1. 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

2. 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?”

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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?

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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”

17. 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

18. 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?

19. 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?

20. 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

21. 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

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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?

28. 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

29. 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

30. Why Should We Care?

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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?

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

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