Each of the four personality styles—Eagle, Parrot, Dove, and Owl—views time through a unique lens influenced by their core needs and motivations.
Parrots, with their expressive, energetic, and optimistic style, view time as plentiful. To them, life is about enjoying joy, engaging with others, and making every moment meaningful. So, why hurry? That looming deadline is a concern for “future me.”
Their time management struggles stem from distraction, overcommitment, and underestimating how long tasks actually take. They may completely lose track of time.
Meanwhile, Doves, who are caring, loyal, and harmonious, see time as plentiful, and they view this abundance through a lens of service. They make time to help others before tending to their own priorities, even if it may add pressure to achieve their own goals later.
Doves often say “yes” too much, neglecting their own needs. They need to learn how to establish clear boundaries.
Owls, who are analytical, detail-oriented, and accuracy-focused, see time as scarce but for a different reason. They believe it’s crucial to do it right the first time because there might not be enough time to fix mistakes later.
The Owl struggles with perfectionism and overplanning. They can get so caught up in preparation that they delay taking action.
Eagles are driven, direct, and focused on reaching their goals. They see time as limited, which drives their urgency and impatience, as they believe things must happen now because there is no time to waste.
However, Eagles can move so quickly that they sometimes skip steps, ignore processes, or bulldoze people in the name of efficiency. Patience is not their default setting.
Looking Forward
Understanding how each style perceives time is essential for managing priorities, reducing conflict, and improving collaboration across teams and relationships.
Time management isn’t just about tools. It’s about style.
You don’t need to change who you are to manage time better; you just need to understand how you’re wired and lean into your strengths. The more you operate in alignment with your style, the more control, confidence, and calm you’ll bring to your day.
About Merrick Rosenberg
Merrick Rosenberg is the creator of the Eagle, Parrot, Dove, and Owl personality framework and author of Personality Intelligence: Master the Art of Being You. As an award-winning speaker and founder of Take Flight Learning, Merrick has helped hundreds of thousands of people unlock the power of personality styles to transform their communication, leadership, and relationships. He’s on a mission to make self-awareness accessible, fun, and unforgettable.
