Date post: | 18-Oct-2014 |
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Enter the amazing world of the Meyers-Briggs Type indicator The MBTI was designed to
provide a window on how people perceive, make decisions and relate to the world. While
it’s true that the MBTI is a fun tool (after all, who wouldn’t want to get a peek at how their
mind works?), it is especially valuable in helping us understand the people around us,
so that we can make the most of relationships and human resources in order to improve
teamwork, resolve conflict, encourage creativity and maximize our ability to sell
ourselves.
History of MBTI: Carl Jung
Carl Jung’s Theory of Psychological Type
Purpose: to explain personality differences among normal people
History of MBTI: Carl JungJung proposed The existence of two dichotomous pairs of cognitive functions:
The "rational" (judging) functions: thinking and feeling
The "irrational" (perceiving) functions: sensing and intuition
That these functions are expressed in either an introverted or extraverted form
Individuals are either born with, or develop, certain preferred ways of thinking and acting (like left or right handedness).
Believed that knowing oneself and balancing traits could lead to a more effective life
History of MBTI
MBTI was developed by Katharine Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers.
Purpose: to enable people, especially women, to understand their personality preferences in order to find jobs that would be most satisfying to them and in which they would be most effective.
Characteristics of the MBTI
Describes a person’s trait preferences
Contains four opposite pairs, or dichotomies . . .
Resulting in 16 possible psychological types.
None of these types is better or worse;
Represents natural preferences, similar to handedness
Changing to other dichotomy is difficult
Different preferences have different intensities
But, people can learn to change
Usefulness of the MBTI
Self understanding and development
Leverage natural strengths
Understand motivators/demotivators
Areas of growth Career development Team building Problem Solving Relationship counseling Understanding co-workers and customers Communication
What the MBTI does not do
Measure aptitude or intelligence
Predict performance
Predict job satisfaction
Measure normality/sanity
Predict whom a person will like or not like
“Rules” of the MBTI
Describes, does not prescribe or predict
Identifies behavioral preferences, not aptitudes
No preference is better or worse than any other
Anyone can avail themselves of any preference
MBTI must never be used for evaluating, labeling or selection
Dichotomies of the MBTI
Energizing (focusing attention and getting energy)
Extrovert (E) 75% of population - Introvert (I)
Perceiving (taking in information)
Sensing (S) 75% of population- Intuition (N)
Deciding (making decisions)
Thinking (T) 75% of men - Feeling (F) 75% of women
Living (relating with the outer world)
Judging (J) - Perceiving (P) evenly distributed
Energizing: where you focus and get energy
Extraversion Like participating in a varied tasks Often impatient with long, slow jobs Act quickly, sometimes without thinking Welcome phone calls as a diversion Develop ideas by discussing them Like working with people/teams
Introversion Like quiet/ private space for concentration OK with on one project for a long time Sometimes think so much they don’t act Find phone calls intrusive Develop ideas through reflection Like working alone or in small groups
Perceiving: taking in information
Sensing Solve problems using standard ways Prefer using seasoned skills Are factual rather than inspirational Prefer practicality to theories Like to present the details of their work first Prefer tweaking what is rather than change Methodical
Intuition Like new, complex problems Enjoy learning something new Prefer insights and may overlook facts Like to do innovative things Like to present an overview of work first Prefer change to continuation of what is Follows inspiration in bursts of energy
Deciding: making decisions
Thinking Use logic to reach conclusions Can work without harmony Concentrating instead on the task Sometimes overlook people’s emotions; needs and wants Firm-minded and ready to offer critiques Look at the principles involved in the situation Want recognition after task
Feeling Use values to reach conclusions Work best in harmony with others Concentrating on the people Influenced by people's likes, needs, wants and emotions Sympathetic, dislike telling people unpleasant things Look at the underlying values in the situation Want appreciation throughout the process
Living: relating to the outer world
Judging Make quick decisions for expediency and completion Like to have a plan and work it; dislike surprises Like to make and use lists Like organizing and finishing tasks; like structure, schedules So focused on task completion they can ignore other things Feel more comfortable once a decision is made
Perceiving Postpone decisions to look for opportunities and options Want flexibility in their work; enjoy surprises Use lists only to help them remember Leave tasks open to change, structure is only a suggestion So open to possibilities they can postpone important tasks Comfortable without decisions; like to explore all options
How stable are MBTI preferences?
Generally somewhat stable over time
Most stable within nine months
Different circumstances can lead to different preferences
Lower intensity preferences tend to cross over
People can consciously develop different preferences
INFJ to ENFP
What’s his type?Sixteen years ago Roger began what has turned into a very successful marketing firm. He’s personable and persuasive, and often dominates meetings, even those which he is not running. He often uses stories or metaphors to illustrate a point. He prefers face to face meetings for important conversations.
He tends to be somewhat visionary and a big picture thinker. He likes discussing ideas and enjoys challenges that don’t necessarily have ready-made solutions.
While he expects performance from his employees, he generally allows them latitude in terms of how they produce the results, including the scheduling of tasks. He tries to analyze situations objectively and logically, looking at pros and cons and the principles that underlie the situation. He’s open to hearing the ideas of others as well as to multiple options, but is critical of arguments that in his opinion are not well thought out. He tends to hold onto his insights even when there are facts that might be in conflict.
ENTPSixteen years ago Roger began what has turned into a very successful marketing firm. He’s personable and persuasive, and (E) often dominates meetings, even those which he is not running. (E,N) He often uses stories or metaphors to illustrate a point. (E) He prefers face to face meetings for important conversations.
(N) He tends to be somewhat visionary and a big picture thinker. He likes discussing ideas and enjoys challenges that don’t necessarily have ready-made solutions.
(P) While he expects performance from his employees, he generally allows them latitude in terms of how they produce the results, including the scheduling of tasks. (T) He tries to analyze situations objectively and logically, looking at pros and cons and the principles that underlie the situation. (P) He’s open to hearing the ideas of others as well as to multiple options, (T) but is critical of arguments that in his opinion are not well thought out. (N) He tends to hold onto his insights even when there are facts that might be in conflict.
What’s her type?Laura is a strategy consultant who works with non-profit organizations. She generally works at home and loves it except when she visits her clients. People consider her to be pleasant and easy to be with. .In fact, it’s not uncommon for her to banter with people in an elevator or in the market line. She is sympathetic and tends to see others’ point of view. She likes public speaking and teaching.
She likes her work as a consultant, because she likes the challenge of solving novel problems as she looks for patterns and meanings in information. She takes her time making decisions as she weighs the needs of all stakeholders. In the end she tends to go with how she feels about a situation. Decisions weigh on her until they are made, but once she makes a decision, she sticks with it.
Every morning she runs alone on the trails near her home: this is her best thinking time, she says. She plays the piano when she has time and loves to find creative ways of repairing things around the house.
INFJLaura is a strategy consultant who works with non-profit organizations. She generally (I) works at home and loves it except when she visits her clients. (F) People consider her to be pleasant and easy to be with. .In fact, it’s not uncommon for her to banter with people in an elevator or in the market line. (F) She is sympathetic and tends to see others’ point of view. She likes public speaking and teaching.
(N) She likes her work as a consultant, because she likes the challenge of solving novel problems as she looks for patterns and meanings in information. (F) She takes her time making decisions as she weighs the needs of all stakeholders. (J) In the end she tends to go with how she feels about a situation. Decisions weigh on her until they are made, but once she makes a decision she sticks with it.
(I) Every morning she runs alone on the trails near her home: this is her best thinking time, she says. She plays the piano when she has time and (N) loves to find creative ways of repairing things around the house.
The Type Game
Find a partner, preferably one you do not already know (well).
You will take turns doing this exercise.
Look at your partner’s MBTI type. Based on their type describe to them their preferences in the four areas: energy E, I information gathering S, I decision-making T, Frelation to the world J, P
Be specific. Ask questions s needed. Get feedback on the accuracy of your description.
Each partner will have five (5) minutes including feedback.
?Ariane David
Additional InformationThe Veritas Group
www.TheVeritasGroup.com