1 Understanding myself and others using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator Presenter: Terena Solomons B.A Grad Dip Lib Sc Certified administrator of MBTI.

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Understanding myself and others using the

Myers Briggs Type Indicator

Presenter:

Terena Solomons B.A Grad Dip Lib Sc Certified administrator of MBTI

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Today’s Agenda...Aims and Objectives

History of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator

(MBTI)Theory of the 4 scales of the MBTISelf Estimate of what personality type you areInteractive fun 'splitting exercises'Teaching & Learning styles of personality typesPersonality Types and Librarianship

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Aims and ObjectivesAt the end of this personal development session you

will…• Have an understanding of what the Myers Briggs Type

Indicator (MBTI) is and how it can assist us in gaining a greater understanding of ourselves and others

• Discover that people communicate and make decisions about things in different ways

• Understand how our personality type preferences can influence our learning styles, career choices and what inspires us.

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So what is the MBTI anyway?The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a tool or framework for understanding our own Personality Type and that of others.

• It's a self-report questionnaire - it's an indicator not a test so there are no right or wrong answers

• Looks at normal behaviour

• It identifies preferences rather than competencies, abilities or skills

• No Personality Type is better or worse - each has its own gifts

• Used for team building, career guidance, leadership and management.

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History of the MBTI• Was developed by Katherine C Briggs and her

daughter Isabel Myers• Started in 1920’s and after a rigorous research,

validity and reliability testing it was published in 1975

• Translated into 16 languages and taken by over 2 million people per year

• is based on the work of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung who described personality type preferences.

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Signature Exercise

Sign your name a piece of paper…

Now change hands and sign your name!

The 4 scales of the MBTIHow we channel Energy

Extraversion Introversion

How we take in Information

Sensing Intuition

How we make decisions

Thinking Feeling

Our lifestyle (orientation to external world)

Judging Perceiving

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Extraversion and Introversion

E - IRefers to the direction we focus our

attention and energy

We all live in both worlds (use both preferences) but not equally well or easily

People who prefer

Extraversion…

• Focus their energy and attention outwardly

• Are interested in the world of people and things

• Receive energy from interacting with people and from taking action

People who prefer

Introversion…

• Focus their energy and attention inwardly

• Are interested in the world of thoughts and reflections

• Receive energy from within themselves

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EPeople who prefer Extraversion...

• Are aware of who and what is around them

• Are energised by interacting with people

• Enjoy meeting and talking with new people

• Are friendly, verbally skilled and easy to get to know

• Speak out easily and often at meetings

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IPeople who prefer Introversion...

• Are energised from time-out and reflection

• Have to make an effort to meet new people

• Hold back at meetings and often have trouble getting involved

• Are often quiet, reserved and hard to get to know

People who prefer Extraversion...(Continued)

• Are bored and restless if they’re alone too long• Do their thinking as they speak• Prefer to communicate by talking• Work out ideas by talking them through • Tell you all about themselves very rapidly• Have broad interests• Readily take initiative in work & relationships• Can seem shallow and intruding to Introverts

People who prefer Introversion...(Continued)

• Become drained and tired with people (particularly strangers)

• Need time to gather their thoughts before speaking

• Prefer to communicate in writing

• Work out ideas by reflecting on them

• Are often difficult to get to know

• Focus in depth on their interests

• Take initiative when the situation or issue is very important to them

• Can seem withdrawn and secretive to Extraverts

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Some Key Words associated with...

Extraversion E• Action

• Breadth

• Expressive

• Interaction

• Multiple relationships

• Do-think-do

Introversion I• Reflection

• Depth

• Quiet

• Concentration

• Deep friendships

• Think-Do-Think

We all do Extraverted and Introverted things…

However we do not do them equally well…

Each of us has a Preference for one over the other..

Given the choice which do you prefer?

Extraversion or Introversion

How clear are you about your preference?

E ? IClear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

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Sensing and iNtuition

S - NRefers to the way we take in

information

We all use both preferences in taking in Information but not equally well or as easily

People who prefer

Sensing…

• Prefer to take in information using their 5 senses - sight, sound, feel, smell and taste

• Detail’s people

• S’s can see the trees but not the forest

People who prefer

iNtuition…

• Go beyond what is real or concrete and focus on meanings, associations and relationships

• Big Picture people

• N’s can see the forest but not the trees

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SPeople who prefer Sensing...

• Oriented to present realities• Are practical and realistic• Start at the beginning and take 1 step at a time• Are specific and literal when thinking, writing

and listening• Live in the present, dealing with the here and now• Trust experience• Prefer reality to fantasy

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NPeople who prefer iNtuition...

• Oriented to future possibilities

• Are imaginative and inventive

• Start anywhere and leap over basic steps

• Speak and write in general, abstract terms

• Focus on the future, imagining what could be

• Trust inspiration

• Prefer fantasy to reality

People who prefer Sensing...(Continued)

• Like to work with the parts to see the overall design

• Like set procedures, established routines and historical precedents to guide them

• Observe and remember specifics

• Work thoroughly step by step towards conclusions

• Understand ideas and theories through practical applications

• Can seem materialistic and too literal to N’s

People who prefer iNtuition...(Continued)

• Study the overall design to see how the parts fit

• Thrive on change, new ideas and variety

• Prefer imaginative new solutions to problems, often becoming impatient with details

• Move quickly to conclusions, follow hunches

• Can seem impractical dreamers to S’s

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Some Key Words associated with...

Sensing S• Facts

• Realistic

• Specific

• Present

• Down-to-earth

• Practical

• What is

iNtuition N• Ideas

• Conceptual

• General

• Future

• Head-in-clouds

• Theoretical

• What could be

We all use Sensing and iNtuition when making taking in

information…

However we do not do them equally well…

Each of us has a Preference for one over the other..

Given the choice which do you prefer?

Sensing or iNtuition

How clear are you about your preference?

S ? NClear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

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Thinking and Feeling

T - FRefers to the way we make decisions

Both processes are based on reason. We use both of them, but not equally well or easily

People who prefer

Thinking…

• Make their decisions based on impersonal, objective logic

• Mentally remove themselves from a situation to examine pros and cons

People who prefer

Feeling…

• Make their decisions based on a person-centred, value-based process

• Mentally placed themselves into the situation to identify with everyone so as to make decisions

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TPeople who prefer Thinking...

• Decide things using logic

• Focus on the facts and principles

• Don’t take their emotions or those of others into account

• Are good at analysing a situation

• Concentrate on people’s thoughts not feelings

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FPeople who prefer Feeling...

• Decide things using their own personal values

• Focus on the personal values of people and organisations

• Don’t like focussing on impersonal principles

• Are good at understanding people and their viewpoints

• Concentrate on people’s feelings not thoughts

People who prefer Thinking...(Continued)

• Take a long term view, seeing things as an on-looker

• Are good at spotting flaws and inconsistencies and stating them bluntly

• Value and trust logic when making decisions

• Fair - want everyone treated equally

• May seem cold and condescending to F’s

People who prefer Feeling...(Continued)

• Take an immediate and personal view of situations

• Like to show appreciation and caring for others

• Have difficulty telling people unpleasant things

• Believe relationships and harmony are important

• Value and trust own feelings when making decisions

• Fair - want everyone treated as an individual

• May seem over-emotional and irrational to T’s

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Some Key Words associated with

Thinking T• Head

• Distant

• Just

• Objective

• Criticise

• Analytical

• Tough-minded

Feeling F• Heart

• Personal

• Fair

• Subjective

• Praise

• Empathetic

• Tender-hearted

We all use Thinking and Feeling preferences when making

decisions…

However we do not do them equally well…

Each of us has a Preference for one over the other..

Given the choice which do you prefer?

Thinking or Feeling

How clear are you about your preference?

T ? FClear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

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Judging and Perceiving

J - PRefers to our attitude to the external

world and how we orient ourselves toit.

We all use both preferences but not equally well or easily

People who prefer

Judging…

• Like to live in a planned, orderly way

• Like to make decisions, come to closure and then move on

• Lives tend to be structured and organised

People who prefer

Perceiving…

• Like to live in a flexible,spontaneous way seeking to experience life

• Final decisions feel confining to them

• Prefer to stay open to new information and last-minute options

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JPeople who prefer Judging...

• Like to make plans and follow them

• Prefer to get things settled and finished

• Prefer environments with structure

• Enjoy being decisive and organising others

• Handle deadlines and time limits well

• Don’t like surprises - have a contingency

• Plan ahead to avoid last minute rushes

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PPeople who prefer Perceiving...

• Adapt well to changing situations and like to respond resourcefully

• Prefer to leave things open and are flexible• May not like making decisions, even when

pressed - leave options open for more info.• High tolerance for surprises - adjust to

arising situations• Feel energised by last-minute pressures

People who prefer Judging...(Continued)

• Like getting to the bottom line quickly and deciding things straight away

• Dislike being interrupted on a project, even for a more urgent one

• May make decisions too quickly or cling to a plan

• Are comfortable with routine

• May seem rigid, demanding and inflexible to P’s

People who prefer Perceiving...(Continued)

• Want to explore all options before deciding• May start too many projects and have

difficulty finishing them• May have trouble making decisions• May postpone unpleasant tasks• Uncomfortable with routine• May seem disorganised and irresponsible to

J’s

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Some Key Words associated with

Judging J• Organised• Scheduled• Now• Closure• Methodical• Plan• Make short & long-term

plans

Perceiving P• Flexible• Spontaneous• Later• Options• Open-ended• Wait• Adapt and change course

as needed

We all use Judging and Perceiving as part of our lifestyles

However we do not do them equally well…

Each of us has a Preference for one over the other..

Given the choice which do you prefer?

Judging or Perceiving

How clear are you about your preference?

J ? PClear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

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When combined your preferences indicate your Preference Type

E or I

S or N

T or F

J or Peg ESTP, INTJ, ENFP, INTJ etc

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Tie-breaking rule for if you can’t decide ...

ie if you’ve placed an X in the middle

• If E = I then write I• If S = N then write N• If T = F then write F• If J = P then write P

The Type TableISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ

ISTP ISFP INFP INTP

ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP

ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ

The Type Table : E-IISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ

ISTP ISFP INFP INTP

ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP

ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ

The Type Table : S-NISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ

ISTP ISFP INFP INTP

ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP

ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ

The Type Table : T-FISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ

ISTP ISFP INFP INTP

ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP

ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ

The Type Table : J-PISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ

ISTP ISFP INFP INTP

ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP

ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ

The Type TableISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ

ISTP ISFP INFP INTP

ESTP

Terena

ESFP ENFP ENTP

ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ

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E- I Splitting Exercise

For the E group….Discuss what are the advantages and disadvantages of being an Extravert. What frustrates you about Introverts

For the I group…. discuss what are the advantages and disadvantages of being an Introvert. What frustrates you about Extraverts

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S- N Splitting Exercise

For the S(Sensing) group…. Describe the ocean

For the N (iNtuitive) group…. Describe the ocean

You can use words, phrases, bullet points etc...

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T-F Splitting Exercise

Thinking - Feeling

Country Road Scenario

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J-PSplitting Exercise

J’s (Judgers) and P’s (Perceivers):

Your task for this exercise is to….

PLAN A PICNIC

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Applying the MBTI to the real world... Usefulness of opposite types for teams

N’s can benefit from the natural inclination of S’s to…

• Bring up pertinent facts• Face realities of current

situation• Apply experience to

solving problems• Focus on what needs

attention now

S’s can benefit from the natural inclination of N’s to…

• Bring up new possibilities

• Anticipate future trends• Apply insight to solving

problems• Focus on Long-term

goals

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Applying the MBTI to the real world. Usefulness of opposite types for teams

F’s can benefit from the natural inclination of T’s to…

• Analyse situations and their implications

• Hold consistently to a policy

• Create rational systems• Be fair

T’s can benefit from the natural inclination of F’s to…

• Forecast how others will react and feel

• Make needed individual exceptions

• Organise people and tasks harmoniously

• Be just

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MBTI Personality Types & Librarians

"One of my informal missions over the past 20 years has been to try to change people's ideas about librarians. I cannot get over how surprised many people are to learn that I am a librarian and that I do not have my hair in a bun or wear "ground gripper" shoes. Casual acquaintances are curious why I need a master's degree to check out a book. I hesitate to confess that I was also once a victim of the librarian stereotype.”

Ann Beubien

ACRL President 1991-92

Special Librarians Association MBTI Survey Results (n=1413)

Source: Brimsek T & Leach D “Special Librarians to the Core : profiling with the MBTI Special Libraries v81 Fall 1990 p. 330-37

ISTJ [1]

n=246%=17.41

ISFJ [5]

n=106%=7.50

INFJ [7]

n=83%=5.87

INTJ [2]

n=203%=14.37

ISTP [13]

n=45%=3.19

ISFP [14]

n=24%=1.70

INFP [9]

n=89%=6.30

INTP [4]

n=120%=8.49

ESTP [16]

n=17%=1.20

ESFP [15]

n=18%=1.27

ENFP [8]

n=75%=5.31

ENTP [10]

n=61%=4.32

ESTJ [6]

n=98%=6.94

ESFJ [12]

n=48%=3.40

ENFJ [11]

n=53%=3.89

ENTJ [3]

n=125%=8.85

Delegates Self-estimate of their own personality type at the New Librarians Symposium

6th December 2002 n=177 participants

ISTJ

n=11%=6

ISFJ

n=19%=11

INFJ

n=11%=6

INTJ

n=6%=3

ISTP

n=1%=0.5

ISFP

n=7%=4

INFP

n=29%=16

INTP

n=8%=4

ESTP

n=5%=3

ESFP

n=7%=4

ENFP

n=19%=11

ENTP

n=10%=6

ESTJ

n=9%=5

ESFJ

n=18%=10

ENFJ

n=9%=5

ENTJ

n=8%=4

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The EndQuestions??