“Scientific Reasoning” is a key intrinsic motivator for many individuals. This is one of the ten facets measured on the CDR Drivers & Rewards Assessment. Commonly, professionals and leaders who thrive on all things science, can be found in technical, engineering, research, natural sciences or medical fields.
Interestingly, if Scientific Reasoning is one’s true calling, they may find other drivers such as “Business & Finance” or “Companionship & Affiliation” to be dull or potentially annoying. What this means is that pushing these individuals to focus on too heavily on budgets and economic analysis might drain their energy or cause their minds to wander. Those with high Scientific Reasoning may also have a couple of other high or low drivers that may complement this driver such as “Artistic Endeavors” or low “Companionship & Affiliation.”
Additionally, scientifically focused professionals often tend to be introverts who prefer working in solitude. Forcing them to attend too many relationship-building or team events hoping for that Kumbaya-moment can be futile. Training and meetings should be carefully designed and facilitated with their unique scientific profiles and needs in mind.
Bottom line, those who score high on Scientific Reasoning simply love science.
They will tend to have:
“…strong interests in scientific analysis and discovery, fascination with technology, and a lifestyle organized around the pursuit of knowledge concerning the mechanics of how things work. They believe that the mysteries of the universe can be explained through good science, that research holds the keys to progress, and they will look for objective reasons for outcomes and events. They may also:
- Derive pleasure from working through puzzling problems & answering esoteric questions
- Be driven by the notion that science is critical to our success as a civilization
- Enjoy spending time with other scientists
- Like pursuing truth and could thrive in a research-oriented work environment
- Prefer the precision achieved through science to operating on faith or conjecture”
It is the time of the season to think about holiday gifts for the high Scientific Reasoning person. Just think about, and consider, all things science within your budget. Here are more than 20 ideas from basic purchases to extravagant trips:
- Computer or mobile device gadgets, apps & upgrades
- Science museum tickets, Zoo Friend passes, planetarium and aquarium passes
- The latest in robotic, AI or radio controlled toys
- Tools and gadgets to fix things
- DNA artwork. Turn DNA into a work of art. This company will take a swab of one’s own DNA and turn it into the “world’s most personalized art.” They process one’s genetic information and print the resulting bands that is them on canvases. They also do fingerprints.
- Scuba or snorkeling adventure
- The toughest puzzles anywhere (so they claim!)
- Walking tour of a natural life setting park or reserve like an alligator park (Brazos Bend State Park near Houston)
- Chemistry set, Molecular Gastronomy Kit, “The Art of Science” Trivia Game
- An EcoSphere, developed by EcoSphere Associates, Inc., is a complete mini-ecosystem enclosed in a glass sphere. It contains micro-organisms, tiny shrimp, algae, bacteria, and sea water. The sphere’s ecosystem has an average life expectancy of two years and requires little maintenance.
Bigger ticket item gifts for those who relish Scientific Reasoning with more planning, time and financial resources required:
- Tours of volcanoes, safaris trips, glacier visits
- A trip to the: Mütter Museum (the creepiest place I ever visited though the physicians in my family loved it….) This medical museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania “displays its beautifully preserved collections of anatomical specimens, models, and medical instruments in a nineteenth-century ‘cabinet museum’ setting. The goal of the Museum is to help visitors understand the mysteries and beauty of the human body and appreciate the history of diagnosis and treatment of disease.”
- A trip to the Rain Forest in Costa Rica or to the Galapagos Islands
- Schedule a dinosaur dig vacation
- Take a submarine ride!
- Swim with the dolphins!
- Visit Alaska
- See “11 Geeky Vacation Destinations” according to PC Magazine that includes these four:
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- “The Large Hadron Collider at Switzerland’s CERN center is the world’s larges particle physics laboratory, conducting experiments that could give us insight into the essential composition of the universe itself.
- For something a little more grounded in reality, NASA offers four-day programs at the Adult Space Academy, which will give you a little taste of astronaut training.
- Mountain View, California’s Computer History Museum is like Mecca for our kind. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, this institution has a storied history—its first exhibition was in a converted coat closet in the lobby of early software vendor DEC way back in 1975.
- If you’re into retro games but emulation just isn’t scratching the itch anymore, head out to Laconia, New Hampshire to pay the American Classic Arcade Museum a visit;” and,
many more ideas can be found by searching the internet.
At work, here’s 10 ideas to reward and incent performance for the Scientifically driven person:
- Provide opportunities for problem solving and recognize their inclinations and achievements as “technical experts”
- Allow them to work on technical matters; serve as resident/team experts on technical and scientific matters
- Encourage their expansion of knowledge and satisfy their curiosity
- Use their solutions – when you can and recognize their contributions by sharing with others
- Provide them with cool gadgets, updates and state of the art equipment
- Opportunities to participate in research or develop inventions or products or services they find fascinating
- Encourage these individuals to mentor others; possibly even participate in educating or talking to youth groups, or serving on science fair committees or judging panel (if other aspects of profile support this)
- Provide opportunities as rewards for them to attend training or symposium and to stay up-to-date – advanced workshops (possibly not even directly work related — find out their interests), award of a trip to NASA
- Purchase subscriptions to scientific publications and journals (even National Geographic, Popular Science, etc.)
- Actual Case Idea – We had a case where an IT Director had a masters degree in meteorology and was the president of his local Hot Air Balloon Club. This would be a great opportunity for his company to consider sponsoring an event or his balloon, or at least cover his hobby with press in the company newsletter.
Summary
The point is when you honor and support (or reward) a persons true drivers or intrinsic motivators, you cannot miss. You will bring them joy, satisfaction and will peak their interest and potentially, for the science minded, their sense of adventure and discovery.
Note: This blog post is not intended to endorse or recommend any product or service from any vendor but rather to help readers with formulating ideas for rewards and gifts.
What is most important is for the False Advocate is to not go silent. The silence opens the door for the False Advocate reactions. Anticipate, plan, and practice and the False Advocate tendencies can be prevented.
Written by Nancy Parsons
Nancy Parsons is one of today’s foremost experts in combining the science of assessments with the art of developing people. As CEO & President of CDR Companies, LLC, she sheds new light on personality strengths, inherent risks and motivation and change performance, careers and lives. Nancy and her team developed CDR-U Coach, the first of its kind, Stevie Award winning digital avatar coaching platform so that personalized assessment and coaching feedback and development can now be provided to all levels of employees. She has presented for a variety of conferences, associations, companies and events. A short sampling includes: WGLC Women’s Global Leadership Conference, WBECS, ISPI, SHRM, ATD, Women In Energy, Women on Boards 50/50, MGMA, ACEC, OKCU, ISU, IE.edu and more. She has appeared on a variety of notable podcasts, radio and television interviews and hosts a monthly CDR Live on LinkedIn. She instructs executive coaches’ training and facilitates C-Suite executive team development sessions.
