Myers Briggs, JobStreet and You: Understanding Personality Type Indicator and What it Means for You and Your Work at JobStreet Molly B. Miranda July 16, 2009

Why Are We Here? Has anyone heard of Myers Briggs? Has anyone ever had a conflict or difference of opinion with a co-worker, family member or boss? Have you ever wondered, “why does so-and-so do this? What are they thinking?”

Today’s Goals Gain an understanding of Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and how we can use it to learn about ourselves and others Discover how people communicate, learn and make decisions in different ways

What is Myers Briggs? A tool/framework for understanding our own Personality Type and that of others Used by companies around the world for team building, career guidance, leadership & management Developed in the 1920s, MBTI has been extensively researched & tested and is taken by 2M people per year

What Myers Briggs Is Not Myers Briggs is not a test There are no right or wrong answers Myers Briggs is not about competencies, abilities or skills Rather, it’s about natural preferences Myers Briggs does not tell you what you can and can’t do Do the signature exercise – signing with one hand and then the other.

People express preferences in 4 main areas: Myers Briggs Theory People express preferences in 4 main areas: Interaction The ways that we interact with the world Information Gathering The ways we learn about people, happenings and ideas Decision Making The ways we reach conclusions about information we have gathered Lifestyle The ways we organize and structure our lives

Myers Briggs Preferences Where Does Your Energy Come From? How Do You Learn About the World? How Do You Make Decisions? How Do You Interact With the World? E Extraversion Introversion I S Sensing INtuitive N T Thinking Feeling F Note of caution regarding these words; they have a very specific meaning within Myers Briggs. Extravert does not mean talkative or loud Introvert does not mean shy or inhibited Feeling does mean emotional Judging does not mean judgmental Perceiving does not mean perceptive These 4 preferences are then combined into one Type J Judging Perceiving P

Where Does Your Energy Come From? Extraversion[E] Introversion [I] Do you “think” by talking out loud? Do you feel energized by interacting with people and from taking action? Do you speak out easily and often in groups? Do you find yourself more excited by ideas? Do you feel like “recharging your batteries” after a party? Do you receive energy from within, from thoughts & reflection? E I Where Do You Fall in the Spectrum? Clear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

Those who Prefer Extraversion… Are energized by interacting with people Speak out easily and often in meetings; enjoy talking with new people Can be bored and restless if alone too long “Think by talking” Have broad interests Learn best by doing or talking Can seem shallow and intruding to Introverts

Those who Prefer Introversion… Are energized by reflection & contemplation Are more often reserved Prefer to communicate in writing or one-on-one Work out ideas by reflecting on them Think first before talking Focus in depth on their interests Learn best by mental practice & reflection Can seem withdrawn and secretive to Extraverts

Extraversion & Introversion Extraverts are more likely to learn by talking and doing; Introverts prefer to think and reflect Extraverts draw energy from the outside world; Introverts draw energy from within

Extraversion & Introversion in the Workplace We all exhibit both extraverted & introverted behaviors However, we all have a preference for one over the other Do you have a family member or co-worker whose preference is different from yours?

How Do You Learn About the World? 30 seconds to look at the picture, then 2 minutes to write down everything you remember about it. After the 2 minutes – ask people to volunteer how they described the scene

How Did You Describe the Scene? Pond 2 Windmills Trees Blue House Birds on Right Maid Pastoral Rural Setting Quaint Picturesque Serene Outdoors OR Sensing (S) Intuitive (N)

How Do You Learn About the World? Sensing [S] Intuitive [N] Do you gather specific information? Are you concrete, practical & realistic? Do you live in the present and focus on the here & now? Do you like to think about possibilities? Do you rely more on inspiration and hunch? Do you think in the abstract and gloss over the details? S N Where Do You Fall in the Spectrum? ? Clear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

People Who Prefer Sensing [S]… Prefer to take in information using their 5 senses – sight, sound, feel, smell and taste “Details People” Can see the trees but sometimes not the forest Like to work with the parts to see the overall design Can seem too literal to Ns “I like to learn the facts”

People Who Prefer Intuition [N]… “I like to imagine the possibilities.” Focus on meanings, associations & relationships “Big Picture People” Can see the forest but sometimes not the trees Study the overall design to see how the parts fit Thrive on change, new ideas & variety Can seem like impractical dreamers to Ss

Key Words - S and N Sensing [S] Intuitive [N] Facts Realistic Specific Present Down-to-earth Practical What is Ideas Conceptual General Future Head-in-clouds Theoretical What could be Exercise: can you imagine how both types are valuable to have in a work setting?

How Do You Make Decisions? Break into groups of 6 – imagine you are part of a team that Mark has tasked with a new initiative for JobStreet. After months of hard work, discussion and research, you present your findings to Mark and the senior team. They agree to move forward, and as a thank you, give you a week of vacation in Bali. You are all excited and thrilled. Now, two weeks before you all are scheduled to go, you learn that due to budget constraints, only 2 will be able to go. How do you decide who will go? This question is not about WHO will go, but instead – how do you decide who will go? Who gets to go to Bali?

Those Who Prefer Thinking [T]… Are analytical and look to solve problems with impersonal, objective logic Emphasize fairness; want everyone treated equally Mentally remove themselves from a situation to examine pros and cons Focus on facts & principles Are good at spotting flaws and inconsistencies and stating them bluntly Take a long term view, seeing things as an on-looker Concentrate on thoughts rather than feelings May appear condescending and cold to Fs

Those Who Prefer Feeling [F]… Make decisions based on a person-centered, value-based process Mentally place themselves into the situation to identify with everyone Don’t like focusing on impersonal principles Concentrate on people’s feelings not thoughts Value harmony and may have trouble telling people something unpleasant Are good at understanding people and their viewpoints Want to treat everyone as an individual May seem over-emotional or irrational to Ts

How Do You Make Decisions? Sensing [S] T F Where Do You Fall in the Spectrum? ? Clear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

How Do You Interact With the World? How do you get ready for vacation? Spend a few minutes writing, then gather in a group and discuss

Judging vs. Perceiving (J or P) When getting ready for your vacation, do you plan everything in advance? Or do you prefer to be spontaneous and make decisions on the fly? Refers to our attitude to the outside world and how we orient ourselves to it

Those Who Prefer Judging… Like making decisions (may decide too quickly) Dislike surprises Value punctuality Like planning & planning ahead Want to control & regulate things May adjust poorly to change Tend to be satisfied once they’ve made a decision Want to know only the essentials

Those Who Prefer Perceiving… Don’t mind surprises Interruptible, shift gears easily See time as opportunity Can handle chaos Anxious after reaching a decision Parallel processor; several things going on at once Like taking in information (may decide too slowly) May be late because plans changed May start too many projects, not finish any

Judging & Perceiving Js like to make commitments and get things done; Ps prefer flexibility Js strive to reach closure; Ps prefer to keep their options open Js tend to seek structure and order; Ps prefer to move spontaneously from one task to the next Can you think about situations at work in which miscommunications or conflicts might occur?

How Do You Interact With the World? Which Describes You Best? J P Where Do You Fall in the Spectrum? ? Clear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

What is Your Type? One letter from each dichotomy Sum equals more than the parts It represents the dynamic interactions among the preferences in your type No hierarchy among the types; each identifies normal and valuable personalities E I S N More resources are available online, which I can provide to you. Of course, you are MORE THAN JUST YOUR TYPE! T F J P

Why Should We Care?

Gain Insights Personally Benefits an Organization Why Should We Care? Gain Insights Personally Benefits an Organization Enhance your ability to appreciate differences in yourself and in others Reduce your defensiveness Increase your openness to feedback from what is going on around you Make constructive use of individual approaches Understand and adapt to leadership’s management style Respect people’s work preferences Improve communication among supervisors, peers, employees, customers Some examples that MB has an impact in the workplace: Overcrowded schedule may force you to exhibit more judging traits than you may prefer Team projects may force you to work as an extravert; brainstorming, talking through problems vs. thinking them through on your own Concrete information may be more valued more than “gut-feeling” approach Staff meeting may focus on everyone’s involvement first, when you would prefer to address the task first.

Learning & Preference at Work (E & I) An I can benefit from an E’s natural preference to Jump into a situation Speak easily and fluidly among a group of people Work with others An E can benefit from an I’s natural preference to Think before diving in Focus in depth on the task at hand Reflect upon what has been learned

Tips For Work (E & I) Extraverts: Introverts: Extraverted style can sometimes overwhelm introverts Recognize the need for written communications Actively solicit introverts’ ideas and opinions Introverts: Be assertive Let others know where you are and what you need Ask for time to respond Recognize the need for face to face communications

Learning & Preference at Work (S & N) An N can benefit from an S’s natural inclination to Bring up pertinent facts Face realities of current situation Apply experience to solving problems Focus on what needs attention now An S can benefit from an N’s natural inclination to Bring up new possibilities Apply insight to solving problems Anticipate future trends Focus on Long-term goals

Tips for Work (S & N) Sensors Intuitives Your helpful questions and useful details may cut off others’ sharing of ideas Ask others for their ideas and perspective Allow time for brainstorming Intuitives Others may need to do a reality check on your ideas or compare them with past experience While brainstorming, think of what it will take to make an idea work

Learning & Preference at Work (T & F) Thinkers Feelers Need logical rationales for projects Are more truthful than tactful Value fairness more than harmony Are able to be objective Contribute intellectual criticism Take facts, theories & ideas more seriously Content may be more important than audience Need personal encouragement; the human angle is important May suppress own needs & ideas to keep harmony Are able to be empathetic Dislike expressing opinions that differ from those of peers Need to see how material can support personal value system Again, a caution about the vocabulary. Exercise – can you see how JobStreet T and F customers might value JobStreet differently?

Learning & Preference at Work (T & F) An F can benefit from a T’s natural preference to Analyse situations and their implications Hold consistently to a policy Create rational systems Be fair A T can benefit from an F’s natural preference to Forecast how others will react and feel Make needed individual exceptions Organise people and tasks harmoniously Be just

Tips for Work (T & F) Thinkers Feelers Personal connection & acknowledgement are necessary to Feelers to commit to a project Your idea of a “lively difference of opinion” may represent a “conflict” to Feelers and create tension Feelers Logical structure/clarity are necessary for Thinkers to commit to a project Thinkers may see your relationship-oriented approach as obscuring your commitment to planning and completing tasks Let others know if their style bothers you

Learning & Preference at Work (J & P) A P can benefit from a J’s natural preference to bring the discipline & organization needed for effective time management A J can benefit from an P’s natural preference to keep an openness to new potentially valuable information

Tips for Work (J & P) Judgers Perceivers Recognize that structure is restrictive to P types - limit to essentials Allow time for deliberation and decision Hold others responsible for results, rather than dictating the process Use asking tones, rather than insisting tones Perceivers Recognize that your exploratory style may seem like a waste of time to Judging types Set deadlines for your own results and decisions Follow through on your commitments

Please contact me with any questions: molly.miranda@sloan.mit.edu Thank you! Please contact me with any questions: molly.miranda@sloan.mit.edu