The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) is a self-report questionnaire which provides a useful method of understanding people by identifying 16 personality types. This assessment identifies valuable personality traits of normal, healthy people. When there is a disagreement or difference of opinion between two people, it can be a source of misunderstanding and miscommunication. After more than 50 years of research and development, the current MBTI® is the most widely used instrument for explaining patterns in human functioning.
As a trained facilitator of the MBTI®, I have used this assessment with individuals, couples, and families. In addition, I offer workshops to companies wanting to improve communication, conflict resolution and team building. These seminars are informative, interactive and fun.
MBTI® preferences are defined as Psychological Type. Differences in people result from the following:
- Where people prefer to focus their attention and get energy (Extraversion or Introversion)
- The way people prefer to take in information (Sensing or Intuition)
- The way people prefer to make decisions (Thinking or Feeling)
- How people orient themselves to their external world with a Judging Process or a Perceiving Process (Judging or Perceiving)
There is no right or wrong with these preferences. People tend to develop behaviors, skills and attitudes associated with their type. Each type represents a valuable way to be which has its own potential strengths, as well as blind spots. Benefits for organization can be seen in workplace leadership skills, relationship building and sales skills development.
Individuals/Couples: The MBTI® assessment can be used by therapy clients to deepen self-awareness and understanding of themselves. There is no judgment about personality preferences being right or wrong. Individuals learn coping mechanisms to deal with emotions, change, and stress at home and at the workplace. Using this assessment in relationship counseling helps couples learn about each other, understand what makes each other tick and how values play out in their interactions. Learning tools to handle differences and ways to honor another’s perception can lead to mutual respect, love and acceptance. Disagreements do not have to lead to the end of a relationship.
Organizations: The MBTI® assessment for organizations is used by small businesses, large multinational corporations, service and manufacturing companies, consulting and training services firms, established businesses and entrepreneurial ventures, educational and healthcare institutions. The MBTI® helps people in organizations understand themselves and their behaviors, appreciate others and make constructive use of individual differences. They learn how to approach problems in different yet healthy ways to be more productive.
Teams: The MBTI® assessment for teams is useful because it is based on the idea that we all have unique gifts to offer and challenges to overcome. This assessment covers six core issues affecting teams: communication, team culture, leadership, change, problem solving/conflict resolution, and stress. Just as members of a sports team have different roles to play and skills to offer, so do members of work teams. Although preferences may lead a person to behave in a certain way, it is also possible that organizational goals may encourage acting in ways that are different than what you would normally do. Through the team building process, a group of individuals are encouraged to learn about themselves and each other. They will learn how their preferences fit together to boost team success.
