Planner

Rose doesn’t start anything — at work or at home — without first getting her bearings. She checks what resources are available, what’s already been done, who holds the knowledge, and what the timeline demands. It’s not about control. It’s about clarity. She says, “Planning just gives me the confidence to move forward.”

Her strength shows up in all corners of life: organizing the family calendar, prepping for travel, managing projects at work. When her team implemented a new phone system, Rose was the point person on compiling an updated contact list. Rather than jumping right in, she stepped back and asked the right questions: What sources should I use? Who knows the legacy systems? What’s the best way to structure this? That mindset—grounded, intentional, and curious—made a difference not only in the result, but in the process.

She doesn’t just plan for the expected. She builds in room for the unexpected, too. Over time, she’s learned to hold plans lightly when things shift. “I like to know what to expect,” she admits, “but things happen. And that’s okay. I remind myself: be flexible, adjust, and move forward.”

Travel plans change. Flights can be delayed. Schedules will fall apart. She’s been there—and she knows she has a choice. “I can bang my head because it didn’t go according to plan,” she says with a laugh, “or I can make a new plan. That flexibility is part of being a Planner, too.”

When asked what advice she’d give to someone trying to strengthen their own planning skills, she keeps it simple: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Talk to people who’ve done something similar. Learn what worked for them. Use your resources. And remember that not everything is within your control.

“Planning helps me feel steady. Even if things don’t go exactly as expected, I know I’m prepared to pivot—and that makes all the difference.”

- Rose