Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

1. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Type Focus Assessment respecting individual differences

2. MBTI Background Information • Based on Jung’s Theory of Psychological Type • People differ in fundamental ways • People differ in systematic and orderly ways • People differ because of the way they use perception and judgment

3. To think about • Not about intelligence or pathologies • Not exhaustive • Provides information on some key preferences, tendencies and traits but • You decide how accurate it is • Way to better know own behaviors to increase flexibility • Way to appreciate and build complementary work teams

4. Perception Process by which we become aware Judgment Process for coming to conclusions about awareness Two basic mental activities Thinking feeling Sensing intuition

5. How one gets energy Extraversion Introversion Directed Outward Directed Inward

6. Applying MBTI Information MBTI data have proven useful for assisting people with: • Career choice • Organizational relationships • Intimate relationships • Communication • Problem solving • Improved learning strategies

7. Four scales - continuum • Extraversion----------------Introversion • Sensing--------------------------Intuition • Thinking-------------------------Feeling • Judgment-----------------------Perception

8. Dimensions summarized • E-I: Where One Prefers to Focus; What Energizes her/him. Environment or ideas. • S-N: Type Of Preferred Information. How to think about things • T-F: Basis For Decisions. Objective vs. subjective data • J-P: How Person Prefers To Cope With Demands Of Outer World. Closure or defer for new info

9. Focus Of Attention: Extraversion E People: • Focus on outer world of people and activity. • Receive energy from interacting with people and taking action

10. Extravert Characteristics • Typical E Characteristics: • Prefer to communicate by talking • Work out ideas, learn by talking things over. • Sociable and expressive • Take initiative in work and relationships. May act quickly, w/o thinking.

11. Focus Of Attention: Introversion • I People Prefer To: • Focus on their own inner world of ideas and experiences. • Direct their energy inward. • Receive energy from reflection, thought, and memories.

12. Introvert Characteristics: • Drawn to personal inner world. • Prefer to communicate in writing. • Work out ideas through reflection. • Learn best through mental “practice.” • Private and contained. • Take initiative only when issue is personally important.

13. Sensing • S People Prefer Information To Be: • Real and tangible. • Reflective of what is actually happening. • Specific and measurable.

14. Sensor Characteristics • Oriented to present realities. • Factual and concrete. • Focus on the “real and actual.” • Observe and remember specifics. • Build carefully toward conclusions. • Comprehend ideas/theories through practical application. • Trust own experience.

15. Intuition • Favor “Big Picture” information. • Focus on relationships and connections between and among facts. • Seek to discover/grasp patterns. • Especially attuned to recognizing new possibilities.

16. Intuitor Characteristics • Oriented to future possibilities. • Imaginative and verbally creative. • Focus on patterns and meanings In data. • Move quickly to conclusions; follow hunches. • Trust own inspiration. • Seek to clarify ideas before applying them.

17. Decision-Making StyleThinking • T People: • Look for logical consequences of a choice or action. • Place themselves personally at a distance from decisions. • Examine pros and cons objectively. • Are energized by identifying what’s wrong so they can “solve the problem.”

18. Thinker Characteristics • Analytical. • Use cause-and-effect reasoning. • Solve problems logically. • Strive for objective standard of truth. • Reasonable. • Tough-Minded. • Fair; seek equity.

19. Decision-Making StyleFeeling • F People: • Prefer to use feelings in decision-making. • Consider what is important to self and others involved. • Identify with those affected. • Base decisions on personal values about honoring people. • Like to praise others. • Seek to create harmony and to treat each person as unique.

20. Feeler Characteristics • Empathetic. • Guided by personal values. • Assess effects of decisions on people. • Strive for harmony and positive Interactions. • Compassionate. • “Tenderhearted.” • Want everyone treated As unique individual.

21. Dealing With Outer WorldJudging • J People: • Prefer to live in planned, orderly way. • Seek to regulate and manage own lives. • Want to make decision, achieve closure, move on. • J’s lives tend to be organized, structured, Settled. • Plans and schedules are important. • Energized by getting things done.

22. Judging Characteristics • Typical J : • Scheduled. • Organized. • Systematic. • Methodical. • Make Short/Long Term Plans. • Want Issues Settled/Decided. • Avoid Last-Minute Stress.

23. Dealing With Outer WorldPerceiving • P People: • Prefer flexible, spontaneous way of life. • Prefer to experience and understand life rather than attempting to control It. • Feel confined by detailed plans. • Uncomfortable with decisions; prefer to remain open to new information & last-minute options. • Energized by own resourcefulness In adapting to demands of the last moment.

24. Perceiving Characteristics • Spontaneous. • Flexible. • Casual. • Open-ended. • Adaptable; willing to change course. • Keep things loose and open to change. • Feel energized by last-minute pressure.

25. NF,NT,SJ,SP • Another way to group clusters • 4 variations – rather than 16 so easier to grasp • NT, NF = each 12% of population • SJ,SP = each 38% of population

26. NT Creative Logical Analytic Building new systems Powerful Big picture NF Problem solving Being appreciated Personal/friendly Get good feedback Work with integrity flexible Characteristics of preferred jobs

27. SP Create as they go High action Variety Unknown energizes Spontaneous Playful Use humor Don’t practice SJ Well defined rules/practices Loyalty Stable Security Accuracy valued Regular evaluations Ideal job…

28. Cautionary NoteMeanings Are Unique To MBTI • Extraverts Are Not All Outgoing Or Talkative. • Introverts Are Not All Shy. • Feeling Does Not Mean Emotional. • Judging Does Not Mean Judgmental. • Perceiving Does Not Mean Perceptive. • Pay Careful Attention To Magnitude Of Scores As Well As Direction. • Do Your Scores “Feel” Right????

29. MBTI Type Matrix

30. Group Problem Solving • Sensing (facts) • Face facts, be realistic, find out what the situation is; avoid wishful thinking or sentiment • Intuition (possibilities) • Discover all the possibilities; put aside idea that current way is right way

31. Group Problem solving • Thinking (consequences) • Impersonally analyze cause and effect, consequences, costs, misgivings • Feeling (human values) • Weigh how deeply you care about what might be gained or lost. Consider other’s feelings, reasonable and unreasonable

32. Group Exercise Questions • Do Members Of Your Group Prefer: • To work problems out alone or talk them through with others? • To have information that is real and measurable or to seek patterns and relationships within the data? • To base decisions on careful thought or to Include broader concerns about how these decisions affect others? • To live in a careful, well-planned world or to take life “as it happens?” • Other dominant characteristics???

33. Resources • www.myersbriggs.org • www.capt.org • Gifts Differing, Isabel Briggs-Myers (with Peter Myers, consulting Psychologist Press, 1990. • Type Talk, Otto Kroeger & Janet M thuesen, Bantam Doubleday, 1988.