Metaprogram: Rule Structure

The rule structure gives you information about a person's ability or willingness to set rules for themselves and others. In this category, there are four patterns:

Mine/Mine: My rules apply to me / My rules apply to you

Mine/Mine people have rules for themselves and for others. They are willing to share their rules with others. Since they assume that all people are similar, they believe that what is good for them is also good for others. They say, for example: "If I were you, I would ...." The vast majority of the population has this pattern in the context of work situations and probably in other contexts as well.

Mine/.: My rules apply to me / Whatever

People with a Mine/. pattern have rules for themselves and do not care about others. They do not necessarily have malicious intentions towards others; it is simply not their problem or concern. These people often do what they have to do without thinking about others. Sometimes they are considered selfish by others because they simply do not consider anyone but themselves.

None/Mine: No rules or unknown rules apply to me / My rules apply to you

None/Mine people have no guidelines for themselves or are unaware of these guidelines, but are readily willing to pass on rules to others when they are communicated to them. As a result, they may have difficulty finding direction for themselves or making decisions. They easily get stuck and then do not know what to do.

Mine/Yours: My rules apply to me / Your rules apply to you

People with a Mine/Yours pattern know which rules and guidelines to follow at work, but are not willing or able to communicate these rules to others. They operate from a "to each their own" perspective. Since they believe everyone is different, they would consider it arrogant to tell others what to do. This leads to others often being unclear about their expectations. Here you find people who can understand a conflict from both sides, as difficult as that may be for those of us who like to have a clear standpoint.

Statistical distribution:

Mine/Mine 75%, Mine/. 3%, None/Mine 7%, Mine/Yours 15%

Pattern Recognition

Ask the following two questions and pay attention to whether the person answers both questions or only one.

To capture this pattern, you will need to compare the answers to these questions. If someone does not know the answer to these questions, they will usually not hesitate long and then answer with an uncertain voice.

Mine/Mine: The same answer to both questions, or the person finds it easy to answer both questions.

Mine/.: Clear answer to the first question. Shows lack of interest in the second question.

None/Mine: Does not know the answer to the first question. Has rules for the second question.

Mine/Yours: Has rules for the first question. Does not know the answer to the second question or does not presume to judge.

Examples:

Mine/Mine:

• 1. Work more. Better organization.
• 2. The same. Work more. Better organization.

Mine/.:

• 1. Better organization
• 2. Not my problem.

None/Mine

• 1. Uh, hmm... not really sure.
• 2. Better organization.

Mine/Yours

• 1. Work more. Better organization
• 2. Everyone is different