People can be categorised into two when it comes down to details.

They are either a detailed person (specific person) or they prefer large chunks of information (global person).

Specific People give you all the small details. They like to understand and go into pieces of work with the minutest of detail.

Global People like to talk in big pictures and are not detailed at all. They are conceptual and abstract. The give you the overall framework or brief of what is happening rather than going into details.

You know when someone is specific and when someone is global just by asking them any question!

What their response will tell you:

Specific people will give you all the details and go to great lengths to explain everything. They give you more and more detail when you ask questions. Specific people become frustrated with Global People because there is no detail in what they say.
Global People give you an overview without details. They tend to use large generalisations. Global People become frustrated with Specific People because they go into far too much detail

Using this in the real world:

In Negotiations with these people:

Specific

Avoid generalisations and vagueness. Break things down into the detail and be specific. Present things in logical sequences.

Global

Avoid details and present the bigger picture.

In Managing these people:

Specific

Tell the person in detail what needs to be done and ensure that there is a logical sequence. Do not expect them to think about the bigger picture

Global

Skip the details and tell the person a broad overview. Tell them what the end game is and then let them fill in the rest.

Influencing language

Specific

Next, then, precisely, exactly, specifically, first, second, details,

Global

Big picture, framework, in brief, result, generally, overview