Some time ago I had a job interview. Now, in the last few years I have had quite a lot of job interviews, however I don't seem to be getting the job offers. My resume gets me the interviews and something else doesn't get me the job, either it's my age (and experience) or my personality. I sure hope it's not my personality, but that's not what this post is about. At any rate in this job interview the person I interviewed with asked me to review these cards and decide which "working style" I figured I was. To make a long story short I figured I was an Analysis-type of person, in that I gather all the information and ask questions BEFORE I make my decision or take any action. Now I didn't see anything wrong with this style of decision making, in fact it makes perfect sense to me.
Just for kicks I thought I would ask the interviewer what her working style was, I mean after all IF I got the position I would be reporting to this person, so it only seemed logical. Well what do you know, she was a "Task-Oriented" person, in that she couldn't be bothered with the details or seeking any additional information, just was the "task" complete[period]. Done. End of story. Finished. Check that one off the list, let's move on the the next "task" on the list.
In her mind MY working style took too much time with analysis and gathering additional information, rather than her style which was just "get it done."
I knew right away I wasn't getting the job, but a few days later I realized "hey, that's what's so wrong with the world today." It's a task-oriented society, when you go the the airline and say "hey, my flight was crappy, I sat next to a screaming baby and we sat on the runway for 6 hours." The customer service agent for the airline says, "did the plane crash?," well no, "did you get to your destination Sir," well, yea, "than our task is complete, have a nice day Sir."
You see some advertising on the TV, or hear an ad on the radio and think to yourself, "some jackass at company XYZ paid for some dumbass at ad agency LMN to make that advertising and it's the worst thing I have ever seen or heard." But, in a task-oriented world the ad was done and ran on TV, so the "task" is complete.
Wal*Mart is a good example, do they offer lots of products at low prices, Yes. Is the store clean, well staffed, and with happy employees? NO, but we offered lots of products with low prices, so our task is complete.
Look around at a few things and see if you agree. I'm sure some things are not so "task-oriented" but you may find if you keep this in mind more and more things will begin to look like they have been "checked off the list as complete."
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