By Melissa Stahl, Professional Development Consultant, Eton Institute Each of us has our own rich story. Our sameness weaves us together while our differences can, if approached without appreciation or understanding, divide and conquer. Have you ever wondered how you can look at the same picture or watch the same movie and yet see and describe it completely different than everyone else? Have you ever heard the same news and found your partner or colleague reacting in totally opposite ways? Have you ever found yourself in a disagreement over a fair and equitable solution to a pending problem? Do you wonder why you are so different and perhaps just don t quite fit in? Many of these differences and misunderstandings can be explained by the normal, but different way people take in and process information, the two mental processes identified by the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI ). While the MBTI, as with any tool of self-discovery, is not designed to clarify every facet of what makes you, you, by participating in a professionally facilitated MBTI session, you can expect clarity and understanding of your personality preference, namely the mental tools that support your decisions and actions. You will find out that there are distinct benefits to being unique and that with the gift of uniqueness comes the opportunity to capitalize on these normal and valuable differences. Five Benefits of Learning Your MBTI Type: 1. Understanding Self 2. Understanding Others 3. Congruency 4. Communicating and Influencing Others 5. Support skill and strength identification The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI ) is the most widely used instrument for understanding normal personality preferences. The instrument was designed by Isabel Myers and her mother, Katharine Cook Briggs, based on the foundational theory identified by Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung, in his 1921 publication, Psychological Types. The tool as we know it today has been rigorously tested, validated, and refined to support an everyday approach to psychological type with the aim to better understand oneself and others. 1
Jung and Myers defined psychological type as, our underlying personality patterns resulting from the dynamic interaction of our four preferences, environmental influences and our own choices. The theory suggests that we develop behaviors, skills and attitudes associated with this type. It is within this framework that we can begin to paint a picture of ourselves and begin to understand and appreciate these differences. MBTI Type describes our two mental processes interacting with energy systems and our orientation to the world. It is the dynamic interaction of these four preferences that define our psychological type, driving our behavior. As unique as we are, at the end of the MBTI session, you are left with one of the 16 personality types and the magic that is the MBTI. There are five distinct benefits of diving into your Personality Preference as defined by the MBTI : 1. Understanding Self: Over the last 60 years, the MBTI has helped individuals better understand themselves and how they interact with others. It offers perspective on were people tend to focus their attention (Extraversion and Introversion), how they prefer to take in information (Sensing and Intuition), make decisions (Thinking and Feeling), and orient themselves to the external world (Judging and Perceiving). By understanding these basic human processes, we are better able to make career choices that support our preferences, design opportunities that support our learning and problem solving preferences and select a work and home environment that supports our behavior and attitude. Take for instance a person with a preference for Extraversion, a preference to focus their attention on the outer world of people and activity, gaining energy from interaction with people and taking action. Understanding that energy levels rise with interaction and fall with solitude, an individual can select the environment that will support their needs. If they find themselves in a situation that is contrary to their preference, they have greater ability to recognize the challenges inherent with stretching their preference. We can all behave off preference however, like a rubber band, once the need to stretch is alleviated, we will rebound to a place of comfort, where our behavior seems more natural. So a 2
person with a preference for extraversion will likely gravitate to situations that allow interaction, support broad interests and allow the opportunity to take action and do. An introverted type, having a preference for directing energy inward, reflecting on their thoughts, ideas and memories, may gravitate to situations that allow for individual reflection, depth of interest and the opportunity to gain energy through reflection on their own inner world. 2. Understand Others: As with the natural dichotomy of the MBTI preferences, knowing your own preference allows you to recognize that with every preference, there is an opposite psychological preference. Essentially, knowing yourself supports the appreciation that others may be very different. And with difference comes frustration and challenges as our natural bias is often to see things our way. However, with understanding of preferences, we are more able to appreciate and effectively leverage the differences between the preferences. Take for instance the Sensing and Intuition dichotomy. Sensing types prefer to take in information that is real and tangible, observable using the five senses. Sensing types are comfortable with information that is tried and true and has practical application. Intuition types on the other hand, prefer to take in information that supports the bigger picture and forms patterns and relationships. They trust inspiration and seek new possibilities. Because of these differences in the comfort level of the type of information we seek and trust, we are prone to pick out different, relevant details or patterns from the same picture, movie or opportunity. Understanding these differences in gifts, allows us the ability to effectively use these differences. An Intuitive type, who will naturally share a preference for change and future possibilities and who will focus on the big picture of patterns can seek support from their Sensing type colleagues to include pertinent facts, to apply experience to problem solving, to read the fine print and keep track of essential details. When viewed and used appropriately, differences can be complimentary, lending themselves to a more cohesive and thorough approach. 3
3. Congruency: When we have a realistic view of our preferences, we have tools available to us to create the environment, seek information, and make decisions that support our natural preference. When our environment supports our preferences, we are more comfortable, have more energy, and focus our attention and drive behavior in ways that support our strengths. Consider the Judging and Perceiving dichotomy and our orientation with the external world. Judging types prefer to use their judging process in a scheduled, orderly manner, seeking to manage and regulate their time and effort. A Perceiving type tends to prefer to behave in a flexible, spontaneous way, preferring to stay open to options and possibility, rather than confining themselves to detailed plans. Because Judging types prefer to avoid last-minute stress by having their tasks planned and completed they structure their work and work environment with the aim of getting things done, seeking only enough information to make a quick, informed decision. Sticking to a plan is essential and they are energized by getting things done. They may find themselves uncomfortable and resistant when plans change or the schedule is disrupted. Understanding where the discomfort and resistance comes from support our ability to select and create the environment and accountability that supports our preference. 4. Communicating and Influencing Others: Every interaction includes some form of communication and often our communication is aimed at influencing the decisions or actions of others. By understanding your personality preferences related to the kind of information you like and trust and how you make decisions, we are better equipped to understand how others perform these processes as well. In communication the message that matters is the message that is received. Understanding that we like and trust different information and use different information to make our decisions, will allow you to present information in a format that is appealing and impactful to your audience. Consider the Thinking-Feeling Dichotomy. Thinking Types 4
prefer to make decisions based on logic and objectivity. They consider the consequences of their decision and tend to seek to identify what is wrong or not working with the intent to solve problems. Feeling types prefer to make decisions based on empathy and values, with the aim to create harmony and provide support. When influencing a Thinking type, it is imperative to present facts in an analytical manner, using cause and effect reasoning that supports the logical perspective of the problem. When sharing the same argument with a Feeling type, you may want to identify the impacts the decision will have on the people involved, link your message to values and drive your message to support harmony and collaboration. 5. Skill and Strength Identification: The dynamic interaction of our four preferences creates our four letter personality type. By understanding this blend of the dichotomies, we can gain valuable perspective on many aspects of our lives including, decision making, change management, conflict resolution strategies, stress management and project management. By understanding where you focus your attention, what information you like and trust, understanding how you make decisions and deal with the world around you, you are better able to identify your skills and strengths and create a development plan to support your natural preferences and tendencies and to support confidence in your non-preferred orientation. While all types make contributions in every career field, type can support us in our career choices, allowing us to select a career that provides opportunities to express and use our preferences. Type can also support our strength and skill in organizations, supporting our approach to work tasks, training and development, work styles, communication styles, supervisory style, motivation and our coping techniques in times of stress. By understanding the different gifts each psychological type brings and the individuals involved, we are better equipped to work together, capitalizing on the strengths of our community or group. 5
The MBTI instrument has taken decades of research and study and packaged it into an accessible, tool for understanding the motivations and processes that drive behavior and thought. It is comforting to know that with all of our uniqueness, we are also intrinsically linked together with our shared experiences. Perhaps, Roger Pearman and Sarah Albritton said it best in their 1997 publication; I m Not Crazy, I m Just Not You, Secrets of How We Can Be So Alike When We re So Different. Visit www.etoninstitute.com to learn more 6