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How to Use MBTIThe Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was first
developed in 1942 by Isabel Myers and
Katherine Briggs. The test is based upon in-depth psychological
studies by Swiss psychiatrist
Carl Jung. Since its creation, the MBTI has been updated
multiple times to improve reliability and
validity. The test sorts personalities along four spectra
resulting in 16 discrete personality types.
MBTI is used by individuals, counselors and companies who seek
to gain insight into themselves,
their co-workers, partners and friends.
Instructions
1.MBTI Testing and Resultso 1 Take the Myers-Briggs personality
type indicator. If the results are going to be used
professionally, schedule a time and date for all employees to
test. Once the test results havebeen obtained, then they can be
evaluated and used.
o 2 Evaluate your test results. The MBTI sorts people into 16
personality types, based on acombination of four traits. They are
Introversion (I) or Extraversion (E), Sensing (S) orIntuiting (I),
Thinking (T) or Feeling (F) and Judging (J) or Perceiving (P).
Introverts drawtheir energy from internal processes, while
extraverts are energized by people and events.Sensors draw
conclusions based on immediate sensory data, while intuitors use
impressionsto form future predictions. Thinkers primarily make
objective decisions based on logic,
while feelers tend to make decisions based on personal values
and the effect the decisionwill have on other people. Finally,
judgers like to structure and make decisions that obtainclosure,
while perceivers prefer spontaneity and multiple future
options.
3 Observe that every individual possesses aspects of each of the
personality traits, but theMBTI measures preferences and primary
orientations. However, no individual is entirelyone type, and
everyone possesses tendencies of other personality types. This
information isuseful when relating to others who don't share your
personality type.
Applying the MBTI 4 Implement the MBTI as a tool for
self-development and growth. Armed with new data
about yourself, you can gain insight into your strengths,
weaknesses, how you makedecisions, the working conditions that best
suit you and how you best learn. Thisinformation can be applied
when relating to others, motivating yourself and selecting
afulfilling career path. Understanding areas of weakness can help
you develop this area or
avoid situations where your weakest area is a critical skill.
For example, knowing that youmake objective decisions based on
logic might make you a better accountant then therapist.
5 Asses the strengths, weaknesses, decision-making approaches
and communication stylesof yourself and others. This provides an
opportunity to improve interpersonal relationships
between friends, family, and significant others. Communication
and decision-makingstrategies often differ between personality
types. Understanding how each personality typecommunicates and
approaches life can help people improve communication and the
ability
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to compromise with each other. For example, understanding that
your significant othertends to base decisions on facts, while you
make value-based decisions helps youunderstand that the other party
is not trying to discount you or make a situation difficult.
6 Employ knowledge of MBTI in the workplace to foster team
building, promoteorganizational development and improve leadership
training. Human capital is becoming
one of the most valuable assets of any company. It is vital for
successful companies tomotivate employees, select the best
individual for a position and build positive relationships
while reducing interpersonal conflicts among co-workers.
Understanding of type can allowemployers to best utilize the
strengths and avoid or improve upon the weaknesses of
teammembers.
