During her multibook investigation into human nature, Gretchen Rubin realized that by asking the seemingly dry question "How do I respond to expectations?" we gain explosive self-knowledge. She discovered that based on their answer, people fit into Four Tendencies: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, so using this framework allows us to make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress, and engage more effectively. More than 600,000 people have taken her online quiz, and managers, doctors, teachers, spouses, and parents already use the framework to help people make significant, lasting change.

Your tendency. The four tendencies ; Identify your tendency -- Upholder. Understanding the Upholder ; Dealing with an Upholder -- Questioner. Understanding the Questioner ; Dealing with a Questioner -- Obliger. Understanding the Obliger ; Dealing with an Obliger -- Rebel. Understanding the Rebel ; Dealing with a Rebel -- Applying the four tendencies. When the four tendencies pair up ; Speaking effectively to each tendency ; Whatever our tendency, we can learn to harness its strengths.