You might be a Thinker (MBTI)

We've covered signs of Judging, Perceiving, and Feeling (MBTI), so now it's time for the 4th part of the 8 part "You might be a..." series.



You Might be a Thinker….

• If you hear about a problem and spend time trying to diagnose WHY it happened….you might be a Thinker (T).
• If you make decisions and THEN ask how people will react…you might be a T.
• If you strive for fairness and equality over all else…you might be a T.
• If you frequently ask “How will this affect the bottom line/budget/deadlines, etc?”…you might be a T.
• If you often say “Why are you getting upset, we’re just having a debate?”…you might be a T.
• If you have trouble making decisions without a notebook of pro/con lists…you might be a T.
• If you believe that there are always winners and losers (and you always strive to be the winner)…you might be a T.
• If you believe ALL you need to know to start working on a new team is everyone’s names…you might be a T.
• If you decide where you and your friends should meet for dinner based on quality of food, quality of service, cost, and specials…you might be a T.
• If you responded to the on-site Day Care proposal with questions like: How much will it cost? How many parents will sign up? Where will it be located? How much is the insurance? What will the operating hours be?...you might be a T.
• If you get annoyed when someone gushes “GREAT JOB” after everything you do…you might be a T.
• If you despise “Getting to Know You” ice breakers when a new team is formed…you might be a T.
• If you think of most conflict as a healthy debate…you might be a T.

What did I miss? What are the signs you see for the Thinking preference?

Signs of a Feeling Preference (MBTI)

We've covered the signs of the MBTI Judging and Perceiving preferences, so now it is time for Part 3 of the 6 part series:



You might be a Feeler….

• If you spend most of your time trying to make people happy…you might be a Feeler (F).
• If you strive for unanimous/cooperative decisions that everyone is pleased with…you might be an F.
• If you find yourself asking “How will this impact the team?”…you might be an F.
• If you have no idea what it means when someone says “why are you getting upset, this is just a debate?” means…you might be an F.
• If you can’t make a decision about something without gathering the thoughts/perspectives of everyone who will be influence…you might be an F.
• If your goal in negotiations is “win-win”…you might be an F.
• If you believe business negotiations can only begin after everyone has built rapport…you might be an F.
• If you decide where you and your friends should meet for dinner by considering how far everyone will have to drive, food preferences, allergies, etc…you might be an F.
• If you’ve spent hours creating a proposal for an on-site Day Care Center facility that focuses on real stories about moms/dads who have trouble finding adequate/affordable childcare…you might be an F.
• If you think there is no such thing as too much positive feedback….you might be an F.
• If you are the “go-to” person for designing “Getting to Know You” ice-breakers…you might be an F.
• If you hate/avoid conflict…you might be an F.

What other signs are there for a Feeling preference?

Check back tomorrow for the "Thinking" rebuttal!

You Might be a "P"....

In response to my last post about signs of a Judging Preference, one of my favorite bloggers (Linda McKenna at In the Blink of a Mind) wrote a hilariously insightful rebuttal. Enjoy!



You might be a P…
· If the top of your desk has not been seen in many months but you still know where everything is, you might be a P.
· If there is never any memory left on your TiVo to record more shows, you might be a P.
· If you can never find your cell phone in your purse in time to answer it, you might be a P.
· If you’re open to the possibility of Plan B, C, or D (and even E, F, or G) for every situation, you might be a P.
· If you set out to find out the location of your interview the day before, but find a great shopping mall on the way and stop to buy some new shoes instead, you might be a P.
· If Spring Cleaning of your house always gets put off until “next” spring, you might be a P.
· If you spend the first couple of days of every family vacation in a local Wal-Mart store shopping for items forgotten or left behind, you might be a P.
· If your philosophy is “Deadline is not ‘dead’ until you’ve passed it, and even then there may still be some life left in it,” you might be a P.
· If your friends are wildly surprised to see you arrive on time, you might be a P.
· If you often end up assembling things twice because you failed to read the instructions, you might be a P.
· If every part of the day (even work) is potentially free time for you, you might be a P.
· If the closet organizer you bought three years ago is still sitting in the corner of your closet unopened, you might be a P.
And… the most embarrassing P moment:
· If you get on a plane to fly to California and realize that you’re wearing your house slippers, you might be a P.

I often have to fight my extreme P preference in order to get through a project. For instance, if I’m in the middle of doing something and walk away before finishing, there’s a very good chance that it will be forgotten. My husband, at the opposite end of the spectrum, has a strong J preference. He’s never been late to work in the 30+ years of his career. Now, THAT deserves an award…

His motto is, “If you’re not 15 minutes early, you’re late.” My motto, on the other hand, is, “You can squeeze in something in those 15 minutes… why waste the time?” Needless to say, I’m always rushing in at the last minute explaining how the 15-minute thing turned into 25 minutes. After 20 years of trial and error (and many less-than-loving moments), and thanks to the MBTI, we have learned to recognize the positive contribution by each preference to any situation. He makes the lists and I (try to) follow them. He reminds me several times in case it slips my mind, which often happens. When a decision has to be made, I suggest the acceptable options and he makes the decision. If it doesn’t work out, I come up with more options. He appreciates my creativity and my ability to work best under pressure, and I appreciate his decisiveness and his efficiency.

We can learn so much from the things that used to irritate us. When there is a need to operate out of my preference to get a job done, I ask myself, “What would _____ do?” (Fill in the blank with your own opposite counterpart.) It works for me!

And the following are some thoughts from a male P perspective (sent to me by a good friend at my request):
· If your garage has never had a car inside because it’s filled with unfinished projects, you might be a P.
· If you take your pickup truck full of junk to the junkyard but come back with the truck bed full of “really useful stuff,” you might be a P.
· If you consider assembly instructions to be just part of the packing material, you might be a P.
· If the top drawer of your filing cabinet is labeled “stuff to be filed” and the drawers below are labeled “more,” you might be a P.
· If you have a box in your office titled, “The I-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-it-but-I-don’t-want-to-throw-it-away-so-I’ll-put-it-in-here-and-forget-about-it-box,” you might be a P.
· More of those boxes mean you’re more likely to be a P.
· If your home office looks neater after an earthquake, you might be a P.
· If your boat sinks 400 miles up the Amazon river and you say “Well the travel brochure did say it would be an adventure,” you might be a P.
· If you know all the lyrics to “Que Sera Sera,” you might be a P.

I have some very funny (and fun) friends. Dare I say…P’s have more fun?? Just kidding, Breanne!

Using Personality Assessments in Organizations the Right Way

A colleague just sent me a great article about a company who is using personality assessments the RIGHT WAY.

Edward Jones, uses assessments for both selection and development. The assessments they use for selection have been validated over the past 7 years. That's doing it right!

I recently discussed how the MBTI should never be used for selection, and this article points to another reason. The MBTI is only as valid as you are honest. If you play a role in your mind, and answer the way you WANT to look, as opposed to who you really are- the results will be inaccurate.

In a selection setting, applicants have incentive to "look the part," which can lead to invalid results on a personality assessment. This is why any assessment must be validated for the job itself and in both a selection and non-selection environment to ensure accurate results.

The article discusses a variety of assessments including the MBTI and DiSC.

Check out the whole article from trainingmag.com here.

Signs of the MBTI Judging Preference

Borrowing from Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a redneck" comedy style, I present "You might be a J..."

• If your desk has more post-it notes than work space- you might be a J.
• If you view the "Now Playing" list on your TiVo as a to-do list and race through the programs to watch and then delete them- you might be a J.
• If your purse/briefcase looks like a survival kit (Tide to-go pen, post-its, emergency contact info, band aids, neosporin, and everything else you might need to be prepared for)- you might be a J.
• If you have a Plan A, B, C, and D for every situation- you might be a J.
• If you drive to the location of your interview the day before (so you know the route perfectly and there won't be any surprises)- you might be a J.
• If Spring Cleaning in your house is planned out with Microsoft Project- you might be a J.
• If a family trip to Disney World takes as much planning as a typical wedding- you might be a J.
• If you automatically set your personal deadline one week (or more) earlier than the "real" deadline- you might be a J.
• If your friends can imitate the structure of your daily activities with eerie precision- you might be a J.
• If you sit down and read ALL instructions before beginning a an assembly project (and lay out each necessary tool, separate and count the parts, etc)- you might be a J.
• If you schedule free-time (but feel uncomfortable having free-time in the first place)- you might be a J.
• If the best gift you ever received was a Label-maker- you might be a J.
  
  
  
  

As someone who is at the extreme on the Judging preference (scoring 5 on ALL facets), I can relate to all of these comical representations of the judging preference!

I am typically quite fond of my J-ness! My coworkers rely on me, knowing that given a task, I will complete it ahead of schedule and without surprises. I dislike surprises, but when they occur, I am usually prepared for them. I am the queen of organization, and can find anything within seconds- thanks to my label-maker!

However, I also believe we all need balance. I am really conscious of the fact that I have to work hard not to let my Judging preference run my life. Thankfully, my partner has strong Perceiving preferences. It took many years of learning to appreciate our differences, but now I rely on him to balance my J-ness! I used to think he was trying to make me crazy. In my mind, if I am supposed to be somewhere at 10:00, then I think I am late if I arrive after 9:45. Whereas my partner thinks 10:00 is more of a suggestion- arriving anytime between 10:00 and 11:00 is in the range of acceptability. As a result, we are often late in spite of my preferences.

When he does the dishes he typically leaves one pan in the sink, where I don't believe the job is done until every last dish is in the cabinet (and the sink is cleaned...and the counter is wiped off...etc, etc).

We also differ in our beliefs about when working and playing take priority. I have always tried to live by the "Work Hard, Play Hard" philosophy (one of my dad's famous phrases), however I also live by "You cannot play hard until you've worked hard" philosophy. My partner can alternate between work and play on a minute-by-minute basis. In the early years of our relationship, this caused considerable conflict. When we would be cleaning the house, he would get distracted easily. While I was cleaning, I'd look in our office and see him sitting at the computer. I would get furious that I was the only one working, and he would calmly explain that he was just downloading music to iTunes so we could have "cleaning" music playing in the background. I was convinced this was just one more way for him to avoid working, but in reality, he thought he was facilitating a positive work experience.

While I will never be able to have his level of spontaneity, acceptance of change, or appreciation for open-ended plans, I am grateful for the balance he brings to the relationship. It takes a lot of effort to reserve my Judging preference. I have to actively think to myself "Is this a critical issue? Do I need to be upset that we are not on my schedule? Do we really need to plan this out this thoroughly?" It is uncomfortable for me, but I actively choose my battles now by knowing that my extreme J preference is not always a positive aspect of our relationship. I still feel internal stress when I believe we are showing up late, but I stop and literally ask myself "Is this a critical moment?" and typically I calm myself down and go with the moment (as much as a strong J can).

I'd love to hear from other individuals with a strong Judging preference. Do these stories resonate with you? Please share your own experience. Or, are you a P who is in a relationship with a J? How do you both compromise?

MBTI preferences of famous people

There's a common saying in the Myers-Briggs world:

"If you don't know what an extrovert is thinking, you haven't been
listening...
If you don't know what an introvert is thinking, you haven't
asked."

I've always loved that quote.

I'm taking that saying to heart today. If you read my last post on introverts in a CEO role, you know I was quite surprised when I sent a twitter message to Tony Hiseh (CEO of Zappos.com) asking his MBTI preferences....and he responded (INTJ)!!!

Now I'm wondering who else would answer that question if asked. So, I'm starting with the current presidential candidates, and working my way through a list of well-known CEOs. Let's see how many famous people will respond with their MBTI preferences. I'll post the responses as I receive them.

Whose personality type would you like to know?

Can an Introvert be a CEO?

I'm a little behind on posting this article, but this is still worth discussing.

The USA Today featured a compelling article about famous Introverts who are phenomenally succesful CEO's (Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, etc).

According to this article, 4 out of every 10 top executives prefer introversion. The article also mentions research CPP plans to release showing that younger generations are displaying an increase in Extroversion (perhaps due to Social Media opportunities?).



Check out the whole article to read insteresting perspectives on issues such as shyness, charisma, and energy of successful executives. I think this article adds more depth to the comment debate that surfaced in my blog on the Top 10 Misconceptions of the MBTI. This is yet another example of why using MBTI for selection (or assuming skill level) is unethical. How many successful CEOs would have been screened out because the perception is that a leader must be charismatic and very social? By the way, JimCollins' book Good to Great has a great section on why a charismatic leader is not necessarily desirable.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2006-06-06-shy-ceo-usat_x.htm

What do you think about this article? Which CEO is most admirable to you? Is he/she an introvert or extrovert?

Isabel Briggs Myers Quote of the Day

"Introverted feeling types have a wealth of warmth and enthusiasm, but they may not show it until they know someone well. They wear their warm side inside, like a fur-lined coat."

(Gifts Differing, by Isabel Briggs Myers, page 96)

MBTI Type and Emotional Intelligence

I just wanted to pass this invite along to any MBTI enthusiasts who might be interested. I am a big fan of the APT eChapter. They have monthly teleconferences with interesting topics such as Type and Exercise, Type and Money, and Type Dynamics)

The email invitation is below:


JOIN US for a teleconference hosted by the APT eChapter Tuesday, August 5, 2008 3:30 PM EST / 12:30 PM PST
(Registration DEADLINE is Friday, August 1)

The Interface of Type and Emotional Intelligence Landscapes
led by Henry L. (Dick) Thompson, Ph.D

"What happens at the intersection of the type and emotional intelligence landscapes?" In this cutting-edge tour of mainstream and Jungian psychology, neurology and complexity, Henry L. (Dick) Thompson, Ph.D., will provide new perspectives on the linkages of psychological type and emotional intelligence. Dr. Thompson will share his latest research and thoughts, synthesizing years of research in these two areas. The answer may surprise you. This promises to be a fast moving, dynamic adventure to the interface of type and emotional intelligence. The result of this stimulating discussion will bring continuity to a fragmented field and help you apply its insights.

Objectives:
* See the linkages between type and emotional intelligence
* Gain an understanding of how Emotional Intelligence works
* See how different types express different emotions

About Our Presenter
Dick Thompson is the author of several books including The CommunicationWheel®: A Resource Book and Jung’s Function-Attitudes Explained. He has over 25 years of experience researching and using psychological type theory and is a recipient of the Mary McCaulley Lifetime Achievement Award. He is president and CEO of High Performing Systems, Inc. (http://www.hpsys.com/), an international management consulting and training firm he founded to help leaders, teams and organizations achieve high performance.

How to Register
DEADLINE for REGISTRATION is FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2008
Registration for APT eChapter members: US$6
Registration for APTi members: US$25 USA / Canada, US$20 all other locations (includes 1 year eChapter membership)
Registration for non-APTi members / guests: US$25

Visit our website at http://www.apt-echapter.org/ for more information on registration and eChapter membership. We now accept MasterCard, Visa, and American Express in addition to personal checks (US banks only) as payment for programs and membership fees.

About the eChapter
The APT eChapter is a chapter of the Association for Psychological Type International. It operates in the same way as any traditional chapter of APTi, except that meetings and programs are virtual. Like any other chapter, it manages its own finances and membership. The eChapter’s primary charter is to meet the needs of under-served APTi members who are unable to join or participate in a local onground chapter.

Upcoming Programs
Wed, August 20, 2008
Developing Winning APTi Conference Workshop Proposals - Dario Nardi

Wed, September 24, 2008
Running Workshops for Project Teams Using Type - Jennifer Tucker

Thurs, November 6, 2008
Using Type to Enrich Couples Coping Strategies - Roger Pearman

Early 2009
Great Minds Don't Think Alike - Sonnie VanSant and Diane Payne

Questions?Contact Mary Charles Blakebrough, Co-VP Programs <mcbreakthrough@mindspring.com> or Sidney Craig Courtice, President <scourtice@shaw.ca>

Top 10 Misconceptions about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®

Misconception #1: The MBTI is a personality test.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® is an indicator (or assessment), not a test. The term test assumes that there is a right or wrong answer, or the opportunity to pass or fail. There is no right or wrong personality type. In addition, there is no one best personality type.

Misconception #2: I took the Myers-Briggs online last night for free.
No, you didn’t. Unfortunately you were deceived by someone pretending to have a free version of the MBTI. If you look closely you will see that the assessment often calls itself “MBTI-like” or a “Jungian” assessment. This is not the MBTI! Why does this matter? The real MBTI has been around for 60 years and has been extensively researched and continuously improved to guarantee strong validity and reliability. The online versions are not valid and are not reflective of type theory. There are ways to take the MBTI online, but they will never be free. You can go to a Qualified practitioner who uses SkillsOne to administer the MBTI (CPP’s online platform for delivering assessments). You can also go to the MBTI Complete to take the assessment and receive an online debrief with a “best-fit” type exercise.

Misconception #3: The MBTI report said I was an ESTJ, but I feel like I am an ISTJ. I guess I am wrong.
You have the ultimate final say on your personality type. After all, you are the expert on you! It is okay to question if the report accurately describes you as a whole. No assessment can ask enough questions to explain all of the intricacies of personality, preferences, or behaviors. In addition, the report will only be as accurate as you are honest. If you take the assessment while imagining what your employer or teammates want from you, the results will likely not reflect your true inborn preferences. It is for this exact reason that an exercise in determining your “best fit” type is essential- and it is one more reason why the “free online versions” of MBTI-like assessments do a disservice to individuals.

Misconception #4: Wow! This MBTI thing is cool; I should use it to select new employees.
The use of the MBTI in selecting employees is unethical. Again, there is no one right personality type, and every type can function in any role. In addition, there is no evidence that the results of the MBTI can predict performance.

Misconception #5: I’m one of 16 types? I feel more unique than that!
That’s right! You are not one of 16 types. Within the 16 different types, there are even more individual differences. The MBTI Step II highlights 20 of those differences. Specifically, there are 5 facets that explain differences for each dichotomy. As an example, you can be an Introvert that is contained (does not readily share thoughts/feelings) or one that is open (easily shares with others). This is one way that introverts can differ from each other. If you are someone who feels that at times they perform “out of preference,” then the Step II can be an enlightening experience.

Misconception #6: I found out I’m an Introvert, but I’m in a sales job. I guess I should find a new career.
Remember, the MBTI is about preferences, not ability. While it is true that people typically gravitate towards careers that complement their natural preferences, that does not mean you cannot function in an environment that is “out of preference” for you. This is just like being right-handed. If you had to use your left hand to write, you could. It would be awkward, time-consuming, and possibly messy- but you could do it. Over time, you would become more and more comfortable using your left-hand. This is the same as personality type. Everyone can function in an “out of preference” environment. It may be difficult, but it is possible.

Misconception #7: I had a really high score on Thinking, so I’m REALLY good at that!
What many people interpret as “scores” on the MBTI are not indices of ability, skill, or intelligence. Rather, they reflect the clarity with which your answers reflected that preference. I happen to STRONGLY prefer Judging. That doesn’t mean I’m really good at organized and planning. It means that I prefer to be planful, organized, and finish well before the deadline. I may still fail at accomplishing those tasks, but that is what I prefer. Now, if you are in the mid-zone for a particular dichotomy, this is another reason to try the MBTI step II. Again, this could help illuminate when you are in-preference for the function, or out of preference.

Misconception #8: I’ve changed my type several times.
According to Jung’s theory, you do not change type. Type (preferences) is inborn in you and never change. The best way to understand this is the right hand left hand example. A right handed person can function left-handed. And over time can become more and more comfortable using their left hand. HOWEVER, given the chance, they will naturally want to use their right hand. That natural preference towards their right hand will never go away. If your reported type changes, there are several things to consider. First, did you take an authentic version of the MBTI? If not, then there is no surprise you received different results. The “free online versions” are no more accurate than quizzes that determine “which celebrity’s dog you are.” Second, did you walk through an in-depth exercise in best-fit type? Next, have you recently gone through a major life change that is coloring the way you perceive the questions? Did you answer honestly?

Misconception #9: My husband doesn’t need to take the MBTI, I can guess what his type is.
You may have a guess as to what someone’s personality type is, but there is a big danger in teaching someone their type based on a guess. What if you are wrong? This may hinder their development rather than promote development. We make assumptions about others’ preferences constantly, and in many ways we do so in an effort to aid in communication. However, when there is the possibility of taking the actual MBTI, it is necessary to do so.

Misconception #10: I hope that my team members all have my personality type, because that would be the best team ever!
While that team may have the fewest disagreements, there is danger in wanting to surround yourself with only your type. A diverse group will have a greater likelihood of generating creative, unique results. If there is diversity in type, discussions will be more in-depth because each person approaches a decision differently because of their preferences. Conflict and disagreements should not be a negative thing, if handled with proper constructive communication. A diverse group can generate the most well thought through results.

My case for joining the Blogosphere- plus reasons from Scott Ginsberg

About a year ago I read the book Wikinomics, and I was so inspired that I began my own personal journey into the blogosphere.



Blogging and reading the blog posts have become two of my favorite hobbies. Writing my own blog has become somewhat cathartic for me. Sometimes I write about ways in which the applications of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator has influenced my life/relationship. Other times, I write about ways in which MBTI enthusiasts/practitioners can get more out of the assessment.

Every time I meet with an independent consultant or a MBTI practitioner I ask for his/her blog address. I am always shocked when individuals who have to market themselves have forgotten about the best (easiest?) place for self-marketing....the blogosphere! There are hundreds of thousands of independent MBTI practitioners out there. What sets you apart? What makes you unique? What is your personal brand/message?

The first way to set yourself apart is to tell people what makes you different/unique! But where, oh where, can a person get that message out to the world (and potential customers)? A blog, I say!!! A blog is the way to go!

A few weeks ago, I read a great post by Scott Ginsberg at Hello my name is Blog. He explained 15 reasons you should start blogging today. I couldn't agree with him more, so I'll re-post his top 10 here. Please show your support and visit his blog for the rest of the items (and tons of other great blog info):

1. Do you WANT to change the world?
2. Do you WANT to grow your business?
3. Do you WANT to attract new clients?
4. Do you WANT to become better known?
5. Do you WANT to lower your customer acquisition costs?
6. Do you WANT to reduce your average sales cycle?
7. Do you WANT to sell more products?
8. Do you WANT to build a following?
9. Do you WANT to deliver constant value to your fans?
10. Do you WANT to boost your Google Juice?

Really, you have no reason NOT to blog! To all of you passive blog readers out there- it's time to get in the game! Are you scared?

To get you thinking about the new world of marketing, self-promotion, and the world of social media, there are a few books I suggest.

First, check out Wikinomics by by Williams and Tapscott. They also have a blog (surprise) here.


Next, I suggest Open Brand by Mooney and Rollins. This is a fast/one-day read that will transform the way you think about customers, collaboration and using the net.


After that, I suggest keeping up with what ProBlogger and CopyBlogger have to say.

When you're looking for new blogs, I suggest starting with Alltop for the latest and greatest on a variety of topics. (There are also new topics added frequently).

What else do you need to know? Are you convinced you need to join the bologsphere yet?

To all my MBTI enthusiasts out there: Are you in the blogosphere? Send me the link to your site and I will add you to my BlogRoll.

Unmasking Batman: Jung's Archetypes and MBTI

Faithful Readers, please welcome Debra Sanborn as today's Guest blogger.



The release of The Dark Knight prompted an interesting History Channel documentary threaded with Carl Jung theory. Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of the Dark Knight offered a historical perspective of Batman entwined with Jung's Shadow Archetype, or the inferior aspects of the self which we hide from others. This archetype uniquely describes the saga of the dashing Bruce Wayne and crime fighting Batman.

For the conflicted Bruce Wayne, Batman is his Shadow, his personal subconscious. In Batman Begins, Wayne underwent Jungian self-analysis, recognizing from his shadow projections that whatever is wrong with the world is in himself and must be confronted in order for him to do something beneficial for the world. Batman channeled those unacceptable impulses to avenge the death of Wayne's parents by ridding Gotham of evildoers, n'er do wells, crazy clowns, and district attorneys gone awry.

Analysis aside, what would MBTI preferences reveal about Bruce Wayne and alter-ego Batman? We will work from the premise that a billionaire philanthropist who flys throughout the city sporting a rubber suit and a cape is of normal mental health, of course.

Bruce Wayne: INFJ
INFJs are future oriented, and focus on understanding self and human nature. They are of high integrity, driven by morals and need to reflect their inner ideals. Appreciate solitude and like to quietly exert their influence (like most billionaires). They have deeply felt compassion (Alfred, Rachel Dawes), and they desire harmony with others. INFJs understand the complexities existing within people and among them.

Batman: ESTJ
ESTJs take action, don their cape, dig in, and proceed directly to get the job done. They use logic and analysis as guiding principles for their lives. They are quick to decide and set a plan of action. They utilize resources in an organized fashion, implement, and follow through. They like closure. They focus directly on tasks to accomplish (catch bad guys, transport to Arkham Asylum) and are able to anticipate the steps needed to complete an assignment.

What would type unmask about your favorite Superhero?

For more info on Jung's Archetypes check out ChangingMinds.org

Editor's note: For more discussion on this topic, visit www.cppiconsuccess.com and click on the link for the blog.

Isabel Briggs Myers Quote of the Day

We cannot safely assume that other people's minds work on the same principles as our own. All too often, others with whom we come in contact do not reason as we reason, or do not value the things we value, or are not interested in what interests us.

- Isabel Briggs Myers

She thought outside the box....or is it "inside" the box?

This girl cracks me up. She didn't even hesitate in seeking what she wanted!



I love risk-takers!





http://view.break.com/536276 - Watch more free videos

MBTI Exercise: Type and Conflict

Guest post from Alexandra Gammelgard (MBTI All-Star).



Conflict in the workplace is unavoidable, whether it’s a small conflict with a cube-mate, or an interdepartmental crisis - although most people associate conflict with a negative emotional charge, there are ways that conflict can be handled to make forward progress while maintaining an overall feeling of wellbeing for all involved. We can use the MBTI instrument to see and understand the true nature of conflict, and strategize how to approach conflict, communicate effectively during it, and resolve conflict situations.

In type theory, there are 4 conflict pairs – TJ, TP, FJ, FP – these unique pairs not only have different ideas of how to solve conflict, but also have totally different ways of perceiving conflict – for example, what seems like a problem to a TJ may be completely acceptable to a FP.

Exercise:

Which of these scenarios would bother you the most?

A conflict occurs between you and a direct report over a personal problem the report is dealing with. The report displays anger and has an aggressive outburst. At the end of the conversation, no decision is reached, and you are left with no resolution. Even though the conversation is over, you know that the issue may present itself again in the future (TJ.)

You and your cube-mate have a disagreement about a morality issue that turns into a very uncomfortable situation. Your cube-mate is extremely caustic and even a bit cruel. After the conversation ends you sense that there is not forgiveness or acceptance from your cube-mate, and tensions are high after the fact. (FJ.)

Your company is trying to decide whether to hire an applicant, and while you think the person is fit for the role, there are several others who seem to be passing unfair judgment on the applicant. The conversation explodes, with several people over-reacting and being highly disrespectful, and the conflict ends without your point of view being heard. (FP.)

Your team is discussing a possible acquisition and there are differing points of view. You feel you have a unique solution but your input is not considered, and the group rushes to a quick fix that you know will not solve the problem. In your opinion, your expertise is ignored. (TP.)


This exercise is intended to spark a conversation between types – while an ENTP has no problem with debating a morality issue, an ENFP could be very uncomfortably with the personal conflict it could cause.

Another thing to consider in type theory – your two letter combo not only defines what you will consider a conflict, but how you will handle a conflict. Here is the breakdown of the four conflict types:

TJ – These individuals extravert their thinking functions – these people look decisive, planful, and organized – sometimes they seem critical and blunt.

TP – These individuals introvert their thinking types – they are objective, always searching for what is right, and can be stubborn.

FJ – These individuals extravert their feeling function – they tend to be warm and seek harmony, at times they want to smother with kindness.

FP – These individuals introvert their feeling function – these types are sensitive and attuned to people’s needs, and at times they worry for everyone.

Which characteristics described above fit you? What characteristics in others push your buttons?

Examining the interplay of the conflict types can facilitate a deeper understanding of how an individual experiences conflict. It’s good to know all of the descriptions, not just your own, so you can know what to expect and adapt in a conflict.

Editor Note: Alexandra, thank you for this wonderful exercise in workplace conflict.
For more information on dealing with conflict, check out the Introduction to Type and Conflict booklet. You may also find Introduction to Type and Communication and Introduction to Type Dynamics and Development interesting as well.

F.O.M.O.: A new disease. Do you have F.O.M.O?

My Google Reader, Google Alerts, and RSS Feeds are officially out of control. Each day I sign up for updates on a new site or blog. At some point I wonder if I'm going to hit information overload. Is it possible my brain will run out of space and all of these random, new, unnecessary pieces of information will push out the important facts. Will I forget my phone number, but be able to tell you about the latest gossip on Truemors? What if I cannot remember my 3rd grade teacher's name, but I can now tell you about the latest and greatest invention Billy Mays is selling. I don't care. I feel like I have to know every new piece of information I can get my hands on. It's an addiction.



Actually, this addiction is a disease. A friend of mine gave this disease a name several years ago. It's called F.O.M.O (Fear of Missing Out).

F.O.M.O can come in many different forms. For someone like myself with a clear Sensing preference (in MBTI-ology), the need to take in as much data/information as possible is critical. If I don't check out the latest posts on Brazen Careerist, I fear I will be out of the loop and miss my opportunity to comment on a great blog!

F.O.M.O is prevalent among extroverts. If an extrovert hears everyone is going to lunch, but they need to stay at the office and work through the break, he/she might have a F.O.M.O attack.

Those who have taken the FIRO-B and have a high need for inclusion are most susceptible to F.O.M.O. My friend who coined the term F.O.M.O has the most extreme case I've ever seen. She was the last person to leave her own wedding because her F.O.M.O flared up. Having mononucleosis didn't stop her from attending every happy hour (F.O.M.O's symptoms trump mono). When persuaded to leave an event for her health's sake she would refuse saying "But what if something fun happens after I leave? Then everyone will be talking about it tomorrow and I would have missed out." (Side story: One night I did decide to skip a happy hour and that happened to be the time my boss head-butted some guy who was rudely/obnoxiously hitting on one of my coworkers. I can't believe I missed out on that. The next day while everyone was telling the head-butting story, my head hurt from the F.O.M.O. Of course, my boss's head just hurt!!!)

What are the warning signs for F.O.M.O? When you're at a party and get 3+ text messages from a friend saying things like "how's the party, are you having fun? who's there? got any good stories?" Then you can simply reply: "Sorry about the F.O.M.O., buddy!"

So, do you have F.O.M.O? What makes your F.O.M.O appear?

Carl Jung Quote of the Day- July 11th, 2008

If one does not understand a person, one tends to regard him as a fool.
- Carl Jung

My Favorite Sensing/Intuition Activity for the MBTI

I get tons of emails from readers who are looking for new/different activities for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment.

There are tons of binders with MBTI activities available from CPP.com.

Here is one of my favorites for distinguishing between Sensing and Intuition preferences:

In a workshop, take a cup and place it on a table where everyone can see the object. Ask everyone to "describe" the cup.

If you've never done an activity like this, I suggest you find a cup (or describe the one shown in the picture below) and do the exercise yourself right now before reading further.




In my MBTI class, we had a small Styrofoam cup as the object.

As someone with a Sensing preference, I wrote down as many details about the cup as I possibly could. In the end, my description looked like technical specs for the cup design (4 inches tall, 2 1/2 inches in diameter, holds 6 ounces of liquid, white color, made of Styrofoam, etc).

I wish someone had a camera to capture my expression when the individuals with Intuitive preferences read their descriptions. Some people wrote poems about how the cup feels unfulfilled because it's not being used...how the cup hates coffee because it is too hot, but prefers tea because it's soothing warmth. One person wrote about how Styrofoam cups are ruining the environment.

I was sitting at a table with other people with clear Sensing preferences and we were all baffled. Our descriptions were based on what we could see, not based on our imagination. One person at my table asked if the "Intuitives" had been drinking at lunch!

This is a great, fast, simple exercise you can use with any object laying around the room of the workshop. Many of my customers use paintings as the object in this exercise.

What is your S-N preference, and how did you describe the cup?

Do you have any other MBTI activities you would like to share?

Carl Jung Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day:

The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.
- Carl Jung

I particularly like this quote because it fits the topic I've become obsessed with- Zappos.com. I've decided to buy all of my shoes from them because I want to support the innovation the company stands for.

How do you relax?

Ever since I started investigating the frequency of illness in those with introverted preferences, I've been on a mission to find new ways to relax.

From the emails and comments I received on that blog, it seems most introverts prefer doing something (anything) alone. This is not new news, but what I want to know is what SPECIFICALLY do you do to re-energize. Yoga? Read? Sky-dive? Blog? Shop? Play Guitar Hero? Exercise?



I came across a CD full of statistics about personality types from Peter and Katharine Myers in 2001. Here are just a few stats this CD PowerPoint presentation addresses:

• number of children each personality type typically has
• average number of divorces per type
• political affiliation of each type
• health issues for each type
• spiritual beliefs by type
• level of job satisfaction by type

Here are just a few things I learned from this presentation:

ISFPs and INFPs have the highest level of mean stress, and they typically stress about finances the most.

The types most likely to say that they are Republicans are the ESTJs, ISTJs, INTJs and ENTJs.

The proportion of extroverts to introverts is approximately equal.

In general, the SFs tend to like an organization that emphasizes employee loyalty and a job for life.

With regard to the topic of this blog, there are clear distinctions between leisure activities of introverts and extroverts. Extroverts reported that they enjoyed activities that typically require multiple people, playing sports, playing cards, music, anything outdoors, etc. Whereas introverts choose more quiet (inside) activities like reading, art, watching tv, writing, and my personal favorite- sleeping!

I didn't know sleeping qualifies as a leisure activity, but now I'm happy to report that as my favorite hobby!

I'm curious if any introverts out there have tried any "new age/alternative" ways of coping with exhaustion like yoga, pilates, tai chi, or acupuncture.

For your own copy of the Snapshots of the 16 Types by Peter and Katharine Myers, visit CPP.com.

I heart Zappos.com

Some days I have to hop off the MBTI train and give credit where credit is due. Today, the all-star company is Zappos.com.

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5328179

You must watch the video from ABC Nightline that highlights what makes Zappos.com different.

I have so much admiration for this organization. When a CEO (Tony Hsieh) chooses a $36k salary, you know you have a special kind of leader. He takes engagement, customer satisfaction, and fun to a whole new level.

For a few weeks now, I've been following him on Twitter and frequently asked myself "WHO IS THIS GUY?" He is judging a mac and cheese contest a the office today...just for fun. Last weekend he held a BBQ party for 350 at his house where partygoers donated books and the CEO apparently wrestled employees! WHO IS THIS GUY? Zappos even has a blog where they publicly say farewell (among other things) to employees who are moving on to new opportunities. This is an organization who CARES about its employees and wants the best for them.

Here are just a few things that make Zappos.com phenomenal:

• Job rotation (every employee including executives work in customer service and shipping to understand each role's unique needs and challenges. Patrick Lencioni would be so proud!)
• Free food (It may not seem important, but the organization bears the cost so the employee doesn't have to.)
• Free medical and dental insurance (This blows me away!)
• They pay their employees to quit (What better way to get rid of those who are not committed?)
• They care about customer service (On most web pages you have to SEARCH for a 1-800 number because they'd rather you find the answer yourself on the web. Not so with Zappos. They'd prefer you call their phenomenal team).
• Employees are encouraged to use Twitter (What? Personal use of a company computer during work hours!?!
• They want you to like what you bought...but if you don't you can ship the item back (for free) in the next 365 days. Oh, and if you decide you want to return the shoes at 3am, someone from Zappos will be there to answer your call!!!!
• Oh....and it's FUN!!!!

I could never accurately portray the company culture in writing, so once you see the video you'll get it. It's no wonder this organization receives 75% repeat business.

Here's to you Zappos! Thank you for being an inspiration to all organizations!!!

Poll for Introverts

I have recently become interested in the topic of illness among introverts.

After a long week in Chicago at the SHRM convention, I came home feeling achy, slightly down, and suffering from headaches and migraines. I usually get some sort of cold or flu after traveling for a few days, which I used to attribute to the number of people (i.e. germs) I was exposed to at conferences, in airports, and in hotels. Now, I'm wondering if depleting my mental energy through performing extroverted behaviors was the culprit.



One of my colleagues pointed me to several articles on the topic of introversion and more frequent illness than those preferring extroversion. You can read up on these articles yourself here, here, or here.

I'd like to hear from other introverts living in an extroverted role.

Do you find you immune system struggles after an extended period of extroverting?

What do you do to cope?

Making Decisions: MBTI®- Style

Everyday we make millions of decisions. Some are small (tall or grande coffee?) and some are significant (to relocate or not to relocate?). Decision making is difficult enough for an individual, but becomes more challenging when multiple people are involved. If you are in a romantic relationship and share a house, car, bank account, children, etc, then you know the struggles that come with decisions made as a couple.



My partner and I use Rock-Paper-Scissors to make most decisions. Whoever wins the game makes the decision! When all else fails, we flip a coin (although the Magic 8-ball has been known to help).

If those aren’t options for you, here is a guide to making decisions thoroughly. In the MBTI® literature, it is very clear that there is no one best personality type. Personality types are just preferences; therefore there is nothing inherently good or bad about preferring one thing over another. However, there is one place in the literature where there is a best-practice and that is the way to make a decision.

The process (often called the Z-model) involves walking through the middle two functions in sequence.

First, walk through the Sensing preference by gathering information about what has been tried, what has worked in the past, what you know, and what you don’t know.

Next, using the iNtuitive preference, take a big picture approach to think long term, see opportunities, possibilities, and connections between things/events.

After you’ve taken in all of the information, it’s time to logic through the options. This is where the Thinking perspective comes alive. What are the pros and cons? What could the consequences be? Are there other options?

Finally, taking a Feeling perspective completes the process. How will this affect others (friends/family)? How will I feel about the result? Will others support the decision? How will other people react?

The Z-model of decision-making is a great exercise to use in an MBTI® activity at work. Take a real situation (like possible downsizing, budget cuts, etc) and make sure you’re walking through each perspective to make the best possible decision.

We have a tendency to neglect our non-preferred perspectives. It takes more effort for someone with a Sensing preference to think big picture using the iNtuitive perspective. However, without that component, the resulting decision may be short-sighted.

In the workplace, it can be effective to have a decision-making buddy who has an opposite MBTI® type. That individual will naturally bring a different perspective to the table and help coach you through your blind spots.

Finally, if you’re in a relationship and making a decision…the woman is always right.

Cheers!

For more information on MBTI® and Decision making, I highly suggest the blog by Heather Ishikawa.

Mo’ e-mail, mo’ problems

E-mail is my best friend (other great friends include Instant Messaging, Twitter, Text Messaging). E-mail is quick, archived, and always available. Most importantly, I love e-mail because it means I can cut out one more minute of the standard meaningless chit-chat that is a prerequisite to any conversation.

“Hi, how are you?…how are the kids?…how was your vacation?….isn’t the weather nice?...how ‘bout those Jayhawks?….blah blah blah.” I might care about the answers to these questions, but then again I might not. It depends on the person, day, and situation. If I engage someone through e-mail, though, I can simply start the email by saying “I hope all is well with you” (and I do) and then I move on to the important part of the message.



If Notorious B.I.G. were around today, he would undoubtedly have a new hit record called “Mo’ e-mail, mo’ problems.” As much as I love e-mail, it does come with a host of potential problems.

Have you ever misinterpreted the intent/meaning/emotion of an email? Have you ever fired off an angry email and wished you could reverse time? Worse yet- have you ever accidentally sent an embarrassing email to the wrong person?

These situations are common place in the world of e-mail, but understanding your co-workers communication preferences can help reduce the opportunity for conflict.

First, know your recipient. Would they prefer to receive an email so they can think through your question and have time to write a thoughtful/carefully worded response (introversion preference). Or, is the recipient an Extrovert and prefers you drop by their office (or call) to chat?

Next, assess the importance of the email. If the issue is sensitive in nature (and could potentially be forwarded to others), then discuss the issue in person. If you would like documentation, e-mail is a great way to communicate, but remember how e-mails can come back to haunt you.

If you do choose to email, think about the format. Is he/she a “just the facts” kind of person or would he/she prefer a narrative back-story on the issue? The decision between bullet points or paragraph could significantly impact the way your email is received. For example, if I throw in too many bullet points in an email to my boss, I can guarantee she will call and have me talk through what’s going on.

How emotional/feeling is the recipient? If he/she is likely to misinterpret your emotions, be sure to throw in some smilie face emoticons for good measure. Nuts-and-bolts people could care less whether you ask how their dog is or whether you throw in a winking emoticon after a joke.

Finally, if you expect a response by a certain date, say so! Otherwise, you will find yourself hitting the send/receive button like crazy while the recipient is chatting about the last episode of Lost with coworkers.

All of these suggestions are common sense, but even I have to remind myself to flex to my recipient’s preferred method of communicating. It is difficult to accommodate the communication needs of others when they conflict with your own natural style, but the result of your compromise will be worthwhile.

For fun, I had to add this video I found at the Carpe Factum blog:

Carl Jung quote of the day

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

- Carl Jung



Get your Carl Jung Action Figure here!

Type and Politics- part 2

A long time ago, I posted my response to a Slate.com article on the myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) types of the presidential candidates.

The debate over what type each candidate prefers has been raging for a while, but what I'm more interested in is what TYPE of leader do you want?



Do you wish the country's leader would be ENTJ because of their natural leadership ability, focus on possibilities and logical thinking process?

Or, would an ESTJ be the leader for you? This leader would value tradition and seek to keep order in every situation.

What about a ENFP? A warm, people-oriented leader with their sights set on new possibilities for helping others might be your kind of leader.

For me, the ideal leader would probably be ENTJ. I believe my ideal leader would need to prefer extroversion (to engage the thoughts and opinions of others), intuition (to see the big picture and possibilities), Thinking (logical and systematic in decision making), and Judging (maintaining order and structure to the world).

Now that we have the perfect leader issue solved, what would be the worst leader for you? To me, the least preferred leader would be ISTJ (my type- so I can say that!). ISTJ's tend to make decisions quickly after thinking through all of the consequences in their heads. As a result, ISTJ's may fail to understand the needs of others, gain commitment, and explain their thought/decision process. Without explaining all of the things that went into the decision, an ISTJ can look more like a dictator than a leader (my opinion).

So, what personality type would you prefer in a leader? What type would you least prefer?

For other discussions of Type and Politics, click here or here.