Understanding myself and others using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator

1. Understanding myself and others using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator Presenter: Terena Solomons B.A Grad Dip Lib Sc Certified administrator of MBTI

2. Today’s Agenda... • Aims and Objectives • History of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) • Theory of the 4 scales of the MBTI • Self Estimate of what personality type you are • Interactive fun 'splitting exercises' • Teaching & Learning styles of personality types • Personality Types and Librarianship

3. Aims and Objectives At the end of this personal development session you will… • Have an understanding of what the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is and how it can assist us in gaining a greater understanding of ourselves and others • Discover that people communicate and make decisions about things in different ways • Understand how our personality type preferences can influence our learning styles, career choices and what inspires us.

4. So what is the MBTI anyway? The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a tool or framework for understanding our own Personality Type and that of others. • It's a self-report questionnaire - it's an indicator not a test so there are no right or wrong answers • Looks at normal behaviour • It identifies preferences rather than competencies, abilities or skills • No Personality Type is better or worse - each has its own gifts • Used for team building, career guidance, leadership and management.

5. History of the MBTI • Was developed by Katherine C Briggs and her daughter Isabel Myers • Started in 1920’s and after a rigorous research, validity and reliability testing it was published in 1975 • Translated into 16 languages and taken by over 2 million people per year • is based on the work of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung who described personality type preferences.

6. Signature Exercise Sign your name a piece of paper… Now change hands and sign your name!

7. The 4 scales of the MBTI How we channel Energy Extraversion Introversion How we take in Information Sensing Intuition How we make decisions Thinking Feeling Our lifestyle (orientation to external world) Judging Perceiving

8. Extraversion and Introversion E - I Refers to the direction we focus our attention and energy

9. People who prefer Extraversion… Focus their energy and attention outwardly Are interested in the world of people and things Receive energy from interacting with people and from taking action People who prefer Introversion… Focus their energy and attention inwardly Are interested in the world of thoughts and reflections Receive energy from within themselves We all live in both worlds (use both preferences) but not equally well or easily

10. EPeople who prefer Extraversion... • Are aware of who and what is around them • Are energised by interacting with people • Enjoy meeting and talking with new people • Are friendly, verbally skilled and easy to get to know • Speak out easily and often at meetings

11. IPeople who prefer Introversion... • Are energised from time-out and reflection • Have to make an effort to meet new people • Hold back at meetings and often have trouble getting involved • Are often quiet, reserved and hard to get to know

12. People who prefer Extraversion...(Continued) • Are bored and restless if they’re alone too long • Do their thinking as they speak • Prefer to communicate by talking • Work out ideas by talking them through • Tell you all about themselves very rapidly • Have broad interests • Readily take initiative in work & relationships • Can seem shallow and intruding to Introverts

13. People who prefer Introversion...(Continued) • Become drained and tired with people (particularly strangers) • Need time to gather their thoughts before speaking • Prefer to communicate in writing • Work out ideas by reflecting on them • Are often difficult to get to know • Focus in depth on their interests • Take initiative when the situation or issue is very important to them • Can seem withdrawn and secretive to Extraverts

14. Extraversion E Action Breadth Expressive Interaction Multiple relationships Do-think-do Introversion I Reflection Depth Quiet Concentration Deep friendships Think-Do-Think Some Key Words associated with...

15. We all do Extraverted and Introverted things… However we do not do them equally well… Each of us has a Preference for one over the other..

16. Given the choice which do you prefer?Extraversion or IntroversionHow clear are you about your preference?E ? IClear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

18. People who prefer Sensing… Prefer to take in information using their 5 senses - sight, sound, feel, smell and taste Detail’s people S’s can see the trees but not the forest People who prefer iNtuition… Go beyond what is real or concrete and focus on meanings, associations and relationships Big Picture people N’s can see the forest but not the trees We all use both preferences in taking in Information but not equally well or as easily

19. SPeople who prefer Sensing... • Oriented to present realities • Are practical and realistic • Start at the beginning and take 1 step at a time • Are specific and literal when thinking, writing and listening • Live in the present, dealing with the here and now • Trust experience • Prefer reality to fantasy

20. NPeople who prefer iNtuition... • Oriented to future possibilities • Are imaginative and inventive • Start anywhere and leap over basic steps • Speak and write in general, abstract terms • Focus on the future, imagining what could be • Trust inspiration • Prefer fantasy to reality

21. People who prefer Sensing...(Continued) • Like to work with the parts to see the overall design • Like set procedures, established routines and historical precedents to guide them • Observe and remember specifics • Work thoroughly step by step towards conclusions • Understand ideas and theories through practical applications • Can seem materialistic and too literal to N’s

22. People who prefer iNtuition...(Continued) • Study the overall design to see how the parts fit • Thrive on change, new ideas and variety • Prefer imaginative new solutions to problems, often becoming impatient with details • Move quickly to conclusions, follow hunches • Can seem impractical dreamers to S’s

25. Sensing S Facts Realistic Specific Present Down-to-earth Practical What is iNtuition N Ideas Conceptual General Future Head-in-clouds Theoretical What could be Some Key Words associated with...

26. We all use Sensingand iNtuitionwhen making taking in information… However we do not do them equally well… Each of us has a Preference for one over the other..

27. Given the choice which do you prefer?Sensing or iNtuitionHow clear are you about your preference?S ? NClear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

29. People who prefer Thinking… Make their decisions based on impersonal, objective logic Mentally remove themselves from a situation to examine pros and cons People who prefer Feeling… Make their decisions based on a person-centred, value-based process Mentally placed themselves into the situation to identify with everyone so as to make decisions Both processes are based on reason. We use both of them, but not equally well or easily

30. TPeople who prefer Thinking... • Decide things using logic • Focus on the facts and principles • Don’t take their emotions or those of others into account • Are good at analysing a situation • Concentrate on people’s thoughts not feelings

31. FPeople who prefer Feeling... • Decide things using their own personal values • Focus on the personal values of people and organisations • Don’t like focussing on impersonal principles • Are good at understanding people and their viewpoints • Concentrate on people’s feelings not thoughts

32. People who prefer Thinking...(Continued) • Take a long term view, seeing things as an on-looker • Are good at spotting flaws and inconsistencies and stating them bluntly • Value and trust logic when making decisions • Fair - want everyone treated equally • May seem cold and condescending to F’s

33. People who prefer Feeling...(Continued) Take an immediate and personal view of situations Like to show appreciation and caring for others Have difficulty telling people unpleasant things Believe relationships and harmony are important Value and trust own feelings when making decisions Fair - want everyone treated as an individual May seem over-emotional and irrational to T’s

34. Thinking T Head Distant Just Objective Criticise Analytical Tough-minded Feeling F Heart Personal Fair Subjective Praise Empathetic Tender-hearted Some Key Words associated with

35. We all use Thinkingand Feelingpreferences when making decisions… However we do not do them equally well… Each of us has a Preference for one over the other..

36. Given the choice which do you prefer?Thinking or FeelingHow clear are you about your preference?T ? FClear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

38. People who prefer Judging… Like to live in a planned, orderly way Like to make decisions, come to closure and then move on Lives tend to be structured and organised People who prefer Perceiving… Like to live in a flexible,spontaneous way seeking to experience life Final decisions feel confining to them Prefer to stay open to new information and last-minute options We all use both preferences but not equally well or easily

39. JPeople who prefer Judging... • Like to make plans and follow them • Prefer to get things settled and finished • Prefer environments with structure • Enjoy being decisive and organising others • Handle deadlines and time limits well • Don’t like surprises - have a contingency • Plan ahead to avoid last minute rushes

40. PPeople who prefer Perceiving... • Adapt well to changing situations and like to respond resourcefully • Prefer to leave things open and are flexible • May not like making decisions, even when pressed - leave options open for more info. • High tolerance for surprises - adjust to arising situations • Feel energised by last-minute pressures

41. People who prefer Judging...(Continued) • Like getting to the bottom line quickly and deciding things straight away • Dislike being interrupted on a project, even for a more urgent one • May make decisions too quickly or cling to a plan • Are comfortable with routine • May seem rigid, demanding and inflexible to P’s

42. People who prefer Perceiving...(Continued) • Want to explore all options before deciding • May start too many projects and have difficulty finishing them • May have trouble making decisions • May postpone unpleasant tasks • Uncomfortable with routine • May seem disorganised and irresponsible to J’s

45. Judging J Organised Scheduled Now Closure Methodical Plan Make short & long-term plans Perceiving P Flexible Spontaneous Later Options Open-ended Wait Adapt and change course as needed Some Key Words associated with

46. We all use Judging and Perceiving as part of our lifestyles However we do not do them equally well… Each of us has a Preference for one over the other..

47. Given the choice which do you prefer?Judging or PerceivingHow clear are you about your preference?J ? PClear Moderate Slight Slight Moderate Clear

48. When combined your preferences indicate your Preference Type E or I S or N T or F J or P eg ESTP, INTJ, ENFP, INTJ etc

49. Tie-breaking rule for if you can’t decide ... ie if you’ve placed an X in the middle • If E = I then write I • If S = N then write N • If T = F then write F • If J = P then write P

50. The Type Table