How Conscientious Are You?

Being conscientious is more than being punctual and following up on tasks. It is a desire to do a job well, to do what is “right”… literally, it is acting according to your conscience. Being conscientious means living up to commitments you make and choosing the right way versus the easy way.

Personally, I find my conscience to be a great motivator — if I fall behind on task, my inner voice will nag at me until I have completed it.

This week’s Challenge: This week, my priority will be to focus on meeting my obligations (to others and myself).

Avoiding being Meticulous (overuse): Being conscientious is a key ingredient for success, but taken too far, one becomes meticulous. Not meticulous in a detailed craftsman way, but meticulous in a fussy, finicky way — focusing on every minute detail.

If you find you are more concerned about small specifics of a particular task than on the desired outcome, then you may have entered the meticulous zone. At that point, take a step back and remind yourself of the “bigger picture” of what you’re doing, and evaluate whether your extreme attention to detail is serving that objective well.

Commendable Trait: Conscientious
Underused: Nonchalant
Overused: Meticulous
Strength: Diligence
Quadrant: Wisdom

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