Are You a Big Picture Thinker or Detail-Oriented?

3 ins.ide
Sep 30, 2020
2 min read

- by Tanya

What does it mean to be a big picture-oriented?

Big picture thinking is the ability to come up with ideas, solutions, and opportunities. Big thinkers see possibilities and jump on opportunities. They are willing to take risks because they see the chance to make big gains.

Characteristics:

If you are a big picture thinker, you will quickly be able to see patterns in problems.
Big picture thinkers also have a low tolerance for busywork and tedious errands.
They may be great at outlining what has to be done, but when they start to get into the small details, they might get tired quickly.
Big picture thinkers are often characterized as right-brain thinkers or thought to be very creative.

Signs you’re a big-picture thinker

Here are some points to notice about a big-picture thinker:

You can quickly see patterns in complex problems.
You like to come up with new ideas and new projects.
You have a low tolerance for busywork, tedious errands, and filling out forms.
You are great at outlining what needs to be done, but filling in the details can feel exhausting.
You may have been described as right-brained.
When you have taken the Myers-Briggs assessment, you were an N.

Definition of Detail-Oriented Thinking?

Detail-oriented thinking is a more precise way of planning, organizing, and managing activities with specific details. Detail-oriented people are not visionaries but are very good at executing the details of a plan. They likely over-think things in the process of organizing the plans. Detail-oriented people often are considered lacking common sense because they may not fully comprehend how all of the various pieces of a project. They are focused on the narrow area they are working on.

Characteristics:

They think about things in great detail and sometimes miss the bigger picture.
Detailed orientated thinkers enjoy optimizing something that already exists as opposed to creating new things.
Detailed orientated thinkers don’t like highlighting study notes because they end up highlighting everything.
They may be described as people who are left-brained and are very analytical.

Signs you’re detail-oriented

Here are some points to notice about a detail-oriented person:

You triple-check your own work.
You ask a lot of questions.
You have an impressive memory.
You work methodically.
You produce high-quality work.
You have perfectionist tendencies.
You’re sometimes viewed as a micromanager.
You’re the go-to person for checking things over.
You need to frequently remind yourself of the bigger picture.
You like to get granular before starting a project.
You struggle with brainstorming sessions.
You don’t accept the first answer.
You’re the one who notices changes.

And the thing is, people, ask it as, “Are you big picture-oriented OR detailed-oriented?” They don't have to be mutually exclusive. You can be both, and it's not complicated.