Posted by Morag Barrett | November 12, 2012What’s Your MBTI Type?Last week I started my MBTI series with a brief introduction on the origins of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator.  This week we are going to dive a little deeper into each of the four dichotomies that comprise the Myers Briggs Type Indicator.Before we move on I do want to clarify that we each use elements of the eight dichotomies but have a preference for one in each area, just as we have a natural preference for using one hand rather than the other. No preference pole is better or more desirable than it’s opposite. The MBTI instrument is not a measure of your skills or abilities in any area. Rather it is a way to help you become aware of your particular style and to better understand and appreciate the helpful ways that people differ from one another.  What we find is that as we get older and more experienced we are better able to, and recognize when we need to flex our style and use our non preferred preference.A quick demonstration:  Cross your arms, and take note of which hand is on top.  Now recross your arms and put that hand underneath.My guess is that it will have taken you a few attempts to successfully cross your arms ‘the wrong way”, that you had to concentrate, and that it feels awkward.  If you shake your arms out and recross them, chances are you return to your “preferred and most comfortable” way of doing so. This is a very simple demonstration that may help you to understand MBTI and why, in a given set of circumstances I might react one way, and you another.Want to take the MBTI?If you are curious to learn more and to take the online Myers Briggs Type Indicator for yourself, or with your team, then please contact me.  I will send the log in information and schedule a debrief conversation with you.Identifying Your MBTI preferencesAs you read through each description think about which may best describe you.  As you work through the information this will lead to your four letter MBTI type. I strongly recommend that you take the official MBTI tool to determine your true preferences and MBTI type.  The four dichotomies are:Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I): differentiates people who direct their energy primarily outward toward other people and events from people who direct their energy primarily inward toward their inner environment, thoughts, and experiences.Sensing (S) or Intuition (N): differentiates people who take in information primarily through the five senses and immediate experience from people who take in information primarily through hunches and impressions and are more interested in future possibilities. Thinking (T) or Feeling (F): differentiates people who make decisions primarily based on logic and objectivity from people who make decisions primarily based on personal values and the effects their decisions will have on others. Judging (J) or Perceiving (P): differentiates people who prefer structure, plans, and achieving closure quickly from those who prefer flexibility, spontaneity, and keeping their options open. What’s Your MBTI Personality Type?Once your personal preference in each area is identified you have a code with four letters e.g. ENTP or ISTJ.  What is your type?  Mine is ENTP (Extraversion, Intuition, Thinking, Perceiving). The 16 personality types of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® instrument are often shown in what is called a “type table.”ISTJISFJINFJINTJISTPISFPINFPINTPESTPESFPENFPENTPESTJESFJENFJENTJIf you are unsure which set of descriptions best reflects your preferences then I would strongly recommend taking the official MBTI tool! Over the next few weeks I will share more information on each of the sixteen types, and a brief insight as to how this may impact you in the workplace, as well as answers to the common questions I am asked about MBTI, type and it’s implications and applications in the workplace.Please contact me if you have specific questions you would like to have answered or post your comments and questions below.® MBTI, Myers-Briggs, Myers Briggs, and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Trust in the United States and other countriesRelated ArticlesTags »leadership development denverleadership training coloradoMBTIMyers Briggs Share1