Personality Masterclass Using the MBTI (Myers Briggs) to develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and what to do about it! David Craigie 21 st October 2014

Overview  Review of the MBTI  How each dimension is relevant  Interactions between dimensions  Type development, stress and problem solving

What is Personality? “the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character” Oxford Dictionary “the complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual”; “the totality of an individual's behavioral and emotional characteristics” Merriam-Webster

The MBTI  One of the most popular measures of Type across the worlds is the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)  Developed and statistically researched and refined over the last 60 years, based on Type theory by Carl Jung and developed by Isabel Myers and her mother Katharine Briggs.

Uses of MBTI  Stress Management  Career Decisions  Conflict Management  Decision Making  Team Building  Change Management  Time Management  etc

Exploring the MBTI  4 personality “dimensions”  Each dimension has one of two preferences  This gives one of 16 four letter types  What does it mean to have a personality preference?

Preferences  Each day, we will use both preferences on each dimension  Our natural preference will lead us to typically choose one over the other  It is possible, through training and awareness, to consciously operate in our less-preferred mode

Dimensions  Extraversion (E)  Sensing (S)  Thinking (T)  Judging (J)  Introversion (I)  Intuition (N)  Feeling (F)  Perceiving (P)

How we are energised  Extraversion (E) is not about being gregarious or fun-loving, but rather about being energised by and drawn to interaction with the outer world  Introversion (I) is not about being shy or reserved, but rather about being energised by the inner world and reflection

What use is knowing this? Understanding how we are energised can help us be aware of our own personal needs to allow us to function at our best. We can also support others with their own needs and be more respectful of colleagues, friends and family with different needs. Preface your processing to inform audience.

How we take in information  Sensing (S) is not about being sensitive, but rather is about being focused on information that is real and tangible, often detail focused and practical  Intuition (N) is not about gut feeling, but rather a preference for the bigger picture, patterns and concepts, often future focused

Presenting information When communicating with others, it can help to be aware of their information preferences. Sensing types will often prefer information that has a practical and realistic purpose. Intuitive types often like to see the bigger picture and the vision behind something.

How we make decisions  Thinking (T) is a process that values logic, more objective analysis, and can appear “tough minded”. Fairness is more likely to be about equality.  Feeling (F) is a process that values empathic, more subjective and values based reasoning, and can appear “tender hearted”. Fairness is about treating people as individuals.

Decision making Thinkers can appear hard nosed and thick skinned to Feelers, but can also bring an objective and logical analysis to a situation. Feelers can appear over sensitive and thin skinned to Thinkers, but can bring a person-centred and values driven approach to decision making.

How we relate to the outer world  Judging (J) is not about being judgemental, but rather seeking to plan, organise and regulate or control life, feeling energised once decisions are made  Perceiving (P) is not about being perceptive, but is a preference for flexibility, spontaneity and experiencing life in a very adaptable and open-ended way

Proactive plan or responsive? Judging can appear overly controlling and rigid to a Perceiving type and the advantages of planning and organising need to be balanced with an ability to respond and be flexible. Perceiving can appear to be unprepared and disorganised to a Judging type and the openness to new things needs to be balanced with commitment to plans.

Conflicts between Type  Extraversion (E)  Sensing (S)  Thinking (T)  Judging (J)  Introversion (I)  Intuition (N)  Feeling (F)  Perceiving (P)

When dimensions combine  Each pairing of dimensions creates a unique blend of preference I/E S/N T/F J/P  The decisive introvert (IJ) is very different from the adaptable introvert (IP)  One person might be a people loving, idealistic introvert (INF) and another a practical task focused extravert (EST)

Internal personality conflicts? While elements of our personality can combine for a unique blend, there can also be internal conflicts!  The people loving introvert seeks solitude  The intuitive sparks rub against closure  The logical yet spontaneous style Understanding these subtle blends can help make sense of our experiences.

How does Type Develop?  Type theory suggests we are born with our personality, but that we develop over time.  A healthy, balanced type development would play to our natural strengths while also developing our less preferred areas appropriately

Development of Functions  The way we take in information (S or N) and the way we make decisions (T or F) are known as mental Functions.  Each type has a dominant function, an auxiliary function, a tertiary function and an inferior function

Development of Functions  In our early years, we specialise in developing our dominant function. This can often be seen in children as they play.  Adolescence and young adulthood often see a balance of our auxiliary function.  Midlife can see the unexpected arrival of a tertiary function and crisis or questioning.  Older years can lead to an integration of the remaining inferior function, bringing balance and wholeness.

Examples of development An ESTP starts life with a dominant Sensing preference that is directed towards the outer world. This is then balanced by an internally focussed Thinking preference. Around midlife, we might see the emergence of Feeling as part of decision making. Towards retirement, we might see some interest in exploring introverted Intuition

Examples of development An INFJ starts life with a dominant Intuition preference that is directed towards the inner world. This is then balanced by an externally focussed Feeling preference. Around midlife, we might see the emergence of Thinking as part of decision making. Towards retirement, we might see some interest in exploring extraverted Sensing.

Stress Responses  When feeling slightly or moderately stressed, we might see a caricature of our personality type emerge. Introverts withdraw, extraverts talk. Judgers become obsessed with plans, perceivers become more disorganised etc.  Under extreme stress, we can see a “shadow type” emerge...

Being “in the grip”  Under extreme stress, we can see a negative mirror image of ourselves, particularly seeing our inferior function take control.  Our ESTP friend withdraws into a gloomy, internalised intuition of negative fantasy.  Our INFJ friend becomes obessed with data or overindulges in sensory experiences.

Problem Solving Each of us naturally has two “mental function” preferences, suggesting we might also have two potential blind spots  S – define the problem with Sensing  N – consider possibilities with Intuition  T – Weight up consequences with Thinking  F – Consider the personal impact

Any Questions?   