The 6 Things We Value - Part 2: The Player

Here is part two of the series learning about what we value. Today's post is about what the Player type values. Dr. Keirsey says that what we value is where we differ the most in our personality. Learning what means the most to our students and children will help us know what drives them and means the most to them. We can use that to better inspire, motivate, and comfort them.

1) Players Value Being Excited

Players want to find what is exciting and enjoy life. They are very easily excited and very easily bored. When they become bored, they will look for ways to end it, sometimes not making the best choices, but it will end the boredom. They often will get others caught up in their excitement and people want to be around them because they seem to exude excitement with a promise of something wonderful.

Teacher Application:
These are your students that you need to make sure is engaged. If they are interested in what you are doing or can find something that they can be excited about, they will work hard and be involved with it. Where these children can have problems is when they are bored. For one, they will stop listening, and for two, they will look for something, anything to get away from the bored
om. Try to give them breaks to do something that excited them if you have to get through something that might bore them.

2) Players Value Trusting their Impulses

This type trusts their impulses always. They live in the moment and see no reason to wait for what they want to do. They have a hard time thinking about tomorrow and planning ahead. They like to be spontaneous and do what their impulses tell them. They can jump from one thing to another quickly.
They can start doing things that they feel an impulse to do and then once they have a different impulse, they can leave what they were doing with out worrying.

Teacher Application:
This type has a hard time controlling themselves if they have an impulse to do it. They need more flexibility and choice in what they are learning. You need to help them by being a facilitator and teach them some skills with control. But don't try to control them too much or it can backfire. If you can excited them in what they are learning, they will work hard at it and want to know about it.

3) Players Value Yearning for Impact

Players yearn to have a place and impact in this world. They can desire for a positive impact or they can go in the opposite. Dr. Keirsey says, "to be without impact, to make no difference in human affairs, is like being deprived of oxygen" (pg 57). There are many artists, athletes, politicians, actors, military, and other places where there can be an impact made.

Teacher Application:
These children want to make an impact even as small children. They will look for ways to make themselves known through good or bad ways. Help guide them to the more positive and productive ways so that they can make their impact, but not be a disruption. Let them be involved in different sports, arts, or other areas that interest them.

4) Players Value Seeking Stimulation

Players live mostly in their senses. They will look for more of all the things to stimulate their senses. They are constantly look for new experiences and places to go, things to drive or do. When doing jobs or tasks, they look for ways to make it more exciting or find stimulation. If they can't, they will probably look for something else to do that will fulfill their need for stimulation.

Teacher Application:
Keeping their need for stimulation in mind, have lessons what will help them through their senses to learn. This will keep them interested and stimulated. They will be able to learn and still feel like they are "playing" and being excited as they do these type of lessons. Use kinesthetic activity, hands on activities, using food, exciting pictures, etc.

5) Players Value Prizing Generosity

This type finds great joy and especially excitement as they give spontaneously. If they are required to give it is not gratifying to them. They especially like to surprise with gifts to others and they also like them to be extravagant. In the book Please Understand Me II it tells a story of Elvis Presley giving a brand new Cadillac and clothes to a woman he met at a party when he found out it was her birthday (pg.59). This is just one example of how generous Players can be.

Teaching Application:
Give Players a chance to surprise others and be spontaneously generous. They will get great please and excitement from this. Players can be self centered and this is a great way to cultivate them thinking of others.

6) Players Value Aspiring to be a "Virtuoso" 
Players aspire to be virtuosos, of the best in what they are interested in. They will hide that they are working and practicing at something, until they feel they are getting good enough for others to see. They become very dedicated to be the best and will put in tireless time and effort. This can be in many different things: sports, arts, acting, business, doctor, etc.

Teacher Application:
If you find out your child is working on something, but hasn't shown you yet, don't pressure them. It means they don't feel ready to show it to anyone yet. Continue to let them work on it until they are ready to show it to you. Give them time to work and practice the things that they want to get better at. Also expose them to many different things, there might be something that catches their interest that they want to work at.