The Myers Briggs

Type Indicator
• A personality test – a way to sort, not measure

• Self-administered instrument, voluntary,

• An indicator of preferences, not skill

• Well-researched, used internationally & professionally interpreted

• Not without criticisms (answers change from time to time, doesn’t take into account stress/trauma
etc which shape personality, doesn’t account for personal circumstances like IQ, affluence etc.)

• Advantage: Better self management

Disadvantage: Justification for undesirable behavior

What is the MBTI?

The concept of ‘preference’

“Natural” “Unnatural”
“Easy” “Difficult”
“Quick” “Slower”
“Comfortable” “Awkward”
“Effortless” “Took more Energy”
• Based on Carl Jung’s type theory (1920s)

• Draws on the notion that behavior is individual and predictable

because it is not random – it is informed by consistent
differences in perception and judgment

• Nature vs Nurture Argument. This test assesses the nature part

of the equation.

• Developed by Isabel & Katherine Briggs Myers (mother-

daughter)

History
• How the world is experienced, as determined by ones personality, can be
broadly categorized into 4 parameters

Extraversion Introversion
Where you prefer to get and focus your ‘energy’ or attention

Sensing iNtuition
What kind of information you prefer to gather and trust

Thinking Feeling
What process you prefer to use in coming to decisions

Judging Perceiving
How you prefer to deal with the world around you i.e your ‘lifestyle’

Parameters
E : I Where you prefer to get and focus
your ‘energy’ or attention

Extraversion Introversion

Get energy from the Get energy from the inner

outer environment of environment of
people and experiences reflections and thoughts

Focus energy and Focus energy and

attention outwards in attention inwards in
action reflection
 Extraversion vs Introversion
Do-think-do vs Think-do-think
Action vs Reflection
Talk things through vs Think things through
Expressive vs Contained
Interaction vs Concentration
Breadth of interest vs Depth of interest

Characteristics
S : N The kind of information you prefer
to gather and trust

Sensing iNtuition
Prefer information coming Prefer information coming
from the five senses from association

Focus on what is real Focus on what might be

Value practical applications Value imagination and insight

 Sensing vs iNtuition
Facts vs Ideas
Specifics vs Big picture
Realistic vs Imaginative
Here and now vs Anticipating the future
Practical vs Theoretical
Observant vs Conceptual

Characteristics
 T : F What process you prefer to use
in coming to decisions
Feeling
Thinking
Prefer to make decisions
Prefer to make decisions on the on the basis of values
basis of logic and objectivity and personal convictions

Quick to see errors and Quick to show appreciation and

give a critique find common ground

Step out of situations in

order to analyse dispassionately Step into situations to
weigh human values and
motives
 Thinking vs Feeling
Guided by cause-and-effect
reasoning vs Guided by personal
values
Logical analysis vs
Understand others’ point of view
Seek objective truth vs Seek harmony
Impersonal criteria vs Personal circumstances
Critique vs Praise
Focus on task vs Focus on relationship

Characteristics
J : P How you prefer to deal with the world
around you : your ‘lifestyle’
Judging Perceiving

Prefer to live life in a Prefer to live life in a spontaneous

planned and organised and adaptable manner
manner

Enjoy keeping options open and

Enjoy coming to closure being curious
and being decisive

Feel energised by last-minute

Avoid stressful last-minute pressures
rushes
 Judging vs Perceiving

Planned vs Emergent
Organised vs Flexible
Controlled vs Unconstrained
Structured vs Go with the flow
Scheduled vs Spontaneous

Characteristics
Personalities
Intuitive types
Bring up new possibilities
Anticipate future
Apply insight
Focus on long-term
Feeling types
Assess how others will react
Make exceptions for individuals
Attach importance to values
Aim for harmony
HR implications:
interactions with colleagues
Sensing types
Bring up pertinent facts
Realities of situation
Apply experience
Focus on what needs doing now
Thinking types
Analyse implications
Be consistent
Attach importance to principles
Create logical systems
• https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-te
st

• 12-minute, free test

• Lends insight into your personality type as it applies

to strengths and weaknesses, colleagues,
relationships, parenting, career choices etc.

• Identifies a personality (fictional or non-fictional)

that is the same as yours. Mine is ISTJ (Same as
Hermione Granger or Anthony Hopkins.

• A short video on the personality types:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_RHtgH3oPI

Which one are you?

 SALES MARKETING SUPPLY CHAIN
ESFJ ESTP ENTJ

ESTP ENTP ESTP

ENTJ ENFP INTJ

INTJ ENTJ

ISTP INFJ

Sales , Marketing & SC Types

 ISTJ

Questions?