Transcript LOOKING AT TYPE

INTERPRETING THE
MYERS-BRIGGS
Ronnie White
Extension Professor
Mississippi State University
THE MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE
INDICATOR (MBTI)
The MBTI was developed by
Katherine C. Briggs and Isabel Briggs
Myers
 It is based on C.G.Jung’s
“Psychological Types”

THE MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE
INDICATOR (MBTI)
Each type and individual has special
gifts. There is no right or wrong type,no
better or worse combinations of types in
work or relationships
 Each person is unique
 Everyone uses each of the preferences
to some degree

THE MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE
INDICATOR (MBTI)

The purpose of knowing about type is to
help you understand yourself and to
enhance your relationship through
appreciation of individual differences
THE MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE
INDICATOR (MBTI)
On the average, approximately 75% of
all who take the MBTI agree with the
assessment.
 Your results on the MBTI suggest your
probable type based on how you
answered the questions; Only you know
your true preferences

THE FOUR PREFERENCE
SCALES
The MBTI reports preferences on 4
scales, each consisting of two opposite
poles
 One does use both sides of each
preference, though not with equal liking

THE FOUR PREFERENCE
SCALES
Preference scores show only the
strength of the preference of one
element over the other
 Everyone has a natural preference for
one of the two opposites on each of the
scales
 A useful analogy is with your hands

THE FOUR PREFERENCES
ARE
Extraversion or Introversion: Where you
prefer to focus your attention
 Sensing or Intuition: The way you prefer
to take in information (N is used instead
of the I)

THE FOUR PREFERENCES
ARE
Thinking or Feeling: The way you
prefer to make decisions
 Judgment or Perception: How you
orient yourself to the external world

CHARACTERISTICS OF E
Extraversion: Direct their energy and
attention outward and receive energy
from external events and experiences
 An extravert’s essential stimulation is
from the outer world of people and
things

CHARACTERISTICS OF I
Introversion: Direct their energy and
attention inward and receive energy
from their internal thoughts, feelings,
and reflections
 An introvert’s essential stimulation is
from within the inner world

CHARACTERISTICS OF E
Prefer to communicate by talking
 Learn best by doing
 Sociable and expressive
 Take initiative in work and relationships

CHARACTERISTICS OF I
Prefer to communicate by writing
 Learn best by reflection
 Private and contained

CHARACTERISTICS OF E
OR I
Extraverts act, Then (MAYBE) Reflect
 Introverts reflect, Then (MAYBE) act

KEY WORDS FOR E OR I
Extraverts: Active, Outward,sociable,
and expressive
 Introverts: Reflective, Inward,
Reserved, and quiet

PREFERENCE SCORES
E-I: slight 11-13, moderate 14-16,clear
17-19, very clear 20-21
 S-N:slight 13-15, moderate 16-20,clear
21-24, very clear 25-26
 T-F:slight 12-14,moderate 15-18,clear
19-22, very clear 23-24
 J-P:slight 11-13,moderate14-16,clear
17-20, very clear 21-22

PREFERENCE SCORES
Low scores often times indicate that a
person may have answered in a socially
expected manner, or they are not sure
which preference is the most
comfortable.
 Did not answer all of the items

PREFERENCE SCORES
Low scores do not indicate that you
have good command of both
preferences
 A person should assess which
preference they would adequately use
the most
 Do not measure skills, ability or even
degree of use

CHARACTERISTICS OF S
Sensing: Observant of what is going on
around them and are especially good at
recognizing the practical realities of a
situation
 Takes in information by way of the five
senses – sight, sound, feel, taste, and
smell

CHARACTERISTICS OF N
Intuition: Grasp patterns and are
especially good at seeing new
possibilities and different ways of doing
things
 Information is processed by way of a
“sixth sense” or “hunch”

CHARACTERISTICS OF S
Focus on what is real/actual
 Value practical applications
 Notice details
 Present-oriented
 Want information step-by-step
 Trust experience

CHARACTERISTICS OF N
Focus on possibilities
 See patterns and meaning in facts
 Future-oriented
 Jump around, leap in anywhere
 Trust inspiration

CHARACTERISTICS OF S
OR N
Sensing: Likes set procedures,
established routines
 Intuition: Likes change and variety

KEY WORDS FOR S OR N
Sensing: Details, practical, facts,
directions, repetition, enjoyment, and
conserve
 Intuition: Patterns, future, imaginative,
innovations, hunches, variety, and
change

CHARACTERISTICS OF T
Thinking: Make decisions on the basis
of logic and objective considerations
 Thinking: A strength is application of
their problem-solving abilities

CHARACTERISTICS OF T
Decides with the head
 Analytical
 Logical problem-solvers
 “Tough-minded”
 Reasonable
 Fair

CHARACTERISTICS OF F
Consider what is important to them and
to other people
 Identify with the people involved

CHARACTERISTICS OF F
Decides with the heart
 Sympathetic
 Guided by personal values
 “Tender-hearted”
 Compassionate
 Accepting

KEY WORDS FOR T OR F
Thinking: Head, objective, justice, cool,
impersonal, criticize, analyze, and
precise
 Feeling: Heart, subjective, harmony,
caring, personal, appreciate, and values

CHARACTERISTICS OF J

Judgment: A judging lifestyle is
decisive, planned, and orderly
CHARACTERISTICS OF P

Perception: A perceptive lifestyle is
flexible, adaptable, and spontaneous
CHARACTERISTICS OF J
Scheduled
 Organized
 Systematic
 Plan
 Avoid last-minute stresses

CHARACTERISTICS OF P
Spontaneous
 Casual
 Flexible
 Adapt
 Feel energized by last-minute pressures

KEY WORDS FOR J OR P
Judgment: Organized, structure,
control, decisive, closure, plan,
productive;
 Perception: Flexible, flow, curious,
spontaneous, openness, receptive.

WHEN COMBINED, YOUR 4
PREFERENCES ARE
Extraversion or Introversion
 Sensing or Intuition
 Thinking or Feeling
 Judgment or Perception

POINTS TO REMEMBER
Everyone uses each preference to some
degree
Type does not explain everything
Type should not keep you from considering
any career, etc.
SIXTEEN TYPES
ISTJ
 ISTP
 ESTP
 ESTJ

ISFJ
ISFP
ESFP
ESFJ
INFJ
INFP
ENFP
ENFJ
INTJ
INTP
ENTP
ENTJ
Common Type Biases






E’s may think I’s are withholding information
I’s may think E’s are changing their minds
S’s may think N’s are changing the subject
N’s may think S’s are unimaginative
T’s may think F’s are over-personalizing
F’s may think T’s are harsh and cold
Mutual Usefulness of
Opposite Types
N types benefit from S types:
 Pertinent facts, reality,experience, read
the fine print
 S types benefit from N types:
 New possibilities, future trends, longterm goals

Mutual Usefulness Cont’d.
F types benefit from T types:
 Consequences, critical feedback, stand
firm, fair.
 T types benefit from F types:
 How others feel, praise, teach and
coach, harmony

Effects of T/F & J/P
TJ: Logical decision makers, tough
minded, analytical
 TP: Adaptable thinkers, objective,
skeptical, curious
 FP: Gentle types, adaptable, seek
harmony
 FJ: Benevolent administrators, care
about people and their needs, harmony

Effects of S/N & T/F types:
ST: Facts, experience, technical skills
 SF: Facts, concerns of people, practical
 NF: Possibilities, understanding,
personal
 NT: Possibilities, theory, technical

Effects of E/I & J/P Types:
IJ: Decisive introverts, persevering
 IP: Adaptable introverts, firm on issues
 EP:Adaptable extroverts, active,
energetic
 EJ: Decisive extraverts, fast-moving

YOUR ACTION PLAN
Now you know more about yourself and
others
 What are you going to do with this
knowledge?

USING THE MBTI
In situations requiring cooperation and
teamwork:
 1. To select teams, task forces, and
work groups with sufficient diversity to
solve group problems.

USING THE MBTI:
2. To help group members recognize,
appreciate, and make use of the
strengths of each type in the group;
 3. To conduct meetings so as to take
advantage of the contribution of each
type.

USING THE MBTI:

4. To help those who work together
understand how previously irritating and
obstructive differences can become a
source of amusement, interest, and
strength.
USING THE MBTI:
5. To learn the approaches that are
most likely to earn agreement and
cooperation from each type;
 6. To create a climate where
differences are seen as interesting and
valuable, rather than problematic.

USING THE MBTI:
Career interests and choices:
 - Sensing + Thinking (ST): The “bottom
line”, results-oriented people; examples
of career choice: applied science,
business, administration, banking, law
enforcement, and production.

USING THE MBTI:

-Sensing + Feeling (SF): Drawn to
opportunities for practical service to
people; Examples of career choices:
Health care, community service,
teaching, supervising, religious service,
office work, and sales.
USING THE MBTI:

- Intuition + Feeling (NF): See and want
to facilitate possibilities for
people;Examples of career
choices:Psychology, research,
literature, art and music, health care,
religious service, and teaching.
USING THE MBTI:

- Intuition + Thinking (NT): Drawn to
opportunities for problem solving,
analysis, and design; Examples of
career choices: Physical science,
research, management, computers, law,
engineering, and technical work.
USING THE MBTI:
Supervising others/preferred leadership
styles:
 -TJ: Logical decision makers who tend
to be tough-minded, analytical, and
instrumental leaders. They make
decisions based on principles and
systems.

USING THE MBTI:

TP: Adaptable thinkers who tend to be
objective, skeptical, and curious,
especially about materials or
possibilities.They create consistent and
orderly frameworks for understanding
and leading.
USING THE MBTI:

FP: Gentle types who tend to be
adaptable, seek harmony and affiliation,
and are concerned with the human
aspects of problems. They lead by
encouragement and coaching.
USING THE MBTI:

FJ: Benevolent administrators who
tend to be observant about people and
their needs, bring harmony into
relationships. They are expressive
leaders who inspire and teach others.

EFFECTS OF
PREFERENCES IN WORK
SITUATIONS
Extraversion: Like variety and action;
often impatient with long, slow jobs;
often act quickly; like having people
around; and learn new tasks by talking
and doing.

EFFECTS OF
PREFERENCES IN WORK
SITUATIONS:
Introversion: Like quiet for
concentration; tend not to mind working
on one project for a long time; develop
ideas by reflection; like working alone
with no interruptions; and learn new
tasks by reading and reflecting.

EFFECTS OF
PREFERENCES IN WORK
SITUATIONS:
Sensing: Like using experience and
standard ways to solve problems; like to
present the details of their work first;
and usually proceed step-by-step.

EFFECTS OF
PREFERENCES IN WORK
SITUATIONS:
Intuition: Like solving new complex
problems; may ignore or overlook facts;
like to present an overview of their work
first; and usually proceed in bursts of
energy.

EFFECTS OF
PREFERENCES IN WORK
SITUATIONS:
Thinking: Use logical analysis to reach
conclusions; may hurt people’s feelings
without knowing it; tend to be firmminded and can give criticism when
appropriate; and feel rewarded when
the job is done well.

EFFECTS OF
PREFERENCES IN WORK
SITUATIONS:
Feeling: Use values to reach
conclusions; enjoy pleasing people,
even in unimportant things; look at the
underlying values in the situation; and
feel rewarded when people’s needs are
met.

EFFECTS OF
PREFERENCES IN WORK
SITUATIONS:
Judging: Work best when they can plan
their work and follow their plan; like to
get things settled and finished; reach
closure by deciding quickly; and focus
on completion of a project.

EFFECTS OF
PREFERENCES IN WORK
SITUATIONS:
Perceiving: Enjoy flexibility in their
work; like to leave things open for lastminute changes; may postpone
unpleasant tasks that need to be done;
and focus on the process of a project.
NATIONAL STATISTICS
E = 70%
30% = I
 S = 70%
30% = N
 T = 60% M, 40% F, 40% M, 60% F = F
 J = 55%
45% = P

MISSISSIPPI STATISTICS:
N = 11,000
E = 54%
 S = 74%
 T = 54% M, 46% F
 J = 64%

46% = I
26% = N
54% F, 46% M = F
36% = P
THE END
Ronnie White
Leader –Organizational
Development & Associate
Professor
Mississippi State University