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TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR COMMANDER NATURE

  1. Be aware of your authoritarian tendencies and set them aside on purpose at times, allowing others to take the lead occasionally. Trust others to achieve as good an outcome as you might.
  2. Know what your boundaries are, both at work and at home, and be careful not to step outside those boundaries and on someone else’s toes. If you should do so inadvertently, apologize and quickly return to your rightful position.
  3. Learn to be OK with sharing power, knowing that you don’t make friends and influence people by overpowering them. Try doing things their way at times.
  4. Work at allowing people to make mistakes in the interest of learning, they will never learn and become proficient otherwise.
  5. Practice negotiating in a win/win manner, looking for ways in which both parties can gain something.
  6. It isn’t a part of your nature to anticipate other people’s needs, so learn to ask people on a regular basis if there is anything you can do to help them. Be open to suggestions and requests, including emotional ones like “I would like for you to show me you care about me once in a while”, and then follow through.
  7. Relax, lighten up. Realize that you can enjoy life just as much (and possibly more) without controlling every aspect of it. Learn some relaxation techniques, like meditation or visualization, and use them. You will improve your health, possibly prolong your life and enjoy it more in the process.
  8. Learn to control your temper. Commanders tend to have a very low tolerance threshold and can get angry or impatient fairly quickly. With practice and a change in general attitude (from “I must” to “I would prefer to”), your temper will cool and your results will greatly improve. Take a look at the things that upset you. If they center around control issues, realize that learning to lighten up will effectively diminish your anger and impatience. Everyone around you will benefit from such a move on your part, but the greatest benefit will be experienced by you.
  9. Realize that personal relationships can grow and flourish only if you give them time and attention. Set aside time regularly to spend with those you care about, even if you have to schedule the time on your calendar.
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