.Category
{S/N Exercise}
.Stage
{Beyond Basics}
.Note1
{(Useful as a "workplace application" activity immediately after teaching the SN Dichotomy in an Introductory Workshop.)}
.Note2
{Created by our colleague, Alan Klein}
.Title
{Advantages and Disadvantages}
.Minimum
{3 - 4 Ss and 3 - 4 Ns}
.Ideal
{6 - 8 Ss and 6 - 8 Ns}
.Maximum
{No maximum, however not all groups will be able to contribute during the debrief process.}
.TimeMin
{20 minutes}
.TimeMax
{35 minutes (Time will vary by group size.)}
.Objective1
{To highlight the differences between S and N behavior}
.Objective2
{To begin to understand the role of the Perceiving Function at work}
.Objective3
{To underscore the need for appreciating the opposite behaviors on this preference (e.g., Ss need Ns to attend to the big picture and Ns need Ss to stay focused on the immediate tasks at hand)}
.Objective4
{To help participants validate an S or N preference}
.Materials1
{Flipchart paper (several sheets) for each group}
.Materials2
{Markers}
.Materials3
{Masking tape }
.Materials4
{S/N Highlights or Good S/N Words handouts (Optional)}
.Instruct1
{Separate the participants into groups according to their validated preference. Provide them with flip chart paper and markers.}
.Instruct2
{Give the participants the following instructions:}
.Instruct2a
{“On the flip chart paper, draw a line down the middle and another across the top, about 4 inches down. Label the top left 'Advantages' and the top right 'Disadvantages'.  Put your group's preference (S or N) on the top, as well.}
.Instruct2b
{As a group, brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages of having your preference for gathering data in doing the actual work you do at ____________. So, for the Ss, what are the advantages and disadvantages of being attentive to details and in touch with the here-and-now? For the Ns, what are the advantages and disadvantages of being big-picture oriented and in touch with possibilities for the future?}
.Instruct2c
{Remember that this is a brainstorm, so all ideas are OK, even contradictory ones. The only exception would be if you believe that someone is offering something that actually belongs to the other group. For example, if someone in the S Group says that one of your Advantages is that you easily keep the team's strategic vision in mind, you might suggest that that is actually an N behavior and, though that individual may find that behavior to be an easy one, it is not associated with a preference for Sensing Perception."}
.Debrief1
{Have each group share verbally their reports.}
.Debrief2
{Ask the group:  “Do you have any questions or comments regarding anything you heard?”}
.Debrief3
{Facilitate a discussion highlighting the differences and weave into this, if not already obvious, how different these behaviors are and how important both sets of behavior are to the team's success.}
.Variation
{This exercise can be used for the other dichotomies, as well. We do not recommend using it for all more than one dichotomy in an Introductory Workshop, however, as it would be too repetitive. The EI exercise, “The Gift of Perception”, uses a similar format (a “T-Chart” with a listing of Advantages and Disadvantages) but it is quite different and is used very successfully in the same workshop with this exercise.}
