Understanding Personality Types at Work Using MBTI

Anyone who has any work experience knows the frustration that comes along with working with different people. Often, we cannot understand why they do the things they do or act the way they do. However, there is a method of understanding people's personalities that can explain some of their tendencies and help create a more harmonious work environment. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is an accurate, easy to understand tool to determine personality types.

According to Introduction to Type, Isabelle Myers and her mother Katharine Cook Briggs studied the ideas of psychiatrist Carl G. Jung and applied those ideas in order to better understand the people around them. Developed in the 1940s, the MBTI has been used by numerous companies and organizations around the world to better understand their employees and develop training and career planning. This method looks at four factors and, using all possible combinations of these factors, places everyone in one of 16 personality types. The factors that are examined are energy, information intake, decision making and how we deal with the outside world.

Extrovert vs. Introvert (Energy)

Often we mistakenly think that being an extrovert simply means being loud while being an introvert means being shy and quiet. Yet there is more to it than that. Extroverts tend to process information externally. They will be the ones to blurt out the first thing that comes to mind in a meeting, and if no one else is around they can be found talking out loud to themselves. They draw their energy from other people, and as a result tend to visit fairly often, especially when they need to bounce ideas off of someone. Extroverts usually don't mind speaking at the spur of the moment.

Introverts, on the other hand, process information internally. These are the folks that will sit quietly in a meeting, perhaps jotting down notes, and will have questions or suggestions afterwards. They tend to think things over before speaking. Introverts are not unable to speak publicly; instead they simply need time to prepare. If an Introvert has an office door, you can expect it to be closed. Their energy tends to be drained by other people, so time alone is their chance to recharge.

Sensing vs. Intuitive (Processing Information)

Not everyone processes information the same way. When it comes to Sensors, a "just the facts" approach is best. Sensors are data-driven; they take in info through what they see, hear and read. They tend to be very by-the-book and have an eye for detail. Don't expect Sensors to stray from standard operating procedures. Their motto is "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Sensors are often seen as very grounded people, as their focus is on present realities.

Their somewhat flightier counterparts, Intuitives, are focused more on future possibilities. As such, they tend to question why things are done a certain way and seek out easier/better ways to do them. Intuitives like to see the big picture, but details can bore them. They are idea-driven, so instead of giving them facts and figures like you would a Sensor, explain how the information can be used to improve, increase, or enhance.

Thinking vs. Feeling (Decision Making)

Don't let the names fool you. Thinkers do have feelings and Feelers can and do think! But when it comes to making decisions, everyone falls to one side or the other. Thinkers are logical and analytical. They will remove themselves from the situation to weigh the pros and cons. These objective decision makers look for a standard to apply in all similar situations. They believe that fairness means everyone is treated equally.

Feelers, on the other hand, are more empathetic. When making decisions, they do so with others in mind and are guided by their personal values. For Feelers, the goal is peace and harmony. Their decision making is objective, and their idea of fairness is that everyone is treated as an individual.

Judging vs. Perceiving (Dealing with the Outside World)

Out of all the factors, this is the one that causes the most friction in the workplace. On one side, you have Judgers. These people are very planned, orderly, and organized. They are methodical and systematic with their work, and make short-term and long-term plans. If a meeting is called for 9:00, expect them to be there at 8:55 at the latest unless something disastrous happens. Judgers are extremely time-sensitive.

It's no wonder that they would clash with Perceivers. It had to be a Perceiver that came up with the concept of "9-ish," because time is not concrete to them. Perceivers are flexible and spontaneous; they usually find routine to be boring and monotonous. They take a more casual approach to work and life than Sensors do. They welcome change and like to leave things open-ended, even up to the last minute. Not surprisingly, Perceivers are often prone to procrastination.

It is important to note that there are varying degrees of each of these traits. People with the same personality type may exhibit some characteristics more than others based on how strong their preference is towards that trait. It should also be noted that just because a person's preference is toward a certain characteristic, it doesn't mean that their behavior cannot be modified to fit a certain role. On the contrary, many people learn to adjust to fit a job, but there must be some outlet in their personal life that allows them to be their true self.

Hopefully, you will be able to better understand yourself and your coworkers (as well as your loved one) through the MBTI, and use it to create a peaceful, productive work environment.

Sources

Myers, Isabel Briggs. Introduction to Type. Mountain View, CA. CPP, Inc., 1998.

Originally posted at Suite101: Understanding Personality Types at Work Using MBTI | Suite101.com