Metaprogram | Options and Procedures

We all have filters that determine our reality. Those filters all work differently. There are about 14 of them. One interesting filter is: Options - Procedures. I discuss that filter in this article

Options or Procedures.

How does a person reason? Is there a continuous penchant for finding alternatives (options) or is there a preference for following established guidelines (procedures). According to Rodger Bailey, in the work context it is divided 40-40-20. 40% have an optional pattern, 40% have a procedural pattern and 20% have both.

Option People

People with an "Options" pattern are motivated by opportunities and possibilities to do things in other ways. After all, there is always a better way to do things....

They love coming up with procedures and sytems, but to follow them? No, that's too much of a stretch. If you give an "options man" a guaranteed way to become a millionaire, he will try to start improving it. After all, there is an easier and better way...according to the "option man

What is truly irresistible to these types of people is breaking or changing the rules. They love starting new things, but actually finishing them is difficult.

They are also the people who unpack the DVD player and get started right away without a manual. You know them I guess....

Procedural people

Procedural people love to walk down beaten paths. They believe there is one right way to do something. Once they have a procedure, they can do it over and over again. They like that.

A procedure has a beginning and an end. Without that procedure, these people don't feel comfortable. What matters to them is getting to the end in that procedure. They are also true finishers. Deviating from rules they do not and may even take as an insult.

These are the people who will install the DVD player if the manual is properly read. You probably know those too....

How do you find out if someone is procedural or optional?

It's not that difficult. You ask the following question:

Why did you choose your current work?

Optional people will provide answers along the lines of:

• Possibilities and opportunities
• Their list of criteria
• Expanding their options and choices

Procedural people give answers like:

• They have not chosen
• The facts, a story
• They answer the question with how rather than why. So how they came to work there instead of why they went to work there.

If there are people with both patterns they will provide a mixture of both answers. For example, a story that includes their criteria. You will hear how they got there and in it why they found that.

How can you influence them?

When you know what pattern people have then you can go by 'Option'people words like:

Opportunity, choice, lap up the rules, another better way, infinite possibilities, an alternative, that's one way, the sky is the limit

With "Procedure" people, you can use these words:

The right way, speak in a procedure such as: first...and then...and next...and last, follow the procedure, proven methodology, the procedure is as follows.

Business and advertising

It's good to know what profile your customers have as entrepreneurs. Are they buying your product because they want to gain more capabilities or to have something proven and good.

In addition, it's good to tailor your campaigns to what your store looks like. If you sell carpets and offer many different options and choices, you want to attract optional people. So your ad should appeal to those people and not attract procedural people.

Case in point

Mac Donalds is typically a procedural burger chain. A Big Mac is always the same, everywhere. It could hardly be any different, either. Try ordering a Big Mac without sauce, it's almost impossible. It can only be done one way, the right way. Typical procedure.

Burger King is different. It's more focused on options. You can choose what you want on your burger. They attract other people to them because of that. In terms of quality, it won't make much difference. What differs is what they focus on. They target the optional people.

What will you focus on?