The 4 Tendencies and How To Get Things Done

What the four tendencies are, is how you actually react to expectations. There are four different kinds and they are a combination of inner expectations and outer expectations. Outer expectations are what others place on us like meeting a work deadline. Inner expectations are what we place on ourselves, like a new year's resolution.

• Upholders respond readily to outer and inner expectations

• Questioners question all expectations; they’ll meet an expectation if they think it makes sense--essentially, they make all expectations into inner expectations

• Obligers meet outer expectations, but struggle to meet expectations they impose on themselves

• Rebels resist all expectations, outer and inner alike

Each tendency has different ways to help or hinder you in anything that you do. Because once you know what issues you have it’s much easier and quicker to find a solution. Especially when you are trying to do something that is important, but can’t seem to get done.

Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, so understanding this framework lets us make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress and burnout, and engage more effectively with other people. When we understand our Tendency, we can take advantage of the upsides of our Tendency, and counteract its limitations and downsides. And if we know other people’s Tendencies, we can shape circumstances to take that into account.

You can take the quiz and read a good interview with Gretchen Rubin. They both also can get you to the book.