Introduction To Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

UCL CAREERSIntroduction toMyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)Karen BarnardDirector, UCL Careers

UCL CAREERSBy the End of the Session You WillHave A better understanding of your own personalityA better appreciation of those who differ from youInsights into how to use this knowledge to:enhance your team-working skillsenhance your leadership skillssupport your own professional development

UCL CAREERSApplications of MBTIDeveloping yourself-Problem-solving-Understanding stress reactions-Career developmentWorking with others-Working relationships-Communication style-Resolving conflictWorking in teams and organisations-Leadership style-Managing change-Valuing diversity-Considering team and organisational culture

UCL CAREERSWhat is MBTI?Based on theories of Carl Jung (1875-1961)Developed by Katherine Briggs (1875-1968) and IsabelMyres (1897-1980)4000 research papers on MBTIToday 3.5million ‘do’ MBTI annuallymultinational companiesmanagement consultanciespublic sector organisationsbusiness schoolscounsellorsNo right or wrong type

UCL CAREERSWhat Does MBTI Measure?MBTI considers STYLE not ability or achievement4 dimensionsWhere you get your energy fromExtraversionIntroversionHow you take in informationSensingiNtuitionHow you make decisionsThinkingFeelingHow you organise yourself / your worldJudgingPerceiving

UCL CAREERSMBTI - What are Preferences?Preferred HandFeels naturalDidn’t think about itEffortless, flows, easyLooks neat, legible, adultNon-preferred HandFeels unnaturalHad to concentrateTook more energyAwkward and clumsyLooks childlikeMay get easier withpractice

UCL CAREERSWhere You Get Your Energy FromExtraversionIntroversion

UCL CAREERSDrawn towards theouter worldEXTRAVERSIONDrawn towards theinner worldINTROVERSION

UCL CAREERSGains energy duringtime with peopleExpends energy duringtime aloneEXTRAVERSIONGains energy duringtime aloneExpends energy duringtime with peopleINTROVERSION

UCL CAREERSExtraversion/Introversion

UCL CAREERSExtraversionPrefer to communicate bytalking (‘talk things through’)Learn best by doing ordiscussingHave broad range of interestsTend to speak /act first, reflectlaterSociable & expressive‘Energy & Enthusiasm’IntroversionPrefer to communicate in writing(‘think things through’)Learn best by reflection ormental ‘practice’Have a depth of interestsTend to reflect before acting orspeakingPrivate & contained‘Reflection, identify issues andclarity’

UCL CAREERSTalking to TypeExtraverts.Allow time for talking out loudwithout conclusionsShow energy and enthusiasmGive some sort of responseDon’t assume that they mean allthey sayIntroverts Give information beforehandand allow time to thinkGive time to get to know youEncourage response withquestions (gently!)Don’t assume that they are notinterested: they may bereflecting

UCL CAREERSHow You Take in InformationSensingiNtuition

UCL CAREERSTaking in Information - AuditoryClose you eyes and listen – what do you hear?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v FVhwgvj SfA

UCL CAREERSReading a Novel!Nojovik

UCL CAREERSTends to focus onpractical facts, details andconcrete past experienceTends to focus onrelationships, patterns andfuture possibilitiesSENSINGINTUITION

UCL CAREERSSensing and IntuitionSensingIntuitive

UCL CAREERSSensingFocus on what is real & actual(the facts of the picture)Observe & remember detailOriented to present realitiesWant information step-by-stepTrust experienceEnsures data is accurate, mayoverlook patternsiNtuitionOriented to future possibilities –will look at ‘big picture’Imaginative & verbally creativeWill readily anticipate the futureTrust inspiration/hunchesFocus on patterns andmeanings in dataEnsures patterns areunderstood, may overlookaccuracy of detail

UCL CAREERSTalking to TypeSensing Give facts, details, instructionsand examplesBe accurate, practical andrealisticBe orderly – show the stepsEmphasise continuation ratherthan radical changeExplain your assumptionsEnsure things work in practiceiNtuition Give the overall picture firstEmphasise future benefits andpossibilitiesDon’t give too much detail,adopt an imaginative approachAllow space for speculation toseek out new ideasEnsure things work in theory

UCL CAREERSHow You Make DecisionsThinkingFeeling

UCL CAREERSTends to see situationsfrom the outside. Wants to helpby fixing the problemTends to see situationsfrom within. Wants to help bybeing empathetic / supportiveTHINKINGFEELING

UCL CAREERSTends to help bypicking out flawsfor improvement firstTHINKINGTends to help byappreciating thepositive firstFEELING

UCL CAREERSThinkingTask orientedSolve problems withlogical reasoningMake decisions onimpersonal criteriaStrive for mutual respectFair – want to treateveryone equallyGood at providing critiqueFeelingPeople orientedEmpathicAssess impact ofdecisions on peopleStrive for harmony andpositive interactionsCompassionate andacceptingFair – want everyonetreated as an individualGood at providing positivefeedback

UCL CAREERSYour Task – Thinking & FeelingYou are the manager of a bakery in a supermarket. One of yourteam, Tina, has been caught stealing cakes. There have beenrumours over the past 6 months that she has been stealing on aregular basis but this is the first time she has been caught. Thestore has a very clear policy on theft – thieves are dismissed.Tina has worked for the shop for 9 months. Herwork to date has been OK.She is 34 years old and the single parent to ason who is 8 years old.What do you do and why?

UCL CAREERSTalking to TypeFeeling Try to establish a rapportbefore getting down tobusinessPresent areas of agreementfirstConsider how it will affect thepeople involvedEncourage them to voicetheir criticismsThinking Try to establish respect andcredibility firstPresent pros and cons,actions and consequencesBe ready to point out theweaknesses of your ownarguments and theirs

UCL CAREERSHow You Organise Yourself / Your WorldJudgingPerceiving

UCL CAREERSJudging/PerceivingStartStartEndEnd

UCL CAREERSPrefers orderand structureJUDGINGPrefers going withthe flowPERCEIVING

UCL CAREERSFeels more comfortableestablishing closureJUDGINGFeels more comfortablemaintaining opennessPERCEIVING

UCL CAREERSJudgingScheduled / structured /organised / methodicalLike to planLike ‘to do’ listsLike completion – decisionsmadeSee ‘play’ as a reward forcompleting workTry to avoid last minute stressesPerceivingSpontaneous / flexible /adaptable / casualOpen-endedLike things loose and open tochangeSee work and play asinterchangeableFeel energised by last-minutepressures

UCL CAREERSTalking to TypeJudging Present your structure and stickto itDon’t spring surprisesFocus on concreteachievements and resultsBe decisive, not ‘wishy-washy’Allow ‘ring-fenced’ opportunityfor opinion formingPerceiving Introduce new information andideasAllow time for explorationBe prepared for things to flowand changeGive a range of optionsDon’t nag them

UCL CAREERSThe versioniNtuitionFeelingPerceiving

UCL CAREERSYour ‘Type’Self-assessed TypeReported TypeBest Fit Type

UCL CAREERSWhy Don’t They Match?Your “self assessed” type and your “reported type”may not match for a number of reasons:The indicator is not infallibleAnswers can by influenced byyour upbringingpressure from societyexpected work behaviourhow you would like to beYou are the best judge!

UCL CAREERSUS Research has Found 75% of the population are Extraverted75% of the population are Sensing66% men are Thinking66% women are FeelingJ/P are equally split amongst the population

UCL CAREERSBy the End of the Session You WillHave A better understanding of your own personalityA better appreciation of those who differ from youInsights into how to use this knowledge to:enhance your team-working skillsenhance your leadership skillssupport your own professional development

Developed by Katherine Briggs (1875-1968) and Isabel Myres (1897-1980) 4000 research papers on MBTI Today 3.5million ‘do’ MBTI annually multinational companies management consultancies public sector organisations business schools counsellors No right or wrong type