Observers and Deciders
Introduction to OPS: Part 4
In the previous article in our introductory series, we introduced the four Human Needs. They're the foundation of the Objective Personality model and essential for understanding someone's cognitive processes.
The four Human Needs come in the form of two binary coins. One side is always the Savior and the other is the Demon. Everything else is built on top. Essentially, all other coins give more nuance to how the Human Needs express themselves.
In this article, we introduce only one more coin. Our previous two were the Decider coin and the Observer coin. Confusingly enough, the next one is called the Observer/Decider or Double Observer/Double Decider coin. Same thing.
It describes the dynamic between the first two coins. It is as important for understanding people and personal growth as the Human Needs.
It explains people’s core struggles and why they get stuck. Understanding and paying attention to this one coin can make a huge difference in someone’s life.
We also want to use it to introduce a central concept of OPS that is foundational for growth: adaptability and balance.
The Coin
Everyone has two Decider Human Needs: Self and Tribe. As the names suggest, they are focused on people and decisions.
We call them the Deciders because balancing your perspective with the tribe’s perspective is a fundamental aspect of making good decisions.
Unfortunately, only one of your Deciders is a Savior. The other one is a Demon.
Everyone has two Observer Human Needs: Organize and Gather. They are focused on events, life paths, and things in general.
We call them the Observers because they’re concerned with balancing out the unknown with the known to make sense of observations and information.
Unfortunately, only one of your Observers is a Savior. The other one is a Demon.
Remember: everyone has every human need. But everyone is unbalanced on both coins because we have a tendency to favour our Saviors over our Demons.
However, if you compare the two coins, there is a relative balance. In other words, one coin is always more unbalanced than the other. That coin is your biggest pain point.
Here’s where our next coin comes in.
In the first case, you are relatively more balanced on your Observers and relatively unbalanced on your Deciders.
In this case, we call you a Double Observer and Single Decider, or simply a Decider. It’s different words for the same thing.
And yes, I know it sounds confusing.
In the second case, you are relatively more balanced on your Deciders and relatively unbalanced on your Observers.
In this case, we call you a Double Decider and Single Observer, or simply an Observer.
Again, it’s all the same thing.
To recap, we have the Decider coin that asks: are you Savior Self or Savior Tribe? We have the Observer coin that asks: are you Savior Organize or Savior Gather?
We also have the Decider/Observer coin that asks: are you more unbalanced on the Decider or the Observer coin, relative to the other coin?
The Meaning
What does it all mean?
Let’s say you’re relatively balanced on the Observer Human Needs. That makes you a Double Observer.
You have an innate ability and confidence about balancing Organizing and Gathering. It’s not a big deal to go back and forth between updating information and sticking with what you know.
You’re calm about dealing with things and navigating events and your life path. Observing in general is your Savior.
On the other hand, you’re unbalanced on the Decider Human Needs. You’re also a Single Decider.
Your Demon Decider Need is your biggest fear. It’s the Need you neglect the most. It’s your blind spot where you let tidal waves build up.
You’re either missing your own perspective or the tribe’s. Finding balance there feels impossible which creates a lot of tension.
You feel stuck when it comes to people and judgement. Deciding in general is your Demon.
You could also be relatively balanced on the Decider Needs. That makes you a Double Decider.
You have an innate ability and confidence about balancing Self and Tribe. It’s not a big deal to go back and forth between seeing your perspective and being aware of the tribe’s.
You’re calm about dealing with people and relationships. Deciding in general is your Savior.
On the other hand, you’re unbalanced on the Observer Needs. You’re also a Single Observer.
Your Demon Observer is your biggest fear. It’s the Need you neglect the most. It’s your blind spot where you let tidal waves build up.
You’re either neglecting to update your information or to organise the information you have. Finding balance between openness and control feels impossible which creates a lot of tension.
You feel stuck when it comes to information, things and your life path. Observing in general is your Demon.
Four Basic Types
All Deciders share common struggles with people and judgement. All Observers share common struggles with information and life paths.
When we look at the individual Human Needs again, we can split Deciders and Observers into four basic types.
For each of these types, we stack the four Human Needs in a different way. The balanced Needs are close together in the middle of the stack. The unbalanced Needs are far apart at the poles.
The unbalanced Savior is at the top of the stack or in the Lead position. The unbalanced Demon is at the bottom of the stack. Starting with the Lead Human Need, the following Needs alternate between introverted and extroverted Needs.
All Decider types are balanced on their Observer Needs. These Needs are in the middle of their stack. Their Decider Needs take the Lead and the Bottom positions.
This gives us two basic kinds of Deciders.
IxxPs have Di as their Lead Human Need and De at the bottom. The Tribe’s perspective is their biggest blindspot. They feel stuck because they don’t feel accepted and struggle to connect.
ExxJs have De at the top and Di at the bottom. Their own perspective is their biggest blindspot. They feel stuck because they don’t know what they want or because they feel like they’re not allowed to ask for it.
Every Single Observer is balanced on their Decider Needs. They have these Needs in the middle of their stack. The Observer Needs take the Lead and the Bottom positions.
This gives us two basic kinds of Observers.
IxxJs have Oi as their Lead Human Need and Oe at the bottom. Gathering new information and remaining open are their biggest blindspots. They feel stuck because they feel like they can’t deal with chaos and change.
ExxPs Lead with Oe and have Oi at the bottom. Organizing information and narrowing down are their biggest blindspots. They feel stuck because they don’t feel like they’re allowed to control the circumstances and build their own path in life.
Why are these basic types called IxxP, ExxJ, IxxJ and ExxP? These names are unfortunate remnants of the Meyer-Briggs Type Indicator. We’ll explain it in more detail in upcoming videos.
Growth
What good does it do to know which of these four types you are?
Well - in our opinion the most crucial insight is this: your Lead Human Need is not your biggest strength. It’s your greatest addiction.
Balance and adaptability is true strength. Not forcing your expectations on the world is strength. Flowing with the moment and recognising what is truly needed is strength.
In OPS terms this means that Double Observing and Double Deciding are true strengths.
Our perceptions did not evolve to see reality as it is. We all have inherent biases, filters through which we see the world. Your OPS type tells you your bias.
Your biggest bias is your Lead Human Need. You compulsively try to satisfy it while neglecting your Need at the bottom. You create tidal waves that eventually catch up with you.
If you want to find peace, you need to figure out how to bring more balance to your First and Last Human Need.
Again, the goal is balance. It’s not to get caught obsessing over your Last Need. You don’t want to get stuck there either.
Learn from whatever you have in the middle. Learn to flow back and forth, with calm and ease.
Even if it doesn’t have the same ease. It does get easier over time.
