Comments on: Are You Structured or Free Spirited?

By: Sondra

Sondra — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:18:49 +0000

I love this article and the advice that you provided. However, I am curious: how would you advise that people suss out the environment of any company or organization they are considering working for? It seems that waiting until the interview to ask the company about their culture is a bit late in the process. Is there a way to research that information earlier in the application process?

By: BFree

BFree — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 02:08:30 +0000

Love the comparison! Most people feel the ‘vibe’ when they are in particular work or social environments and pick up the ‘feel’ of a person or when in a social situation. I consider myself as a combination of the two-types – fundamentally I’m a free-spirited type, with boundaries. I’m open to exploration of new ideas, outside of the norm, but close it down based on timelines. The article helps to identify your personality type – but also clues you in on how to what to expect when faced with an opposite type person or environment.

By: Miami-DC

Miami-DC — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 23:06:57 +0000

These are excellent obserations between the two types of environments.

You might want to call them “free-spirited companies” (with hyphenated adjectives) though, instead of “free spirited companies;” and say that it is a “free-spirited office,” not a “free spirited office.”

If “free” and “spirited” were not related adjectives, then you could be referring to a “free office” and a “spirited office,” which have meanings that are different from a “free-spirited office.”

Try this on the term “high school principal,” and the principal may be “high” as in “high, school principal” versus a “high-school principal.”

By: Miami-DC

Miami-DC — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 23:06:07 +0000

These are excellent obserations between the two types of environments.

Try this on the term “high school principal,” and the principal may be “high” as in “high, school principal” versus a “high-school principal.”

By: Jerry M.

Jerry M. — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:31:12 +0000

I got a good chuckle from the description of the investment banker’s office. When I asked myself “Am I free spirited or structured?” I answered “both”. Does that make me a freely structured spirit or just confused or maybe just human?

By: Georaj

Georaj — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:54:34 +0000

The writer in his inimitable style grouped people and organizations broadly into “free spirited” and “structured” with very fitting descriptions. In my long career as a technocrat and administrator I have had opportunity to work in both kinds of set ups. With my experience I can say that both schools of approach to life have many positive and negative points and it is not possible to say which one is better. Core of the matter is that one should work in the set up compatible to one’s mental make up.

By: vshamu

vshamu — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:14:00 +0000

This column is amazingly good.It is the perfect advice for anyone.It is better way to establish any one.I agree with the writer.

By: Gonzalo Vergara

Gonzalo Vergara — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:13:25 +0000

I agree. Different is not necessarily better.