Work Traits

Methodical

Being methodical shows an affinity for following step-by-step processes, scripts or methods of best practice.
Take the Assessment

What does methodical mean?

Methodical means you have a preference to follow step-by-step processes, scripts or methods of best practice.

You have a high motivation for following established procedures for business-related tasks. You'll care about doing things the right way - following proven recipes or guides to make sure you end up with the desired result. 

Most comfortable with a set of instructions to follow, you'll ask for scripts or search for the best way to do things. In your team, you'll evangelize the efficiency gains and reduced time wasting that the methodical approach provides. 

Being methodical is a great way to scale operations across teams, organizations and cultures, giving everyone an understandable and replicable framework to utilize for consistent results.

We call it: Procedures

Your level of energy to follow a proven step by step process, script, recipe or method of 'best practice'.

What we hope ever to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence.

Samuel Johnson

The benefits of being methodical

Dependable

Sticking to established formulas is a great way to ensure predictable results without drama or uncertainty.

Results Oriented

If you're not changing track every month, you're more likely to make great things happen over the longer term.

Eagle-eyed

Being methodical means you might be more likely to spot mistakes, oversights and aberrations more than your peers.

The blind spots of being methodical

Cautious

An aversion to deviating from regular methods means you might miss opportunities for improvement and creativity.

Inflexible

Others could find your methodical nature frustrating if you're not willing to alter your course for the sake of compromise.

Status Quo

Without the desire to explore alternative paths to success, your options for creating new things are limited.

Divider imageDivider image

Featuring a huge library of coaching programs

How to be more methodical

1) Temper your disruptive ideas.

If you tend towards breaking new ground in every endeavor, it can be great for inspiration, but not so much for productivity. 

The newest, shiniest ideas can be attractive, but if your goal has already been achieved in the past, what's the harm in repeating it? Established methods are established for a reason - they work. 

So despite your desire to disrupt the status quo, save your creative energy for other domains, and try following the lead for once. You might find it's a quicker, easier path to success.

2) Measure your success.

The great thing about doing things methodically is that it's easier to track your progress. You can better see what's working and what isn't when you're following procedure - and that's crucial for knowing where you stand.

Breaking convention and doing new things are fun but it's not always possible to see results as you go. Following established guides and being able to mark off successes as you go will not only boost your confidence and job satisfaction, it'll also show your colleagues that you're competent and trustworthy.

3) Take a moment.

When getting swept up in the excitement of a project, make sure to take a moment's rest once in a while. Step back and look at the bigger picture, so you can see how well your execution is looking against your initial plans.

Applying a bit of methodical thinking here can be super useful - is this working? What if we altered this part? Are we following the right procedures for this strategy? 

Taking these review breaks once in a while can make sure oversights don't get swept under the rug, and give you a better handle on fast-moving situations.

4) Use methodical language.

Sometimes all it takes is a little tweak to your everyday lexicon to put you in the methodical mindset. If you find your language peppered with possibilities, hinting at open choices, alternatives and options, it might be worth re-examining your work style.

When faced with decisions, try to steer yourself back into the world of methods, processes, recipes for success, and 'the right way'. Just thinking about where you can deploy these concepts will get you thinking in a more structured fashion. You might find that rather than restricting your creativity, they actually enhance it, by taking 'analysis paralysis' off the table and giving you a clear path ahead.

Divider imageDivider image

Loved By:

SAP
Atlasssian
Verizon
Canva
KPMG
Techsauce
ZOHO

Sign up for free

Measure your traits and discover your unique talents.

Get started now

Discover your top talents & unique strengths

Loved by Canva, Atlassian, KPMG, and more!
Take free assessment

Discover your top talents & unique strengths

Loved by Canva, Atlassian, KPMG, and more!
Take free assessment