How introverts & extroverts should use systems differently

This email is a continuation of yesterday’s email about how different MBTI personality types use Notion, so be sure to read that one for more context.

Here's something I’m slowly observing in the productivity space:

Most systems are built by one personality type, for that same personality type.

The detailed databases.
The complex workflows.
The "build your second brain" mentality.

It works great if you think like a systems architect.

But what if you don't?

If you're action-oriented, you're wired to solve problems immediately.

You don’t want no system.

You need tools that accelerate your natural workflow, not tools that become a project themselves.

You don't want to customize anything.
You want something ready to use out of the box.

And in a lot of ways this can be better than taking the time to build systems.

Though in today’s world it’s going to be those with good systems that gets ahead of everyone else. So you definitely should practice the skill of building systems if you’re a natural extrovert.

And it’s the same the other way around. If you’re a natural introvert then what you need to do is just take dumb action and execute, instead of procrastinating through “perfecting” your system.

“Don’t spend so much time building productivity systems that you forget to actually use them to be productive.” - Me

Because if there’s one thing I observed from the 71% introverts and the 86% who are intuitive in my community, it’s that you’d rather spend 10 hours building the system you need for a 1h task, instead of just spending 1h to do the task.

Sounds silly when you put it like that but it’s true.

I’m guilty of this too… as an INFJ this is something I am working on, even though that’s how my brain is wired and it’s actually my job to build systems.

But it’s true for me and a lot of other people reading this.
Spend less time building systems, and more time executing.

And for all the extroverts and sensors reading this, for you it might be the other way around.

You probably have no structure or systems in place whatsoever and everything is a big mess. And you know you need systems and structure if you want to scale and do more of whatever it is you’re doing and to do it better.

So for you the opposite could be true.

We all need systems, but don’t forget to actually use those systems to execute and take action.

The purpose of systems is leverage, to do more with less time & energy, it’s not to keep building systems.

Unless you run a systemization agency like me in which case it kind of is your job lol.

Speaking of which… if you’re a business owner (who is most likely an extrovert with no systems or structure) and you need help systemizing & automating your business (by a team of smart introverts) then just reply “Systemiz” to this email and I’ll show you how we can fix your operational bottlenecks with Notion, AI and Automation.

Talk soon
Chris “The Systemizer” Punt