Are You Wired for the 21st-Century Economy?
by Barbara Reinhold

Here's a little something to think about: Psychologists, HR specialists and others who administer the widely used Myers-Briggs Type Indicator estimate that nearly three-quarters of us (the ones with S and/or J in their profiles) are psychologically wired to prefer things that are tangible, predictable and stable. Only about one-quarter of us really enjoy situations and challenges that are evanescent, elusive and constantly changing.

So what's wrong with that? Well, nothing, except that the pace of the 21st century is certainly not slowing down, and the environment for 2002 is not showing even one sign of becoming any more certain. The majority of us, then, need to be developing some new attitudes if we do not want to be in a state of permanent anxiety. If the world is not adapting to our preferences, then we'll have to do the accommodating. And this is, after all, the season of the New Year's resolution. So let's get to it.

There are many ways to change attitudes and preferences, everything from personality-shifting psychoanalysis, to coaches, to training programs, to readings, to simple daily practice. You can get help or you can do it on your own. No matter what resource you choose to accomplish your new learning, put the following four characteristics at the very top of your "Qualities I Need to Develop" list: tolerance to ambiguity, flexibility, adaptability and risk taking.

This is not an optional assignment; it's required for success, this year and for the rest of the century.

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