The Same Situation, Two Different Realities
You're both looking at the same project proposal.
Sensor sees:
- Specific deliverables
- Concrete timeline
- Resource requirements
- Past similar projects
- Step-by-step execution plan
Intuitive sees:
- Future implications
- Pattern connections
- Underlying concepts
- Alternative possibilities
- Strategic vision
Sensor: "This is a solid plan. Clear steps, proven approach."
Intuitive: "But what if we reimagined the entire framework? I see a pattern here that suggests..."
Sensor: "Why complicate it? This works. We've done it before."
Intuitive: "But we're missing the bigger opportunity here."
Both think:
- The other is missing the obvious
- The other is making this harder
- The other doesn't get it
The truth: You're literally processing different information from the same situation.
What Sensing vs Intuition Actually Means
The Core Difference: What Information Do You Trust?
Sensing (S): Trust what's concrete and proven
- What you can see, hear, touch, measure
- Facts and details
- Present reality
- Past experience
- Practical applications
Intuition (N): Trust what's abstract and possible
- Patterns and connections
- Concepts and meanings
- Future implications
- Novel possibilities
- Theoretical frameworks
Neither is better. Both are necessary. But they're fundamentally different ways of perceiving reality.
Sensing Types: The Detail Experts
How Sensors process information:
- Start with observable facts
- Focus on what IS, not what could be
- Trust proven methods
- Need concrete examples
- Sequential, step-by-step thinking
They ask:
- What are the facts?
- What's the evidence?
- How has this worked before?
- What are the specific steps?
- What can I directly observe?
They value:
- Accuracy and precision
- Practical applications
- Real-world experience
- Tangible results
- Detailed instructions
Intuitive Types: The Pattern Seekers
How Intuitives process information:
- Start with concepts and patterns
- Focus on what COULD be, not just what is
- Trust novel approaches
- Need theoretical frameworks
- Non-linear, connecting-dots thinking
They ask:
- What's the pattern here?
- What are the implications?
- What's the underlying principle?
- What possibilities exist?
- What does this connect to?
They value:
- Innovation and creativity
- Abstract concepts
- Future possibilities
- Novel approaches
- Big-picture vision
Why Sensors and Intuitives Misunderstand Each Other
Clash #1: Details vs Big Picture
Sensor communication: "First, we do A. Then B. Then C. Here are the 12 specific steps required."
Why: Thoroughness ensures nothing falls through the cracks. Details matter.
Intuitive communication: "The goal is X. Here's the overarching strategy: [conceptual framework]."
Why: Big picture provides context. Details can be figured out later.
The conflict:
- Sensor frustrated by lack of concrete details
- Intuitive overwhelmed by excessive specifics
- Sensor: "Where's the plan?"
- Intuitive: "Where's the vision?"
Clash #2: Proven Methods vs Novel Approaches
Sensor approach: "This method has worked for 10 years. Why change it?"
Why: Proven track record reduces risk. Why fix what isn't broken?
Intuitive approach: "Just because it worked before doesn't mean it's optimal. What if we tried..."
Why: Innovation requires challenging existing methods. Better solutions exist.
The conflict:
- Sensor sees Intuitive as impractical and risky
- Intuitive sees Sensor as resistant to improvement
- Sensor: "You want to reinvent the wheel"
- Intuitive: "You're stuck in the past"
Clash #3: Concrete Examples vs Abstract Concepts
Sensor needs: "Can you give me a specific example?"
Why: Abstract concepts feel vague and untrustworthy. Concrete examples are real.
Intuitive needs: "Let me explain the underlying principle."
Why: Examples without context feel disconnected. Concepts provide meaning.
The conflict:
- Sensor can't grasp Intuitive's abstractions
- Intuitive frustrated by Sensor's "missing the point"
- Sensor: "Just show me what you mean"
- Intuitive: "I'm trying to explain the concept"
Clash #4: Present Reality vs Future Possibility
Sensor focus: "Here's what we're dealing with RIGHT NOW."
Why: Present reality is tangible and actionable. Future is speculative.
Intuitive focus: "Here's where this could LEAD in 5 years."
Why: Future implications matter more than current state. Vision drives direction.
The conflict:
- Sensor sees Intuitive as head-in-clouds
- Intuitive sees Sensor as short-sighted
- Sensor: "Deal with reality"
- Intuitive: "Think strategically"
How Sensors Misunderstand Intuitives
Misunderstanding #1: "They're Impractical"
What Sensors think: "They have all these ideas but no execution plan. They don't understand how things actually work."
What's actually happening: Intuitives ARE thinking about execution—just at a different level. They're designing the framework, not the individual steps.
The truth:
- Intuitives can be practical—they just start with vision
- They're figuring out WHAT to do before HOW to do it
- Abstract thinking ≠ impractical thinking
Misunderstanding #2: "They Overcomplicate Everything"
What Sensors think: "Why can't they just do the simple, straightforward thing? Why do they need to reimagine everything?"
What's actually happening: Intuitives naturally see connections and implications. What looks like overcomplication is pattern recognition.
The truth: To an Intuitive, NOT considering implications and patterns feels incomplete and irresponsible.
Misunderstanding #3: "They Don't Pay Attention to Details"
What Sensors think: "They miss obvious details. They make careless mistakes. They don't care about accuracy."
What's actually happening: Intuitives focus on what they consider important details (concepts, patterns) and may miss concrete details.
The truth:
- Intuitives CAN do details—it just drains them more
- They're focusing on different information, not ignoring all information
- Their brain naturally filters for patterns, not specifics
Misunderstanding #4: "They Live in Fantasy Land"
What Sensors think: "They're always talking about what could be instead of dealing with what IS. They're unrealistic."
What's actually happening: Intuitives are doing strategic thinking. Considering possibilities is how they evaluate current reality.
The truth: "What if" thinking isn't escapism—it's how Intuitives solve problems and innovate.
How Intuitives Misunderstand Sensors
Misunderstanding #1: "They're Unimaginative"
What Intuitives think: "They can't think creatively. They just want to do what's always been done. They resist innovation."
What's actually happening: Sensors DO innovate—they just need concrete proof that the new approach will work better.
The truth:
- Sensors aren't against new ideas—they're against untested ideas
- They innovate incrementally based on evidence
- Practical ≠ unimaginative
Misunderstanding #2: "They Miss the Point"
What Intuitives think: "I'm explaining a CONCEPT and they keep asking for examples. They don't understand abstract thinking."
What's actually happening: Sensors DO understand—they just need it grounded in concrete reality to trust it.
The truth: Asking for examples isn't "missing the point"—it's how Sensors verify and internalize concepts.
Misunderstanding #3: "They're Obsessed With Irrelevant Details"
What Intuitives think: "Why are they focused on tiny specifics when the big picture is what matters?"
What's actually happening: To Sensors, those details ARE what matters. Execution happens in the specifics.
The truth:
- "The devil is in the details" is a Sensor truth
- Details aren't obstacles to vision—they're how vision becomes reality
- Abstract plans fail when details are wrong
Misunderstanding #4: "They Have No Vision"
What Intuitives think: "They just focus on today. They don't think strategically. They're short-sighted."
What's actually happening: Sensors DO think about the future—they just ground it in present reality and proven methods.
The truth: Sensors' "lack of vision" is actually risk management and practical planning.
How to Bridge the S/N Communication Gap
For Sensors Communicating With Intuitives
1. Start with the big picture
❌ Sensor default: "Step 1 is to contact the vendor. Step 2 is to..."
✅ Adapted for Intuitive: "The goal is to streamline our supply chain by 30%. Here's the strategy: [conceptual overview]. Want me to walk through the execution details?"
Why it works: Intuitive gets the vision first, then can appreciate the details.
2. Connect to patterns and future implications
❌ "This is how we've always done it."
✅ "This approach has consistently produced X results. The pattern suggests it will continue to work because [underlying reason]."
Why it works: Translates "proven method" into pattern language Intuitives understand.
3. Be open to "what if" exploration
❌ "That's not how it works. Stick to the plan."
✅ "That's an interesting angle. Let's explore it. What would need to be true for that to work?"
Why it works: Respects Intuitive's pattern-seeking without derailing execution.
4. Provide the concept behind the details
❌ Just listing 20 steps without context
✅ "The principle is [concept]. Here are the implementation steps that apply this principle."
Why it works: Details make sense when connected to overarching concept.
For Intuitives Communicating With Sensors
1. Provide concrete examples
❌ Intuitive default: "Imagine a paradigm where we..."
✅ Adapted for Sensor: "Here's a specific example: Company X did this, here's exactly what happened: [concrete outcome]. We'd apply the same principle."**
Why it works: Sensor can now visualize and trust what you're describing.
2. Ground vision in current reality
❌ "In the future, we could..."
✅ "Based on what we're seeing now [specific current data], this suggests we could [future possibility with clear connection to present]."
Why it works: Connects future possibility to present reality Sensors trust.
3. Acknowledge proven methods before proposing changes
❌ "Let's completely reimagine this."
✅ "The current approach works well for X. I'm seeing an opportunity to improve Y by [specific change]. What do you think?"
Why it works: Respects what's working before suggesting innovation.
4. Break down concepts into steps
❌ Just explaining the theoretical framework
✅ "Here's the concept: [brief]. Here's how it works in practice: Step 1... Step 2... Step 3..."
Why it works: Sensor can see HOW the concept translates to action.
Real Example: The Project Proposal
The Disaster Version
Intuitive: "I think we should reimagine our entire approach. The current system is based on an outdated paradigm. If we shift to a framework that prioritizes [abstract concept], we could unlock exponential growth potential."
Sensor: "What does that actually mean? What specifically would we DO differently?"
Intuitive: "That's getting into the weeds before we've established the conceptual foundation. First we need to understand the underlying principles."
Sensor: "I don't understand what you're proposing. Can you just tell me the concrete steps?"
Intuitive: [Frustrated that Sensor isn't grasping the concept]
Sensor: [Frustrated that Intuitive won't give specifics]
The Bridge Version
Intuitive (Adapted): "I'm seeing a pattern in our current challenges that suggests we should adjust our approach. Here's a concrete example: Last quarter, we tried [specific thing] and got [specific result]. That's consistent with what Company X experienced when they were using the old framework. When they shifted to [new approach], they saw [measurable outcome]. I'm proposing we test a similar change."
Sensor: "Okay, I can see that. What would that look like specifically for our team?"
Intuitive: "Phase 1: We'd [specific action]. Phase 2: [specific action]. Phase 3: [specific action]. The concept is [underlying principle], but the execution would look like those three phases."
Sensor: "That makes sense. I can see how that would work."
Result: Sensor understands and can evaluate the proposal. Intuitive's vision gets considered.
The S/N Strength Combination
When Sensors and Intuitives collaborate well:
Sensor brings:
- Practical execution
- Attention to details
- Proven methods
- Present reality grounding
- Risk identification through specifics
Intuitive brings:
- Strategic vision
- Pattern recognition
- Innovation and creativity
- Future-oriented thinking
- Opportunity identification through concepts
Together:
- Intuitive provides vision
- Sensor provides execution
- Intuitive spots patterns
- Sensor spots details
- Intuitive imagines possibilities
- Sensor validates practicality
- Intuitive prevents stagnation
- Sensor prevents recklessness
This combination is powerful when they respect each other's information processing.
The 4 Tests for S/N Communication
1. SIGNAL: Am I speaking their information language?
Am I using concrete examples for Sensors, concepts for Intuitives?
2. OPPORTUNITY: Am I leveraging both detail AND vision?
Or am I dismissing one as irrelevant?
3. RISK: Am I triggering their frustration?
Sensor frustration: vague abstractions. Intuitive frustration: excessive specifics without context.
4. AFFECT: Am I grounding this in what they trust?
Facts for Sensors, patterns for Intuitives.
Check Your S/N Communication
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About 4Angles: We analyze your writing from 4 psychological perspectives (Signal, Opportunity, Risk, Affect) to help you communicate with confidence. Free analysis available at 4angles.com.
Last Updated: 2025-10-29