Lutgard Musiime

What is the term given to the time where one seems to be working in an overdrive but will not stop? I have failed to find a term for it yet it seems one of those times I am in currently.

I recently did a personality check and found out that I am a CONSUL. According to https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test, this personality trait makes up twelve percent of the total population in the world. This is what they went on to describe; ‘In high school, Consuls are the cheerleaders and the quarterbacks, setting the tone, taking the spotlight and leading their teams forward to victory and fame. Later in life, Consuls continue to enjoy supporting their friends and loved ones, organizing social gatherings and doing their best to make sure everyone is happy.’ For the record this is the best description I have found of who exactly I know myself as.

As I sat in my second leadership class at Harvest Institute, the facilitator of the day, who is the reason I took this personality test kept describing himself and how his personality had an impact on his life and health. As he explained himself being an overly ambitious human, who at one point struggled to say no to any challenge and task or say help, I kept seeing myself through him. My neighbor who also doubles as my longtime friend just could not stop laughing at me and all I could do is hang my head low as I muffled at ‘how loud’ the facilitator was getting. The facilitator told us of a time not long a go when he jokingly branched off to a physician to run some tests, not because he was sick (after all he was in ‘perfect health’), but to pass sometime as the heavy jam subsidized. To his shock, his health was a ticking bomb yet no red flags had been hoisted. He was put on a rigorous intervention that included medication as well as diets and exercises. But the doctor literally yelled at him to SLOW DOWN!!!

This led me to check through myself, I run to the computer and quickly took the test. Here is what you did not know about Consuls. You may want to find out what your personality trait is

STRENGTHS OF A CONSUL

• Strong Practical Skills — Consuls are excellent managers of day-to-day tasks and routine maintenance, enjoying making sure that those who are close to them are well cared for.
• Strong Sense of Duty — People with the Consul personality type have a strong sense of responsibility and strive to meet their obligations, though this may sometimes be more from a sense of social expectations than intrinsic drive.
• Very Loyal — Valuing stability and security very highly, Consuls are eager to preserve the status quo, which makes them extremely loyal and trustworthy partners and employees. Consuls are true pillars of any groups they belong to — whether it is their family or a community club, people with this personality type can always be relied upon.
• Sensitive and Warm — Helping to ensure that stability, Consul personalities seek harmony and care deeply about other people’s feelings, being careful not to offend or hurt anybody. Consuls are strong team players, and win-win situations are the stuff smiles are made of.
• Good at Connecting with Others — These qualities come together to make Consuls social, comfortable and well-liked. Consul personalities have a strong need to “belong”, and have no problem with small talk or following social cues in order to help them take an active role in their communities.

WEAKNESSES OF A CONSUL

• Worried about Their Social Status — These Strengths are related to a chief Weakness: Consuls’ preoccupation with social status and influence, which affects many decisions they make, potentially limiting their creativity and open-mindedness.
• Inflexible — Consuls place a lot of importance on what is socially acceptable, and can be very cautious, even critical of anything unconventional or outside the mainstream. People with this personality type may also sometimes push their own beliefs too hard in an effort to establish them as mainstream.
• Reluctant to Innovate or Improvise — Just as they can be critical of others’ “unusual” behavior, Consuls may also be unwilling to step out of their own comfort zones, usually for fear of being (or just appearing) different.
• Vulnerable to Criticism — It can be especially challenging to change these tendencies because Consuls are so conflict-averse. Consul personalities can become very defensive and hurt if someone, especially a person close to them, criticizes their habits, beliefs or traditions.
• Often Too Needy — Consuls need to hear and see a great deal of appreciation. If their efforts go unnoticed, people with the Consul personality type may start fishing for compliments, in an attempt to get reassurance of how much they are valued.
• Too Selfless — The other side of this is that Consuls sometimes try to establish their value with doting attention, something that can quickly overwhelm those who don’t need it, making it ultimately unwelcome. Furthermore, Consuls often neglect their own needs in the process.

I cannot say that I agree to every one of the strength and weaknesses mentioned here, some I have naturally evolved and modified but needless to say, on the whole that is who I am

In conclusion few personality types are as practical and caring as Consuls. We are known for our social and administrative skills, Consuls are good at creating and maintaining a secure, stable and friendly environment for themselves and their loved ones. Consuls’ dedication is invaluable in many areas, including their own personal growth.

Yet Consuls can be easily tripped up in areas where their kindness and practical approach are more of a liability than an asset. Whether it is finding (or keeping) a partner, learning to relax or improvise, reaching dazzling heights on the career ladder, or managing their workload, Consuls need to put in a conscious effort to develop their weaker traits and additional skills.

I have some (or say alot) of work to get this together. Find out your personality trait today and you could explain the reason for some of the things that you are doing and or experiencing.