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

adavid@TheVeritasGroup.com

Additional InformationThe Veritas Group

www.TheVeritasGroup.com