being a left-brain thinker can be an asset in the IT field. But as
Alan Norton observes, it’s not without its shortcomings.
The average person may envision IT as the home of the geek. I prefer to
think of IT as the kingdom of the analytical thinker. Analytical thinkers,
or left-brain thinkers, are straight-line thinkers. Logic, not emotion,
rules in the land of the analytical. The very traits that make an analytical
person poor with people make them good with computers. And that is perhaps
why IT is loaded with socially inept information junkies who would prefer to
hang out by themselves instead of attending a party.
I am a highly analytical person myself. This has served me well in my
analyst/programmer jobs over the years. But I have also experienced the many
downsides of being analytical. Perhaps you have experienced one or more of
these curses of the analytical thinker yourself.
Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.
1: Information addict
Analytical thinkers just can’t get enough information. They devour Web
pages about everything from the weather to the latest high tech gadget. They
are gluttons for online discussions, but they’re more often lurkers than
participants. They have voracious appetites for facts and figures of any
kind. They head straight for the specs page when shopping for anything more
technologically sophisticated than an alarm clock. The siren call of the
Internet cries out, “Step right up to the buffet — all the information you
can eat for one low price”.
Vendor HotSpot
Here to help you with your Document Management Needs
Read the DocuMentor blog now
Learn More »
I can understand how this behavior might be really annoying to a family
member. Please understand it is natural for humans to seek after information
— just not as compulsively as the analytical thinker seeks it. Come to
think of it, this propensity for information binging might explain the
swelled heads of a few IT personnel I have encountered over the years.
2: Vacillatory
Most people see only one side of a controversial issue. Not the analytical
thinker. To him, every issue has pros and cons. To him, the glass can be
both half full and half empty at the same time. The analytical will
inevitably be known as Dr. Doom to some and the eternal optimist to others.
Being both a pessimist and an optimist gives the impression to friends that
the analytical is wishy-washy, assuming he has any friends.
3: Indecisive
Because the analytical likes to gather as many facts as possible before
making an informed decision, he may be perceived by others as being
indecisive. The phrase “lead or get off the pot” could apply to the
analytical manager who is so busy gathering information that he often
overlooks the value of a quick, definitive decision.
4: Insensitive
I was once explaining parts of a client/server system to Mark, one of our
mainframe guys. I pointed to the screen and said something like, “As you
can see right here…” There was only one problem with that gesture and
statement: Mark was totally blind. I was so embarrassed that I froze and
said nothing. Had Mark been able to see he would have seen a flushed face
with perspiration beginning to form at the hairline. This kind of “foot in
mouth” behavior isn’t that unusual for an analytical. I now realize that I
should have had the courtesy to acknowledge my gaffe and apologize, but
words failed me at the time. It may be more than 15 years late, but Mark
please accept this apology for my insensitivity.
5: Habitual
“You want me to do what– skip lunch? Are you kidding?” Missing lunch to
complete some inane pet project for my manager was physically upsetting. My
blood pressure rose. My stress hormones rose. Yes, I was angry. Stand well
clear of a hypoglycemic logician when sustenance has been withheld!
It can be hard to for analyticals to break their habits. They prefer the
predictable, daily routine and are resistant to change. A left-brain thinker
may lack motivation when starting a new project, but once started, they are
like a persistent bulldog working to complete the project. It’s not that
they can’t accept change; analyticals would just prefer it not intrude upon
their comfort zone
6: Socially inept
I once told a young lady who I was friends with that she was overweight.
Well, she did ask. I never got a chance to tell her that it, the weight, was
in all the right places. Analyticals take matters literally — too
literally. It is not the intention of the analytical to be critical but
rather to provide an honest assessment, although it is almost always
perceived as criticism. Unfortunately for the well-intentioned analytical,
people don’t like an “honest assessment” of their looks, behavior,
general hygiene, or body fat index. The irony is that these socially
oblivious, albeit honest assessors usually don’t take criticism well
themselves.
7: Skeptical
“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people
some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”
Abraham Lincoln is supposed to have said this. Politicians, of all people,
know that it’s hard to fool a logical thinker. If you want to sell anything
to left-brain thinkers, you’d better explain why they need it. An
analytical needs facts, not feelings or persuasive platitudes.
If you are a manager trying to convince a team of programmers that a project
can be completed two months ahead of schedule, you’d better come armed
with facts to support how such a miracle can be achieved. The pushback you
are almost certain to receive is a predictable response from the cynical
analytical.
8: Poor marketers
The very thing that makes analyticals good product reviewers is what makes
them poor at the sales pitch. They thoroughly and accurately note both the
positive and negative attributes of the product they are reviewing. One of
the important skills needed to land a job is self promotion. While others
may exaggerate their positive traits, the analytical person does not.
Stating that you prefer working with computers rather than people may be an
honest and unbiased analysis but is perceived as a black mark by the
interviewer. I know I am weak at promoting myself. I have worked at
improving my marketing skills. But if I could get away with it, I would hire
a marketing specialist for my next job interview!
9: Politically incorrect
When I write I try to address the very real possibility that there might
actually be personages of the female persuasion reading my musings. I try to
throw in at least one” he or she” in recognition of this. The truth is
that I put readability ahead of political correctness. Right or wrong, I
believe that including references to both genders is tedious for the patient
reader. So ladies, please forgive my political incorrectness. I am indeed
honored to have you as a guest.
10: Loners
We analyticals would rather spend time alone with a good book or movie than
with people. It’s not that we dislike people, per se. We just find them
boring, uninspiring, and mundane. To the all seeing and all knowing
analytical, the average person is like the emperor in the story “The
Emperor’s New Clothes“– there’s nothing there. I mean, really, when was
the last time you found someone who wanted to discuss the theory of
relativity or the law of diminishing marginal returns?
The bottom line
Sure, the analytical thinker can appear to be cold, insensitive, and logical
, somewhat akin to the personality of Mr. Spock, but the world needs these
attributes. After all, it would take only one analytical lemming to save the
others from mythological disaster by telling his friends, “Hey guys, I don
’t think this cliff diving idea is so good after all.”
Every curse is a blessing in disguise. Because analytical thinkers like
information in tabular format, I give you the 10 blessings for the
aforementioned curses:
Each curse can be viewed as a blessing.
Give your favorite analytical person a break the next time you want to
scream at him. The characteristics you find so annoying do have positive
benefits to society.
Author’s Note: While these traits may apply in part or in whole to me and
other analytical people, we are all complex creatures. It is not my
intention to imply that such a simplistic view applies to all analytical
thinkers.
By Alan Norton
May 5, 2011, 6:56 AM PDT
Takeaway: Being a left-brain thinker can be an asset in the IT field. But as
Alan Norton observes, it’s not without its shortcomings.
The average person may envision IT as the home of the geek. I prefer to
think of IT as the kingdom of the analytical thinker. Analytical thinkers,
or left-brain thinkers, are straight-line thinkers. Logic, not emotion,
rules in the land of the analytical. The very traits that make an analytical
person poor with people make them good with computers. And that is perhaps
why IT is loaded with socially inept information junkies who would prefer to
hang out by themselves instead of attending a party.
I am a highly analytical person myself. This has served me well in my
analyst/programmer jobs over the years. But I have also experienced the many
downsides of being analytical. Perhaps you have experienced one or more of
these curses of the analytical thinker yourself.
Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.
1: Information addict
Analytical thinkers just can’t get enough information. They devour Web
pages about everything from the weather to the latest high tech gadget. They
are gluttons for online discussions, but they’re more often lurkers than
participants. They have voracious appetites for facts and figures of any
kind. They head straight for the specs page when shopping for anything more
technologically sophisticated than an alarm clock. The siren call of the
Internet cries out, “Step right up to the buffet — all the information you
can eat for one low price”.
Vendor HotSpot
Here to help you with your Document Management Needs
Read the DocuMentor blog now
Learn More »
I can understand how this behavior might be really annoying to a family
member. Please understand it is natural for humans to seek after information
— just not as compulsively as the analytical thinker seeks it. Come to
think of it, this propensity for information binging might explain the
swelled heads of a few IT personnel I have encountered over the years.
2: Vacillatory
Most people see only one side of a controversial issue. Not the analytical
thinker. To him, every issue has pros and cons. To him, the glass can be
both half full and half empty at the same time. The analytical will
inevitably be known as Dr. Doom to some and the eternal optimist to others.
Being both a pessimist and an optimist gives the impression to friends that
the analytical is wishy-washy, assuming he has any friends.
3: Indecisive
Because the analytical likes to gather as many facts as possible before
making an informed decision, he may be perceived by others as being
indecisive. The phrase “lead or get off the pot” could apply to the
analytical manager who is so busy gathering information that he often
overlooks the value of a quick, definitive decision.
4: Insensitive
I was once explaining parts of a client/server system to Mark, one of our
mainframe guys. I pointed to the screen and said something like, “As you
can see right here…” There was only one problem with that gesture and
statement: Mark was totally blind. I was so embarrassed that I froze and
said nothing. Had Mark been able to see he would have seen a flushed face
with perspiration beginning to form at the hairline. This kind of “foot in
mouth” behavior isn’t that unusual for an analytical. I now realize that I
should have had the courtesy to acknowledge my gaffe and apologize, but
words failed me at the time. It may be more than 15 years late, but Mark
please accept this apology for my insensitivity.
5: Habitual
“You want me to do what– skip lunch? Are you kidding?” Missing lunch to
complete some inane pet project for my manager was physically upsetting. My
blood pressure rose. My stress hormones rose. Yes, I was angry. Stand well
clear of a hypoglycemic logician when sustenance has been withheld!
It can be hard to for analyticals to break their habits. They prefer the
predictable, daily routine and are resistant to change. A left-brain thinker
may lack motivation when starting a new project, but once started, they are
like a persistent bulldog working to complete the project. It’s not that
they can’t accept change; analyticals would just prefer it not intrude upon
their comfort zone
6: Socially inept
I once told a young lady who I was friends with that she was overweight.
Well, she did ask. I never got a chance to tell her that it, the weight, was
in all the right places. Analyticals take matters literally — too
literally. It is not the intention of the analytical to be critical but
rather to provide an honest assessment, although it is almost always
perceived as criticism. Unfortunately for the well-intentioned analytical,
people don’t like an “honest assessment” of their looks, behavior,
general hygiene, or body fat index. The irony is that these socially
oblivious, albeit honest assessors usually don’t take criticism well
themselves.
7: Skeptical
“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people
some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”
Abraham Lincoln is supposed to have said this. Politicians, of all people,
know that it’s hard to fool a logical thinker. If you want to sell anything
to left-brain thinkers, you’d better explain why they need it. An
analytical needs facts, not feelings or persuasive platitudes.
If you are a manager trying to convince a team of programmers that a project
can be completed two months ahead of schedule, you’d better come armed
with facts to support how such a miracle can be achieved. The pushback you
are almost certain to receive is a predictable response from the cynical
analytical.
8: Poor marketers
The very thing that makes analyticals good product reviewers is what makes
them poor at the sales pitch. They thoroughly and accurately note both the
positive and negative attributes of the product they are reviewing. One of
the important skills needed to land a job is self promotion. While others
may exaggerate their positive traits, the analytical person does not.
Stating that you prefer working with computers rather than people may be an
honest and unbiased analysis but is perceived as a black mark by the
interviewer. I know I am weak at promoting myself. I have worked at
improving my marketing skills. But if I could get away with it, I would hire
a marketing specialist for my next job interview!
9: Politically incorrect
When I write I try to address the very real possibility that there might
actually be personages of the female persuasion reading my musings. I try to
throw in at least one” he or she” in recognition of this. The truth is
that I put readability ahead of political correctness. Right or wrong, I
believe that including references to both genders is tedious for the patient
reader. So ladies, please forgive my political incorrectness. I am indeed
honored to have you as a guest.
10: Loners
We analyticals would rather spend time alone with a good book or movie than
with people. It’s not that we dislike people, per se. We just find them
boring, uninspiring, and mundane. To the all seeing and all knowing
analytical, the average person is like the emperor in the story “The
Emperor’s New Clothes“– there’s nothing there. I mean, really, when was
the last time you found someone who wanted to discuss the theory of
relativity or the law of diminishing marginal returns?
The bottom line
Sure, the analytical thinker can appear to be cold, insensitive, and logical
, somewhat akin to the personality of Mr. Spock, but the world needs these
attributes. After all, it would take only one analytical lemming to save the
others from mythological disaster by telling his friends, “Hey guys, I don
’t think this cliff diving idea is so good after all.”
Every curse is a blessing in disguise. Because analytical thinkers like
information in tabular format, I give you the 10 blessings for the
aforementioned curses:
Each curse can be viewed as a blessing.
Give your favorite analytical person a break the next time you want to
scream at him. The characteristics you find so annoying do have positive
benefits to society.
Author’s Note: While these traits may apply in part or in whole to me and
other analytical people, we are all complex creatures. It is not my
intention to imply that such a simplistic view applies to all analytical
thinkers.