You're still outlining the project plan. Your colleague has already started building the first deliverable. It feels premature. But by the time you finish planning, they've learned things through action that planning couldn't have revealed.
That's what working with a Doing-dominant colleague looks like. They bias toward motion and learn by executing.
What's Actually Happening
Doing-dominant colleagues are wired for action. They find meaning in progress and completion, not deliberation.
What looks like impatience is actually drive. They're not skipping steps carelessly—they're moving at the pace that feels productive to them.
A Doing colleague starting before the plan is final isn't being reckless. They're iterating—and they'll adjust as they learn.
Communication Strategies
Get to the point. Lead with what you need and when you need it. Context can follow.
Be specific. Vague requests create frustration. Clear deliverables with deadlines enable action.
Respect their time. Don't schedule meetings without clear purpose. Make every interaction count.
Decide and move. Extended deliberation without decision tests their patience. Commit and adjust.
Celebrate completion. Acknowledge finished work. Progress markers matter to them.
What to Avoid
Endless meetings. Discussion without decision feels like spinning wheels to them.
Vague direction. "Think about ways we might..." doesn't give them something to do.
Blocking their progress. Bureaucracy and approval delays that don't add value drain their motivation.
Changing targets. Moving goalposts undermine their sense of accomplishment.
Making Projects Work
When collaborating on projects:
- Give them clear ownership of deliverables they can drive to completion
- Remove obstacles rather than adding process
- Check in on progress but don't micromanage how they execute
- Let them move fast while others might still be planning
When Friction Happens
If you're clashing with a Doing colleague:
- Check if you're adding friction that doesn't serve quality
- Be direct about constraints rather than expecting them to infer limits
- Find ways to let them progress while you finalize details
- Appreciate their drive even when it challenges your pace
The Payoff
Doing colleagues make things happen. When everyone else is still discussing, they're delivering. When projects stall, they push through.
The investment in clear direction and removed obstacles pays dividends in velocity, reliability, and outcomes. They're the engine that converts all the strategy and ideation into tangible results. Without them, plans stay plans forever.
