MBTI® Criticism
Global Marketing
Time has just flown by—I’m at the last breakout session of the day. Aidan Millar is sharing ideas on how to answer criticism of the MBTI® assessment. Usually when people criticize the MBTI tool they don’t really know what it does and does not do. Aidan did a nice job of clarifying how to deal with such criticism, focusing on reputation, refinement, and relevance. When it comes to reputation, the MBTI tool is the most widely used personality tool in the world. Most Fortune 100 companies use it.
I’ve been fortunate enough to see first-hand the valuable difference the MBTI tool can make. This is backed up by good reliability—as measured by the percentage of people who take the assessment getting similar results when they take it again. Those of us who know this tool know that when people get different results the second time, it is likely because they reported “slight” preference clarity the first time. This type of measurement error exists with any instrument. That’s why the MBTI assessment itself is just a part of the process, albeit an important part.
Aiden talked about the appropriate use of the MBTI tool and how it can lead to profound understanding of ourselves and others. Further, the continuing research on the MBTI tool keeps it current and appropriate for a variety of populations. Next she talked about the return on investment the MBTI tool has brought to various types of organizations.
I find that criticism of the MBTI tool isn’t necessarily a bad thing—any instrument we use should be challenged. The MBTI tool is not perfect, and it does not solve every problem. Individuals are much more than a four-letter type. However, if through using the MBTI tool we can gain some understanding around how people take in information and make decisions, then we have met our goal.
Want to read more about my experience at the 2015 MBTI® Users Conference? Check out my last blog series: