How Judgers Can Effectively Handle Requests for Last Minute Changes at Work

Clinically Reviewed by Steven Melendy, PsyD. on November 04, 2018

If the final letter of your Myers-Briggs personality type is a J, you are a Judger. You’re a planner, scheduler, and list maker. Your opposite is the Perceiver. They tend to make decisions as they go, and might change their plans at the last minute.

As a Judger, last minute changes can be a real challenge to your balance. They’re also unavoidable. When they happen at work, you’re expected to roll with it and remain productive. That requires some coping skills. Fortunately, there are some strategies to help you handle these situations.

Be Consistent with Self Care

Last minute changes are inevitable. At work, you often can’t control others’ actions or the circumstances that lead to these. By employing self-care consistently, you can build up your emotional stamina and respond to these situations with resilience.

Think of last minute change requests as things that bump up against your sense of well-being and your ability to function well. Self-care creates a bit of a shield. When that shield is worn thin, last minute changes will always seem worse than they are. You’ll react badly to them, and you’ll have trouble getting past it.

Get into Planning Mode Quickly

The traits that make you a Judger can actually help you deal with these last minute requests. In other words, take a deep breath and plan your way through it. The sooner you can shake off the irritation and annoyance at a situation, and settle into what you do best, the better. This means making a plan, and using that to implement whatever changes as efficiently as possible.

By taking this approach, you can accomplish two things. First, you move yourself from a place that is extraordinarily stressful and uncomfortable for you and into a place where you are at your best. You’ll also become a much-needed voice of reason. That’s valuable to everyone when a last minute change has caused disruption.

Hold Others Accountable and Set Boundaries

Veronica Wright has learned that there are times when others must be held accountable. She says, “Nobody’s perfect. I also understand the need to be flexible, and to maintain courteous patience with clients. Still, when last minute changes happen because others didn’t plan, I’ve learned to politely place the issue back on their plate.”

Veronica has a point. Judgers are often seen as being organized and level-headed. When there’s a last minute crisis, people naturally go to them for help. The problem is that this can create an unhealthy precedent where others rely on you for rescue when they’ve failed to plan properly, or keep the scope of what they’re doing under control.

You can maintain your own sanity, and encourage others to do better by setting boundaries, and being very specific about the ways in which you are willing to help. In many situations, it’s absolutely appropriate for you to say something along the lines of “I will work on this change with you for 30 minutes. After that, you’ll have to finish the rest yourself.”

Give Yourself 10 Minutes

Last minute changes are frustrating, and you’re only human. Don’t feel bad about giving yourself 10 minutes to adjust. It’s okay to feel frustrated and out of sorts. It’s better to take a ten-minute walk or shut your office door for a bit to regroup than it is to radiate frustration as you try to implement the changes you must make.

Final Thoughts

Last minute changes go against personality types that crave routine and planning. Unfortunately, when they happen on the job, you just have to get through it. That doesn’t mean you have to suffer. Instead, use the strategies here to keep a level head. You may not enjoy last minute changes, but you can survive them.

Sylvia Giltner

Sylvia Giltner is an experienced HR professional and writer at ResumesCentre. She helps job seekers find their ideal career paths. She believes that personality plays a huge role in matching people to the right job, and regularly uses personality assessment in her work.

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About the Clinical Reviewer

Steven Melendy, PsyD., is a Clinical Psychologist who received his doctorate from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California. He specializes in using evidence-based approaches in his work with individuals and groups. Steve has worked with diverse populations and in variety of a settings, from community clinics to SF General Hospital. He believes strongly in the importance of self-care, good friendships, and humor whenever possible.

Comments

Pharmdapp says...

As an INTJ, the part about giving myself 10 minutes to adjust is something I need to work on. I become frustrated and annoyed when any plan changes and I deal with it internally, but I do not give myself time to adjust. I'm certainly better at it than I was 3 or 4 years ago, but improvement is always possible. I find that taking a walk to a quiet location and thinking through things helps me most.

Alchemiste says...

Like you, Pharmdapp, I'm an INTJ and need to use that 10 minute technique. Interruptions and last minute changes drive me nuts. Over the years I've learned to adapt somewhat. I don't get as frustrated with them but it takes an act of will not to smack certain people. Been able to refrain...so far.

Dylan Regan (not verified) says...

Don’t like the job I’m at and I wanna change that I always have last minute descions about attending the workplace cause of the unorganized matters and lose of materials at the workplace.What can I do to be myself?Leave the job? Cause that’s how I feel right now!

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