Personality Matters Blog

Posted 12 December 2017 by
Global Marketing

Confidence, Extraversion & Understanding – What Helps You The Most?

Written in collaboration with John Hackston, Head of Thought Leadership at OPP Politicians are known for their confidence, but sometimes this can get them into hot water (I’m sure that you can think of some recent examples). You can probably think of a time where you saw someone who seemed to use confidence to cover up a lack of ability. But confidence isn’t just important for politicians, as this article by Laura Barton points out. Women tend to be less confident in their abiliti...

Posted 13 March 2017 by
Global Marketing

Showing Appreciation—ENFJ

In this series I’m delving into how each of the 16 types approaches being thankful. If you want to read a little about your own preferences ahead of time, feel free to visit this link: share.themyersbriggs.com/. Today’s type: ENFJ. You likely encourage and show appreciation for others regularly and openly. But remember, some people prefer to be appreciated privately. That description is about the warm and enthusiastic approach often displayed by individuals who prefer ENFJ. Being ...

Posted 22 November 2016 by
Global Marketing

MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / Type Dynamics

Another criticism Patrick Kerwin addressed is that “Jung even said there is no such thing as a pure Introvert.” Patrick (and I) actually agree! We all live in both the extraverted and introverted worlds. And, if you understand type dynamics, we all use a mental process in the extraverted world and a mental process in the introverted world. For example, I have preferences for INFP. I am not an Introvert. Instead, I introvert (I use this word as a verb since I don’t believe in ...

Posted 21 July 2016 by
Global Marketing

Celebrating a 60th Wedding Anniversary—INFP Preferences in Overdrive

The drive over goes by quickly, though at one point the rain and wind at 4,000 feet up is a little scary. Our destination is thankfully much closer to sea level, and by the time we get to the town of Volcano the rain stops. All around us is nothing but green...wet green trees, bushes, and moss. This is my second time to Volcano, and I’m so happy to be back. The driveway to our Airbnb home welcomes us down a curved passageway to finally come to a stop next to the large house. It has been ...

Posted 14 July 2016 by
Global Marketing

Celebrating a 60th Wedding Anniversary—Extraverted Intuition Meets Introverted Sensing

Hawaii (the Big Island) is like no other Hawaiian island. It has so many different landscapes from one part to the next. As we drive along the newly renovated Senator Daniel Inouye Highway, patches of lava rock intermingle with plants and small trees. We pass a few small neighborhoods as well and dream as we see an occasional “For Sale” sign. As soon as we got on a straightaway, I was sure everyone in the back seat will be sound asleep. Instead, we are all wide awake, looking around and not want...

Posted 23 June 2016 by
Global Marketing

Summer Vacation Decision Making—Extraverted Feeling

We explored the Perceiving patterns of mental activity (Se, Si, Ne, Ni) and half of the Judging patterns (Te, Ti) in our search for that perfect summer vacation. It is now time to finish it off with Feeling, starting with extraverted Feeling (Fe), which is about making decisions taking into account how our decisions will affect others. As you decide where you might go for vacation this summer, consider the following Fe questions: What will I do to include the ideas of others who may join us...

Posted 16 June 2016 by
Global Marketing

Summer Vacation Decision Making—Extraverted Thinking

I have spent time in the past several posts highlighting the importance of different ways to take in information (Perceiving). Once that has happened, it’s time to evaluate that information. If this doesn’t happen, then usually nothing gets done, no vacation plans will be made. Evaluating information is about using Thinking and Feeling. Extraverted Thinking (Te) helps us evaluate that information in a logical and objective way. As you think about where you might go for vacation thi...

Posted 14 June 2016 by
Global Marketing

Summer Vacation Decision Making—Introverted Intuition

In my previous post I covered extraverted Intuition. It’s now time to address introverted Intuition (Ni). While there is a similar focus on big-picture possibilities, introverted Intuition most often helps us perceive the big picture as it relates to long-term possibilities. As you think about where you might go for vacation this summer, consider the following Ni questions: What is the most unique and unusual vacation experience I can imagine? What would be a vacation that I would...

Posted 09 June 2016 by
Global Marketing

Summer Vacation Decision Making—Extraverted Intuition

Once you have spent time considering the facts and details during decision making (more about that in our previous blog post here), it’s important to consider the possibilities beyond the “what is.” Extraverted Intuition (Ne) most often helps us consider the possibilities beyond what is right in front of us and what we have learned from the past. As you think about where you might go for vacation this summer, consider the following Ne questions: How can I keep my options o...

Posted 07 June 2016 by
Global Marketing

Summer Vacation Decision Making—Introverted Sensing

Of course, using Sensing plays a huge role in any decision we make regardless of our preferences. In my previous post I covered extraverted Sensing. It’s now time to address introverted Sensing (Si). While it indicates a similar focus on facts and details, introverted Sensing most often perceives those facts and details as they relate to specifics from the past. As you think about where you might go for vacation this summer, consider the following Si questions: Where have I gone on va...

Posted 03 June 2016 by
Global Marketing

Summer Vacation Decision Making—Extraverted Sensing

When I think about the best decisions I have made in my life, it usually comes down to taking a more balanced approach to whatever I’m deciding. That balanced approach often comes easier when we consider using all four of our mental processes (Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, and Feeling) along with the attitudes of each (Extraversion and Introversion). Put that all together and you get the eight MBTI® patterns of mental activity (Se, Si, Ne, Ni, Te, Ti, Fe, Fi). If you want to read more ...

Posted 25 May 2016 by
Global Marketing

Type at the Family Conference Table: Introverted Intuition

Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR INTJs and INFJs, Introverted Intuitive types, tend to be big-picture, well-organized individuals who can bring both qualities to bear as they work toward their goals. They are often known for their uncanny insight and ability to anticipate things before they happen. However, unlike individuals with a preference for Perceiving, who typically are ready to respond to the unexpected and flex to meet new challenges, INTJs and INFJs would rather dimini...

Posted 19 May 2016 by
Global Marketing

Type at the Family Conference Table: Extraverted Sensing

Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR Leaving the hospital is often wrought with anxiety for family members faced with numerous things they must address for the patient. Hospitals are staffed with highly trained and highly attentive teams of caregivers, so the prospect of a loved one leaving the relative's safety with the hospital can be nerve wracking. Even moving from one unit to another within the same hospital is often cause for concern. That said, everyone who enters a hospital ...

Posted 17 May 2016 by
Global Marketing

Type at the Family Conference Table: Extraverted Feeling

Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR The image of a family conference in a hospital is typically one of high emotion, even when no apparent conflict is readily identified.  Physicians might be giving bad news, chaplains might be leading families in prayer, or nurses might be leading children into their mother's room to meet their new sibling; in all cases, lots of people are bringing lots of emotions to bear on a panoply of circumstances. ESFJs and ENFJs, whose favorite mental proces...

Posted 10 May 2016 by
Global Marketing

Type at the Family Conference Table: Extraverted Intuition

Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR People with preferences for ENTP and ENFP are comfortable directing their focus and energy toward the future and what is possible. They generally see potential options, but when they cannot, they often are willing to create them. They can generate a sense of optimism in others due to their natural abilities to see connections and brainstorm different, creative approaches to problem solving. This is exactly what ENTPs’ and ENFPs’ favorite mental functi...

Posted 05 May 2016 by
Global Marketing

Type at the Family Conference Table: Introverted Sensing

Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR As care providers, we are often balancing experience with hope. When our patients are critically ill, we weigh our desire to help them return to normal life against our experience with all the cases we have dealt with in the past—those that had a good outcome and those that did not—and we try to make the best recommendations we can. From a type perspective, there is an intriguing analogy between analyzing data and maintaining hope and our preferences ...

Posted 03 May 2016 by
Global Marketing

Type at the Family Conference Table: Introverted Feeling

Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR In my previous post, we encountered Extraverted Thinking types (ESTJs and ENTJs) who were stressed, upset, and were facing some very hard decisions. Though they are accustomed to and comfortable in the role as decision maker, emotionally charged situations can sometimes inflame their least preferred and least used mental process, Introverted Feeling, creating emotional turmoil. Introverted Feeling types, such as ISFPs and INFPs, are at their best when...

Posted 28 April 2016 by
Global Marketing

Type at the Family Conference Table: Extraverted Thinking

Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR In my previous post I discussed how I’ve found type to be a useful tool for working with individuals who need to make difficult decisions or who are in conflict. When discussing matters such as whether to continue aggressive interventions or consider more palliative approaches, or when disclosing bad news (e.g., a new life-limiting diagnosis, an unsuccessful surgery, a medical error or medication mistake, or an unanticipated injury or death)...

Posted 26 April 2016 by
Global Marketing

Type at the Family Conference Table

Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR Strewn throughout hospitals are conference rooms primarily devoted to provider-patient discussions.  No, that is not entirely accurate—providers meet their patients bedside.  So, it is more precise to say that these meeting spaces are used by providers meeting with family members.  They are meeting with family members probably because their patients are too sick to participate in the decisions about their health, and the people wh...

Posted 19 April 2016 by
Global Marketing

16 Types in the Workplace—ENTJ

So often I see people with preferences for ENTJ and ESTJ looking so similar and then so different. People with preferences for ENTJ have the ability to cut to the chase and a get-it-done approach to solving problems, but they tend to like to tackle those problems in a new and innovative way. Their favorite mental process, extraverted Thinking (Te), helps them get to an objectively logical conclusion. This favorite process is backed up by their second favorite process, introverted Intuition (Ni),...

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