Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI)

The Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) provides a framework for people to understand preferences and behaviours.  It can be an effective wayto help people understand why they behave as they do; but equally how they can adapt their behaviour in order to work more effectively with other people.

MBTI for individuals

The MBTI process starts with completing the questionnaire (which doesn’t take long).

The results are then discussed in a feedback session, typically lasting 1.5 – 2 hours.  The discussion includes information about the MBTI framework and at the end of the process the client will have: identified their personal type; gained a deeper understanding of their preferences and behaviours and an insight into how to use that knowledge.

The understanding gained in an MBTI feedback session can be applied on an ongoing basis; can help people adapt their behaviour and approach to meet the needs of others and develop better relationships with colleagues, clients and potential customers.

A conversation about type can inform conversations around leadership, communication, change and career development.

Potential benefits of MBTI For individuals:

• Increasing self-understanding
• Informing personal development plan strategies and aiding career development.
• Facilitating effective communication with others including team members, staff, customers.
• Understanding attitudes to change
• Informing decision making
• Understanding leadership styles
• Relating to each other with greater appreciation
• Avoiding and resolving conflicts
• Supporting people through life transitions
• Providing managers with the understanding to give effective feedback

For a team

Completing MBTI has real benefits in helping team members understand their own behaviour and the behaviour of their colleagues.  It facilitates conversations about working together, resolving conflicts, and importantly, the potential strengths and pitfalls of the team.

The MBTI process Objectives for a team MBTI event would be agreed in advance.  The content and process would then be tailored to suit the needs of the team.

Whatever the final process, it starts with each team member completing the MBTI questionnaire which is then interpreted.

It may be most appropriate to incorporate the feedback element into the team event.   Alternatively, individual feedback meetings lasting approximately 1.5 hours could be conducted prior to the team workshop.

A team event would give an understanding of the MBTI framework.  It would most likely look at the team’s type and its likely strengths and potential pitfalls; and any other elements which will achieve the original objectives set for the workshop.  Ideally the team workshop is linked back into the team’s work objectives, so that the insights from the MBTI workshop can be applied directly to what the team has to deliver.

An MBTI workshop can incorporate many exercises which facilitate learning; making it a fun and participative experience with potentially long-lasting benefits to the team.

Potential benefits of using MBTI with a team:

• Encourage team members to understand and appreciate different strengths
• Relate to each other with greater understanding.
• Appreciate diversity
• Work together more effectively
• Avoid and resolve conflicts
• Identify potential gaps or problems in team behaviour
• Assist in developing communication strategies
• Develop leadership insight
• Inform decision making capabilities
• Improve and change culture
• Vocabulary for understanding and resolving future differences.

If you would like to discuss how Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) can help you or your team then please get in touch.

Jackie provides MBTI support in London, Stevenage, Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire, the Home Counties and the rest of the UK.