Myers-Briggs Blog Articles

Charity team handles switch to remote work using MBTI insights

In this episode of The Myers-Briggs Company Podcast, we’re joined by Catherine Ellwood. Catherine Ellwood is an Occupational Psychologist with over 18 years’ experience in people development.

Talent selection, remote working, and psychological safety are among the topics covered on the Start, Scale, Grow podcast with consulting psychologist Cameron Nott

Leaders need to be able to motivate their people—but how? In this extract from Psychology of Leadership, Lucy Bellec explores the complexities of motivation

New research from The Myers-Briggs Company shares how MBTI^® personality type affects views on sustainability and environmentally-focused organizations.

Season 3 of the podcast! In episode 1, chartered occupational psychologist Melissa Hill dives deep into well-being and resilience.

Part 4/4: Can the TKI model help with internal conflict? Ralph H. Kilmann, co-author of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI^®), shows which mode works best

In hierarchical workplace environments like those found in the healthcare industry, leadership and communication skills can often be overlooked as a determinant of patient care in favor of processes, resource allocation and effi-ciency of operational systems.

Part 3/4: Using a Big Picture model, Ralph H. Kilmann, co-author of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI^®), shows how to evaluate and manage conflict

Part 2/4: Ralph H. Kilmann, co-author of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI®), tries alternative TKI questions to get the true picture about the avoiding culture in organizations

New case study shows role of MBTI^® self-awareness in organizational reform

What are cultural norms and how do they affect how people manage conflict? Get in-depth insights from Ralph H. Kilmann, co-author of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI^®), on the nuances of using and interpreting the TKI instrument in this blog.

Managers have a lot on their plate – from exceeding customer expectations to taking care of their employees. This blog explains how sales and operations managers at Australia Post improved company success by using the MBTI personality assessment to build trust and collaboration.

How can you take the famous Myers Briggs test online? Is it the same as the MBTI test? Learn more here.

Can you be an extraverted Introvert? What’re the differences between Introverts? Do ambiverts exist? Does Introversion look different in different cultures? In honor of World Introvert Day, listen to this podcast episode that dives into Introversion in-depth with MBTI expert and chartered psychologist John Hackston.

What is the MBTI Step II and what are facets? Learn more about uncovering the DNA of personality type in this blog.

Why introverts can be louder than you expect.

Learn where interests and personality type combine to improve career planning.

If people think ability is innate, it could be holding them back.

How to decide if and when to include personality assessments in the selection process.

New research sends clear message to team leaders

What're the psychological factors that contribute to great leadership? How is active self-awareness helpful to leaders? Listen to this episode with leadership expert and business psychology consultant Cameron Nott to learn more.

Business psychology experts weigh in on leadership and people development in organizations.

Our consultants share the workplace trends and topics they’re hearing about.

What’s the best way to approach career transitions? How are these transitions different during early, mid and end career stages? Listen to this podcast for all things career.

Effective conflict management is a pillar of high-performing organizations.

There are many psychological factors that affect team success. This article helps managers and leaders understand how those factors affect performance – and why the MBTI personality assessment is one of the best opportunities for growth.

How does your MBTI personality type affect your parenting style? What’s the best way to parent a child who has different personality preferences from yours? Listen to this episode of The Myers-Briggs Company Podcast to find out!

In the workplace, there are hidden elements that can make or break team success. This blog post helps managers and leaders understand the importance of team orientation – and the role inclusive leadership plays in boosting it.

At work, there are hidden elements that can make or break team success. This blog post helps managers and leaders understand how inclusion – and inclusive leadership – cultivates the trust and psychological safety that teams need to be effective.

New research explores team performance, job satisfaction, and the role of personality type

The CPI 260 assessment enables HR and talent development professionals to find and develop high-potential employees, making it an essential tool for your investment in employee training and development.

What are the biggest challenges people face working across cultures? Listen to this episode of The Myers-Briggs Company Podcast with Frank Garten, cross-cultural expert and global leadership trainer to learn how to mitigate cultural challenges and improve communication.

In this post we explore practical strategies for improving team communication and recommend tips to improve how team members interact on the job.

How micro habits are key to the environmental mission of our new charity partner, Take 3 for the Sea

In the ever-evolving landscape of HR and training and development, organizations are recognizing the significance of assessments in unlocking individual and team potential. Among these assessments, the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation™ (FIRO^®) assessment stands out as a powerful tool for team development and leadership growth.

At the beginning of this year, The Myers-Briggs Company was notified of multiple awards it had won from various agencies, recognizing our excellence and effort in areas from psychometric testing and measurement to social and environmental impact as an organization.

In this post, based on an interview with Myers-Briggs Professional Services Principal Consultant and Depth Psychologist Dr. Marta Koonz, we discuss communication in teams, the psychological needs of teams, and their impact on collaboration.

In this episode of The Myers-Briggs Company Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Marta Koonz, Principal Consultant for The Myers-Briggs Company, as she walks us through insights around using psychological needs to better work relationships and improve teamwork.

What can you do with an MBTI certification? Learn more about popular applications of the MBTI tool like leadership and team development, and why becoming an MBTI certified practitioner could be your best professional investment.

See the latest news coverage of The Myers-Briggs Company personality assessments and articles featuring our in-house experts and psychologists, including links to all third-party sites.

Why well-being is crucial to employee and organizational performance

How stress and personality type affect leader’s risk tolerance & decision-making

Strong 244 gives career guidance professionals more options when helping people find a career

The Myers-Briggs Company has released the new Strong Interest Inventory^® 244 career assessment with new features and predicted satisfaction scores.

How do essential skills help organizations adapt to uncertainty and disruptive change?

Here’re the articles you might have missed in the news in 2022 about the MBTI assessment and research from The Myers-Briggs Company.

Working from home presents both opportunities and challenges. A basic understanding of interpersonal needs from the perspective of the FIRO-B^® assessment can provide insights that can lead to a deeper understanding of your own interpersonal needs and those of your team.

There are three types of conflict that people experience at work. Fortunately, HR professionals, leadership consultants, and executive coaches can help leaders and employees improve their conflict resolution skills with the FIRO-B^® assessment.

Learn more about The Myers-Briggs Company's charity partnership with San Francisco Achievers

What is human synchronization and why is it important for learning and development trainers, consultants and coaches to consider?

How can MBTI personality type help strengthen relationships? Do people with the same type get along better? Listen to this episode of The Myers-Briggs Company Podcast to find out!

The world has been flattened by technology and working across county and cultural borders is now the norm. But can you use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment across borders? Here’s what you should know.

Where did the MBTI assessment and The Myers-Briggs Company pop up in the news last year? Check out these top articles…

Technology developments increasingly blur the work-life divide. But what’s the impact on employees? Is it always negative?

New research and data shows how different personality types approach conflict. But what does it mean for Introverted types?

Research shows that Introverted types handle conflict differently that those preferring Extraversion. Here’s how…

Awareness of different approaches to conflict could help multi-generational workforces understand each other and work together better.

With increased stress and changing workplaces, burnout is on the rise. Hear from one of the leading experts in the field of workplace burnout to learn all about why companies keep getting it wrong when it comes to employee burnout.

Humans learn and grow all the time. But what about someone’s personality? Can your personality type change?

4 min read. If you’re in human resources, have a learning and development position, or are an independent trainer or consultant in these areas, you probably know the value of planned training and development initiatives for your employees. But when economies slow and budgets tighten, the training and development budget is often one of the first things to be cut. Why? Compared to manufacturing, sales, and other revenue generating parts of the business, many leaders have a hard time recogni...

Is lack of conflict a sign of dysfunction? And what do people feel about conflict today?

Career expert and coach Julie Gross shares her tips for finding a career with purpose in this episode of The Myers-Briggs Company Podcast.

The easiest way to run a conflict management workshop for a team is now here. Meet the new TKI^® Team Report.

Learn the types and causes of conflict to be better prepared in how you manage conflict

Paying closer attention to employee needs is the way to make remote, in-office, and hybrid teams function better.

Conflict can be positive. New data and tips help you learn how to manage it.

If conflict management is something you dread, here’s how to start turning it around.

How does a skincare giant smooth out the wrinkles of organizational change?

Dr. Martin Boult shares his expertise on leadership and connection in this episode of The Myers-Briggs Company Podcast.

In 2021, The Myers Briggs Company began an 18-month partnership with San Francisco Achievers as part of our B Corp charity partnership program.

What is change management and why does it matter for organizations?

What should leaders be aware of about these well-known personality differences?

How can conflict management save organizations money?

The Myers-Briggs Company is launching a new podcast about psychology, personality, work life, and how to get the best from life.

If not, you might be part of a hybrid strategy that’s about to fail.

As employees return to the office, they’re expecting more flexibility in their social contracts with employers. How can HR help?

How FIRO helps people to build trust in their relationships, improve morale and reduce stress in the workplace.

Change is inevitable. And as the hybrid workplace becomes a new normal for many organizations, it brings specific benefits and challenges to managing uncertainty and successfully implementing change initiatives.

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated...

The Myers-Briggs Company stands with Ukraine and its people and continues to denounce the acts of aggression from the Russian Government to overtake that country.

Is it possible to get the best of both worlds with hybrid work?

HR professionals get insight into team dynamics, individual strengths and more with potential leaders when using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment.

The last two years have caused a major shift in how we work. And for some, it's been an Introvert's paradise. Here's what all managers and Introverted employees should know to work at their best...

Home Alone. A Christmas Story. It’s a Wonderful Life. What do all these movies have in common (aside from taking place during the holiday season)? Stressful situations! While this time of year can be fun, festive and a great time to catch up on sleep, for many people it also brings undesired stress from lack of time, to the pressure to give gifts, to travel and burnout from holiday parties (especially social burnout for those with preferences for Introversion). And all the hustle and bust...

How can personality assessments like the MBTI tool help teams work together more effectively and understand each other better?

Dr. Quenk had an immense passion for helping people to better understand themselves and appreciate differences in others.

Personality assessments like the Myers-Briggs tool help your company maintain a reliable system for developing high potential (aka HiPo) employees.

Adapt your one-on-one interactions be a better virtual leader...

Pride has many meanings for many people. For me Pride is about embracing and honoring all our differences – from my MBTI® personality type (INFP which is only 6% of the global sample) to being a Hispanic gay male approaching his sixties, to all in the Queer community who stand for “equality for all” now and for the generations to come.

The Myers-Briggs Company stands for celebrating diversity of personality types, perspectives, and backgrounds. This month of June is Pride Month in the US and June 28th is Pride Day in the UK.

Do you know what the difference is between team building and team development? The phrases are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same. Here’s what HR practitioners and leaders should know…

Let's look at the facts when it comes to trusting the framework and the results of the Myers-Briggs personality assessment...

Well-being has become a priority for organizational leaders and HR experts. And it's put leaders at an interesting juncture. Here's why...

Governance to a business is like the inner cogs to a clock - it's the parts and pieces of how the business operates. In this blog, CEO Jeff Hayes discusses the importance of governance from the perspective of a Certified B Corporation®. 

The surge in racist and violent attacks against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community is shocking and terrible.

The topic of personality assessment (especially Myers-Briggs Type Indicator^®, or MBTI^®, personality types) sparks immense enthusiasm from supporters around the world as well as a fair share of criticism from skeptics.

How does employee well-being affect your company's success? Read these seven ways happy employees can mean better company performance. 

Nothing is beyond criticism, and the MBTI assessment is no exception. Here're some resources you might not know about when it comes to addressing skeptics of this powerful tool. 

Our research department has teamed up with Marcus by Goldman Sachs®  to help uncover what your personality says about your financial management...

Leadership coach Margaret Quane shares her experience getting MBTI certified through the virtual training course offered by The Myers-Briggs Company.

The author of 5 Dysfunctions of a Team shares his insights on the MBTI assessment for individual and team development...

The Myers-Briggs Company Stands for Democracy

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on people’s lives, both at home and at work. This report describes the results of a survey into the relationship of MBTI personality type and other factors to feelings, concerns and attitudes to the pandemic, and to working during the pandemic.

After a hard, contentious election season in the US and what seemed a long and stressful time waiting for the results, let's focus on a win: the largest voter turnout in history!

Response from Rich Thompson, PhD, Sr. Director of Research to the article in Psychology Today by Adam Grant

Jeri Bingham hosts the Hush Loudly podcast on WGN Radio in Chicago. Her podcast interviews a myriad of successful people who have preferences for Introversion about their experiences in their life and work. Recently, Jeri hosted a panel for the Chicago State Foundation titled “Leading While Black and Introverted” and The Myers-Briggs Company’s Dr. Rachel Cubas-Wilkinson was started by laying the foundation for understanding personality type and Introversion. “People with...

The lockdown caused by the Covid-19 virus has forced most organizations into a place that has many similarities with downsizing. How do these layoffs and furloughs affect employees that remain working?

You've probably heard of the golden rule? With personality insight, you now need the platinum rule...

What can self-awareness in your company's leaders contribute to organizational success? 

We know we can do better. We stand firmly in support of #equality and racial and social #justice. Read more from our CEO...

The conversation over work-life balance began in the middle of the Industrial Revolition. After so much time and money spent, how do so many companies still get it wrong?

Organizational psychologists and business leaders were asked about top tools for the organization. Here's what they had to say...

What's the key ingredient to team collaboration? This second piece on leadership will show you...

In our ever-changing worlds, is your personality permanent? 

Are those at the top strained more than everyone else?

What new information are we getting about air pollution when so many are sheltering-in-place?

Tips for managers and leaders about trust in a virtual organization...

How to do improve relationships - workplace or otherwise? By following this one rule...

Here's what one of our resident psychologists recommends for working at home...

Tips for working from home...

A new way to unlock the power of personality differences in organizations...

How openness and predictability make teams more effective...

Every organization has leaders. But how self-aware are your leaders? Here's why you should care...

Every organization has leaders. But how self-aware are your leaders? Here's why you should care...

How to find and develop the right person for the right job [webinar]

We asked a few different experts what their best advice was for managers and leaders who prefer Introversion. Here's what they had to say...

What does Harvard Business Review say is the "first commandment of leadership"?

January 2nd is World Introvert Day, and we at The Myers-Briggs Company are focusing on what our research tells us about Introverts in leadership. 

What if you feel like you have both Extraverted and Introverted preferences? Are you an ambivert?

What can ping pong strategy teach you about workplace communication? 

Remote work and virtual teams are becoming a norm for organizations. But most companies weren't set up that way. Here's how you make virtual work work for your workplace. 

With the advance of technology, how teams in organizations work in the modern world has shifted. Read about the changing shape of teams, Google's Project Aristotle and what's proven most important for teams to succeed.

Despite many people's belief in their self-awareness, there's a lack of it. Here are a few steps to assess, build and improve self-awareness throughout your organization. 

What does motivation have to do with effective team work and behavior? A lot, it turns out. Learn more about interpersonal needs and how they affect relationships and team interactions. 

"I took a personality test to assess my leadership potential and it was freakishly accurate..."

Only a third of employees are engaged at work. How can you help to motivate your people better? By learning a little about psychology and personality type. 

Oprah’s daily reset, self-awareness as performance superfood, psychological safety and more learnings from ATD 2019 

New research shows higher employee well-being is in line with better company performance

Organizational culture (company culture) is the way that people within that organization behave and what those people mean when they do those behaviors. And as managers and leaders, you shape and transmit the company culture. Your behaviors reinforce company culture much more than vision and values statements do. Leaders are especially important in this because they have most influence in shaping and transmitting the ‘real’ culture (informal, perceived, understood). This is not ne...

Most people want their businesses to grow. Or at least their bottom line to grow. But there’s an important part of business growth that’s often overlooked – change. Learn more about the psychology of change and how it affects your workforce, as well as about the complimentary Psychology of Change events happening in your area. 

The nature of work is changing. Rapidly. And certain soft skills and characteristics will be at a premium in the workforce of the future. Read more about these forecasts and how certain personality-oriented characteristics, instead of technical competence, will be crucial to successful performance.

You may have heard or read things about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator^® (MBTI^®) assessment that cause you to question its validity. Here, we’ll address some of the most common criticisms and misconceptions, and answer some common questions about the assessment.

This article originally appeared on the Center for Association Leadership website. Assertiveness is both valued and lamented in contemporary business culture. Whether assertiveness is a vice or virtue, it can be used as a highly calculated tool for specific situations. For association executives, assertiveness can play a two-faced role. As an organizational attitude, it can be alienating to members, but the skill can also be invaluable for advocating on behalf of members and one’s industr...

In my last post we talked about how different types innovate in different ways, and are at their best during different phases (a la Damian Killen in Type and Innovation) of the innovation process. Those preferring NP tend to be better at the “discover” phase, and are great at generating ideas; Those preferring NJ excel in the “decide” phase, and apply their innovative skills to choosing the right direction and developing a strategy for making it happen; people who prefer ...

By Sherrie Haynie, Director of US Professional Services We’d all like to think of ourselves as ‘innovative’, wouldn’t we? At its core, being innovative involves somehow being able to come up with original ideas and apply them in ways that have some benefit, either for ourselves or for someone else. It’s certainly pertinent to your career and livelihood, but it just as equally at play in all aspects of live, whether it be redesigning your house, managing your money r...

Have you wondered if your Myers-Briggs personality type influences your well-being at work? Or does your type influence how you improve your well-being? To help answer these questions, we've put together an international research project investigating well-being at work and the MBTI assessment. And we're asking for your help. To participate in the survey, you need to 1) know your verified MBTI personality type, 2) be currently employed, and 3) have 15 minutes to spend answering a few...

As I sit down to write this story on how the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) tool can help us deal with stress during the interview process, I can’t help but feel a bit stressed myself. I need to get ready for a workshop later this week. Each time I’ve attempted to sit down and prepare this morning, my brain has filled up with a litany of other things to which I need to attend. My plate is plenty full, and yet I keep adding more portions to it. Then, I realize that so much of h...

In my previous blog, I discussed how you can leverage your preferences for either introversion or extraversion – preferences based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) – to present an authentic version of yourself during a job interview. Today, I’ll dive a little deeper and talk about how to leverage the other aspects of your personality type to improve your odds of getting a job that is an excellent fit for you. Before I begin, it’s important to remember the conc...

I remember my first job interview. It was a long time ago. I was very young and had yet to learn how to be true to myself. I was trying to get a job for the summer in between undergraduate and graduate school, and remember thinking to myself: “Answer how they [my interviewers] want you to answer, no matter what.” I got that job, and at first I was thrilled. Once I began to do the work, however, I hated it. I couldn’t wait for the summer to end! What could I have done better?...

This article originally appeared in HRZone. You may read the same article on the original publishing website here.  Do you know what it takes to create a productive team? According to research published in the Harvard Business Review, a workplace characterized by positive and “virtuous” practices is able to form a productive team. Such practices, the report went on to say, include caring for your colleagues as friends, treating one another with gratitude, respect, trust and inte...

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...

Which books about the MBTI assessment and type have had the biggest impact on practitioners? We posted this question on the LinkedIn group of MBTI certified professionals a while ago to discover the titles that had most impressed and inspired practitioners or been a key support in their work with the MBTI assessment. Twenty books rose to the top of the piles. Here are the second set of ten (in no particular order - you can find the first ten in our April post) with comments from the individua...

The holidays are just around the corner. The music, decorations, food, smiles on people’s faces, and gifts (giving and receiving!), all make this season special. I love this time of year. Of course how people prefer to celebrate this season can differ quite a bit, and one way it differs depends on where they find themselves on the Traditional-Original MBTI® Step II™ facet. This facet is about the approach to traditions in the social context. People who have the preference for traditional tend th...

Second to last for the Sensing-Intuition preference pair facets are Experiential and Theoretical. These facets "emphasize the process by which we derive knowledge or meaning from our perceptions." (MBTI Step II Manual, page 24. As a reminder, the order of these Sensing-Intuition facets goes Concrete—Abstract, Realistic—Imaginative, Practical—Conceptual, Experiential—Theoretical, and Traditional—Original. Whenever I travel, I usually like to experience something new and different…something I w...

While delivering a training program recently, I was getting excited about the “miracle” of the theory behind personality type. I felt like I was in my wheelhouse expounding on the power of type and the implications of these ideas. As explained in the MBTI® Step II™ Manual, “[Conceptual people (like me)] are not content…just to make inferences. Inferences give birth to ideas, and ideas are what excite them” (p. 30). I was brought back to reality when a pa...

This article was originally written for Training Magazine and appeared on their website October 4th, 2017. To read the article on the original website, click here.  In managing stress, the big first step is recognizing how you tend to act under stress. Once you recognize what it looks like for you—and consequently for those you work with—you’re empowered to manage it. Stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when it’s sustained, it can be debilitating. It affects our ability to regulate our...

A colleague came into my office one day and asked me, “Why would someone send another person flowers?” I was a bit surprised by the question. She continued, “They seem like such a waste. I mean, they are really expensive and they are going to die.” I thought about it for a minute, not sure at first how to respond. I love to send and receive flowers, so I tried to explain that the cost and short life span of such a gift are not the point. Clearly not getting my message across very well, I deci...

Mike A., a Sr. OD Consultant at a Fortune 10 company, shares his perspective on attending the CPI 260® Certification course and why he wanted to add the CPI 260 instrument to his development toolkit. “In my world, I coach people who are high potentials. Individual contributors who’ve been seen by executives as future leaders – they can be first line managers, directors, etc. One thing about the CPI 260 is you can get the same kind of data [that you’d get f...

New research lead by the CPP Asia Pacific office in Australia reveals personality type plays a role in workplace well-being. The study—Well-being and MBTI® Personality Type in the Workplace—investigates how differences in well-being are influenced by personality type, gender, age, geography, occupation, and activities. “Research shows that higher well-being of workers adds to a company’s bottom line,” said Martin Boult, Sr. Director of Professional Services and International Training at CPP A...

When interpreting MBTI® Step II™ facet results, practitioners sometimes forget about the significance of the order of the facets. When it comes to paying attention to things, Sensing–Intuition (taking in information) people start by using a Concrete, Midzone, or Abstract approach first. They then go down the list of the remaining facets, in order: Realistic-Imaginative, Practical-Conceptual, Experiential-Theoretical, and Traditional-Original. (If you want a great team exercise i...

A couple of months ago, a participant in a training program told me she thinks of his Tough behavior in terms of removing a small bandage. She said Tough behavior is like removing that bandage in one quick pull. For her, pulling the bandage off slowly only prolongs the pain. This firm approach can be effective as long as it doesn’t cross over the line and become stern. Tender behavior certainly does not intentionally prolong pain. Instead, people who report Tender believe that a kinder an...

Be prepared for some push-back from clients who report Thinking in-preference Critical on the MBTI® Step II™ assessment. The bullet-point descriptors on the MBTI® Step II™ Interpretive Report can be more direct (some say harsh) for this result than for any other. I’ve had a client get a bit argumentative about the descriptor “are argumentative.” And a participant in an MBTI® Certification Program this week sprinted across the room to the Accepting side ...

If you want to start this series from the beginning, take a look at the first few blogs here, here and here. When interpreting MBTI® Step II™ Interpretive Report results, practitioners tend to forget about the importance of the order of the facets (see MBTI® Step II™ Manual, pp. 22–23). We know that the first T–F facet, Logical–Empathetic, is the starting point for decision making, with the remaining facets (Reasonable–Compassionate, Questioning&n...

There is just so much depth with the Thinking–Feeling facets that many people only begin to explore. During the MBTI® Certification Program, I take participants through several decision-making stages—T–F facet by T–F facet. A participant asked me this week how I keep things from getting out of hand when I go through this process with working teams. She realized that it can be a powerful experience for teams and things can get a bit heated. While I don’t feel esp...

What do you truly want to be when you grow up, regardless of where you are right now? Or how would you rather be earning a living? To find a career path, and ultimately a job that suits your interests and values, career counselors nationwide offer personality assessment tools such as the Strong Interest Inventory and the SuperStrong. In "Going Strong," professional development experts (Catherine Rains, Karen Gonzalez, Darrell Mockus and Chris Mackey) explore how and why these assessmen...

If you missed it, you can see the first blog post in this series here and the post on the other side of this facet, Questioning, here. I often ask people who report Accommodating on the MBTI® Step II™ Interpretive Report if they are too accommodating. Usually, the reply is a straightforward and accommodating “yes!” Accommodating people tend to pick their battles when faced with differences of opinion. As a result, they are sometimes seen as “wishy-washy” ...

If you missed the first blog in this series, check out the overview here. Or you can watch this video that covers all 20 MBTI Step II facets. As I mentioned previously, we're going to cover the Thinking-Feeling facets first starting with Questioning and Accommodating. This facet in particular deals with how a person responds to differences in a point of view. Questioning in-preference can come off as a bit harsh at times. I tell a story in my MBTI® Certification Program about a participant w...

It's always interesting to us to know the story of where some of our assessments came from, and we wanted to share the FIRO-B assessment backstory because it's one of the most fascinating histories we've heard. In the 1950's, the United States Navy approached psychologist William Schutz and said, "We're having a really hard time with teams on submarines. We don't know how to put people together, and you can imagine being underwater in close quarters for six months can be a trying environment....

In the next few blog entries I will give you my take on the MBTI® Step II™ facets. Those of you who have been through CPP’s MBTI Certification Program know what an interesting day exploring the facets in more detail can be. While the facets don’t cover every characteristic of each dichotomy, they are “important and significant subsets,” as one participant expressed it. We have to remember that the facet results don’t add up to the dichotomies, and theref...

Interviewed by Karen Gonzalez, Product Marketing Manager at CPP. While CPP, Inc. has been around for over sixty years and is best known for the Myers-Briggs® and Strong Interest Inventory® assessments, our small but mighty division, CPP Innovation Labs, was created to listen to our customer’s and the market’s current needs to quickly develop products and services to address those. Challenging the status quo is what we’re all about at CPP Innovation Labs. Craig Johnson, Director of Data Science...

People with NT preferences (INTJs, INTPs, ENTPs, ENTJs) typically take a “what else can we do” approach to leadership. They tend to consider new ways to address tasks and projects, and often have an innovative mind-set that is about changing things up to make a situation better. If NT informs your leadership style, you may want to consider how this approach is affecting members of your team. Some of them may appreciate your open approach to new ideas and possibilities, but others may find wha...

People with NF preferences (INFJs, INFPs, ENFPs, ENFJs) typically take a “let’s make a difference” approach to leadership. They consider how others can be positively affected over the long term instead of just in the present moment. In leading they tend to focus on big-picture, future-oriented ideas that can empower people to “be better.” If NF informs your leadership style, you may want to consider how this approach is affecting members of your team. Some of them may appreciate your support ...

People with SF preferences (ISFJs, ISFPs, ESFPs, ESFJs) typically take a “thoughtful helping of others” approach to leadership. They consider how the factual information they provide (who, what when, why, where) might help others in a here-and-now way. They tend to have a supportive and practical leadership style, offering information that can be useful today instead of someday. If SF informs your leadership style, you may want to consider how this approach is affecting members of your team. ...

People with ST preferences (ISTJs, ISTPs, ESTPs, ESTJs) typically take a “let’s get it done” approach to leadership. They want to tackle the task at hand and prefer to jump right in to get things right the first time. In fact, they are likely to be annoyed by discussion of matters that don’t directly relate to the task. They prefer to move on from anything they consider superfluous and get to what “needs” to get done. If ST informs your leadership style, you may want to consider how this appr...

A couple of years back I wrote a blog series on type and leadership, and I’m now following that up with a few additional ideas focusing on the MBTI® process pairs: ST, SF, NF, and NT. While the T–F and J–P preference pairs are the ones most often explored in relation to leadership (maybe I’ll write about the TJ, TP, FJ, and FP pairs next), I still like looking at the middle letters of people’s four-letter type the most. As you consider the content of this next ...

“96% of students completed the SuperStrong assessment, whereas most assessments typically achieve a 75–80% completion rate” – Data gathered from a recent First-Year Experience course at a four-year university With that kind of completion rate, it’s no wonder that our newest offering, the SuperStrong™ tool, derived from the gold-standard Strong Interest Inventory® assessment, is gaining a lot of attention within 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities. Listen to a free webinar to learn ...

Originally written by Betsy Kendall and Alice King at OPP Often considered a winning combination in coaching, what is it specifically about the FIRO and MBTI assessments that adds depth and complexity to coaching? The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator looks at four aspects of our personality that combine together dynamically to capture the fundamental elements of who we are and how we are motivated. This in itself is a powerful coaching tool as it indicates our preferred ways of taking in information,...

"As an MBTI practitioner, I encounter a lot of individual opinions and viewpoints about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, sometimes incredibly positive and sometimes vehemently critical. When our work and methods are criticized, it is natural to want to defend oneself, but in doing so it can be difficult not to come across as rather defensive. Understanding where critics of the MBTI assessment are coming from, and how to respond to the individual points that they raise, has an important place. ...

What’s the link between neuroscience and MBTI^® personality type? We look at how neuroscience (or its successor), along with your MBTI personality type, could help achieve an even greater understanding of what it means to be human.

What can the MBTI® tool tell us about dating? Do birds of a feather stick together, or do opposites attract? And what makes a great date for different types? We hosted a webinar a while back about MBTI Type and Relationships, but wanted to touch specifically on type and dating, especially with the rise and popularity of online dating sites. In fact, of the 54M single individuals in the US, 49M of them have tried online dating, with 16M on eHarmony and 23M Match.com members. Ironically though, a ...

Which books about MBTI® personality theory and type have had the biggest impact on practitioners? We posted this question on one of our LinkedIn groups a while back to discover the titles that had most impressed and inspired practitioners or been a key support in their work with the MBTI assessment. Twenty books rose to the top of the pile. Here are the first ten – in no particular order – with comments from the individual reviewers. We'll be publishing the second batch lat...

So many things in life rely on good judgment. We often find ourselves in situations where there are no right or wrong answers. Our final decision comes down to a matter of judgment. There are lots of examples of good judgement (and bad judgement) in current affairs right now, and it’s more complicated than just asking if someone has broken a law. We need confidence that the people we choose to represent us are going to exhibit good judgment across a whole range of important decisions. So...

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: https://share.themyersbriggs.com/. Today’s type: ENTJ. You may not proclaim your appreciation of others, though you rely on and expect more from people you deem competent. Offer them some praise. That description relates most to the Intuition and Thinking processes of this type. Competence is often o...

ALD Corporate Development is a full-service corporate development and management consulting firm  that offers three tracks: executive coaching, small business consulting for growth and profit through results-driven actions, and executive leadership training and seminars. And in today's fast-paced business environment, HR and LD managers are often overwhelmed and stretched too thin but still need to continually assess and tweak how leaders are performing and how that affects the company...

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 ...

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: ESFJ. You tend to show appreciation for others through honoring traditions and celebrating. Remember, others may prefer a more casual approach. That description is about the outwardly gregarious approach to celebrating with others often displayed by individuals ...

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: ESTJ. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

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: ENTP. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

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: ENFP. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

This article originally appeared in CIO Magazine. To read the article in its original format, click here.  The California Psychology Inventory (CPI), developed by CPP -- the exclusive publisher of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment -- is an assessment tool that help leaders gain more insight into and improve their performance. Ultimately, the CPI helps identify your leadership strengths and weaknesses, what motivates you and can help you understand your personal "thinking style." Th...

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: ESFP. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off the...

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: ESTP. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

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: INTP. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

This article originally appeared in HRO Today's blog. To read the article on the original website, click here.  Written by Catherine Rains A successful career entails not only identifying a career that gets you excited, but also finding an organizational culture that meshes with your values. The culture of a particular company might be a product of its wider industry, or it might be unique to that organization. Either way, your “cultural fit” will have a deep impact on your success. If the fit...

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: INFP. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

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: ISFP. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

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: ISTP. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

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: INTJ. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

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: INFJ. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

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: ISFJ. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

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: ISTJ. You may think that work well done is its own reward. Others may need more verbal encouragement and support. That description relates to the “get-it-done” attitude often displayed by individuals who prefer ESTJ. For them, checking things off th...

The cold, winter season is upon us. I absolutely love this time of year. The fog comes in a bit more often in San Jose, the leaves start falling (and falling… big thanks to our gardener Arturo for taking care of that!), and the air gets cool and crisp. California winters tend to be mild, and I’m thankful for that. With the holidays passing, it reminded me of being thankful for the little and big things that are part of our lives. I hope you all can find many things to appreciate in...

My breakout session took place on the second day of the conference. I was glad to see so many familiar faces in the room, although it also makes me a bit more nervous to see so many people I know when I’m presenting. However, remembering that I’m presenting for the attendees and not for myself, helps temper my nervousness. In my session I addressed the stress we all face when our interpersonal needs are not being met. What we need, combined with what we fear, can have a huge impact ...

This article was written by Rachel Ritlop and originally appeared on Forbes.com. To read the article in its original format, click here.  A personal mission statement can act as your “north star” throughout the twists and turns of life . Too often, people focus on responding to the responsibilities and demands placed on them by others, such as a boss, teacher, or family member; that they ultimately forget to focus on what they are seeking in life. Often times people ignore th...

For the second year in a row, I was asked to serve as moderator for the conference-wide panel session. Now that I have a little experience with panels under my belt, I was a bit more open to the idea of being a moderator. It helps to remind myself that the moderator’s key task is to encourage the audience to pay attention to the panelists and not himself. I just had to introduce the topic and the panelists and then keep things moving along. In the end of course, that is all easier said than done...

I hope you are enjoying the holidays. I see this holiday season as a great reminder of the wonderful things in my life. Since things have been so busy, this is also time for me to take a break for just a few days from a very busy travel and training schedule. I’m sad to write that my grandmother passed away this week. She lived to be 101 years old, and that is really amazing. My family will be coming together to celebrate her life. Attending the funeral has required moving a lot of work proje...

This article was written by Christine Lagorio-Chafkin and originally appeared on Inc.com. To read the article on the original site, click here.  Get yourself hired at Clever, a seven-year-old marketing company, and as one of the first orders of business you'll be flown out to San Francisco. You'll meet the company's founders, as well as a few colleagues. You'll start in on fairly typical on-boarding activities -- like plowing through all that HR paperwork. Then things start getting a lit...

The conference is in full swing. Walking from session to session, I’ve come across people I have worked with in past trainings over the years. I always worry at these events that someone will come up to me and call out my name, but I won’t remember theirs. I work with so many people each year, it is hard to commit everyone’s name to memory. Just yesterday, as I waited in the hotel lobby for my room to be ready, I noticed someone looking at me. Her face was very familiar, but I wasn’t sure why. ...

This article was written by CPP's Divisional Director of Research Rich Thompson and originally published on the NCDA website on December 1, 2016. To read the article in its original format, click here.  The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is commonly used for career exploration at numerous college counseling offices, and many Psychology and Business departments offer courses using the instrument, too. In spite of – or perhaps because of – its widespread use, th...

And finally, Patrick Kerwin shared the criticism that the MBTI® tool is not predictive of behavior. Guess, what? It’s not meant to predict behavior. Instead, the MBTI tool is about giving us some understanding around how we take in information (Perceiving processes of S-N) and make decisions (Judging processes of T-F). Isabel Briggs Myers called this “clearer perceptions” and “sounder judgments.” If you try to apply the MBTI tool beyond that, you are oversteppin...

Patrick addressed that the criticism that the MBTI tool isn’t reliable all tracks back to one article published in 1993, before the current form was even published. Data show that test-retest reliability for the MBTI tool is actually very good. When people get a different result on the assessment from one time to the next, it is usually because they reported “slight” the first time. With a result of “slight,” you could have answered just a few questions differently ...

Continuing my overview of Patrick Kerwin’s session at the MBTI® Users Conference, Patrick noted that the criticism that the MBTI® tool just flatters people was somewhat odd. Those of us who know what the MBTI tool is really about know that it’s not a diagnostic tool. It’s not even a test. “Test” implies results of good and bad, pass or fail. The MBTI descriptions may indeed seem flattering at times. All of us bring something to every situation we are in. All of us have gifts. That may seem flatt...

Continuing with Patrick Kerwin’s session at the MBTI® Users Conference, Patrick addressed the criticism that the MBTI assessment is not in clinical psychology journals. He noted it's not in clinical journals because it’s not a clinical tool. It doesn’t belong in clinical journals. A CPP board member didn’t use it in his published research for that very reason. His research, by the way, was on coronary disease and other health conditions. Why would he use the MBTI tool for this? There is plenty...

Patrick Kerwin then addressed a criticism about the MBTI® assessment he’s heard that “clinical psychologists don’t believe in the MBTI® tool.” I didn’t get training on the MBTI tool in my clinical program. Clinical psychologists are typically trained to administer “tests” that address psychological problems. As Patrick stated, the argument that clinicians don’t use the MBTI tool is like saying “it’s hard to find an engineer who uses a plunger.” The MBTI tool is not a test, and it doesn’t ident...

Patrick also addressed the idea many have that “People are really ambiverts.” He reminded us to keep in mind that just because we use both hands to type doesn’t mean we are ambidextrous. This reminded me that when I was younger and played volleyball, I used to brag a little that I could spike with both my right and left hands. In my mind I was as lethal with either a left- or right-side attack. However, when I really thought about it and when my teammates were truthful with me, I realized I was ...

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 ...

Continuing Patrick Kerwin’s session at the MBTI® Users Conference on addressing criticisms of the MBTI® tool, he noted that we sometimes hear, “The MBTI tool uses artificial binaries.” Patrick reminded us that while the MBTI tool sorts, we stress that all of us use both sides of a preference pair. We just prefer one or the other. That is why when we are using the MBTI tool, proper language is so crucial. Strictly speaking, we are not “Extraverts” or “Introverts.” Instead, we have a preference fo...

Just after lunch I attended a conference-wide session by Patrick Kerwin in which he addressed some misconceptions about the MBTI® tool. Patrick started by saying, “Doing what we do often leads to talking to strangers we meet to clarify what the MBTI tool really is. So much of this misunderstanding is misinformed.” So Patrick shared with his audience several topics related to these misunderstandings. Patrick said he sometimes hears people criticize Briggs and Myers because “They weren’t psycho...

The next session of the day was led by Daniel Granchanin. Daniel is a cloud platform sales engineer at Google. He was also in one of the MBTI® Certification Programs I facilitated last year. It was great to see him again and to attend his session at the conference. Daniel’s session provided tips on how Google employees hypothesize different people’s MBTI® type preferences by “reading” their body language, conversation, and communication through text, email, and so on. Daniel works with many en...

We're excited to share news today that we've acquired UK-based OPP, one of Europe’s top business psychology product and services providers. By combining the talents and resources of the two companies, CPP plans to create an internationally recognized brand umbrella for its line of products and services, which includes some of the world’s most widely used psychometric assessments. Through the acquisition, the company aspires to more readily fulfill its aim of helping people be better through a de...

The perfect way to kick off the conference was Robert Richman’s keynote. Author of The Culture Blueprint: A Guide to Building the High-Performance Workplace, Richman shared that only one-third of organizations feel that their culture is in line with their business strategy. When he asked the audience for a definition of organizational culture, he got about 30 different answers, including traditions, moods, and feelings that are encouraged or discouraged. Richman shared the idea that “experience ...

Like last year, I facilitated a full-day MBTI® Step II™ workshop. I had an engaged group of participants with varying levels of personality type knowledge, which can get tricky to facilitate. I didn’t want to go too fast and lose people just learning about type, nor did I want to go too slow and bore those who already knew a lot. However, the one thing I’ve learned over the past couple of years is that many people could use a basic MBTI type refresher. For anyone needing a ...

If you didn’t get a chance to attend the 2016 MBTI® Users Conference, you missed out on a wonderful event. I will do my best to help you feel like you were there by covering it in my next blog series. Similar to last year, the conference took place in San Francisco. We were at the legendary Sir Francis Drake Hotel for three days of learning, laughing, eating, and connecting. The theme of the conference was the impact the MBTI tool has on organizational culture. Speakers from every business sec...

Designing an effective MBTI® workshop can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. That’s why CPP created two new workshop facilitation kits—so you can focus your energy on facilitation rather than preparation. The kits come with everything you need to ensure that your training is a success: Workshop ready: Comprehensive, ready-to-deploy presentation slides and training materials with engaging visuals Comes with expert guidance: Includes facilitator notes with work...

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It’s Friday. Kevin, Mom, Dad, and I are the only members of the family still here in Hawaii. Right now we’re having a wonderful breakfast at Daylight Coffee in Queens Market. I make a mental note to come back here on our next trip to Hawaii. I have to keep reminding myself that there will be a next trip so I don’t get too sad. After breakfast we head back to the hotel to finish packing and then meet in the lobby for our drive to the airport. We know this route well after havin...

After dropping off Terri, the rest of us head in to Kona for a tour around the shops. It is very hot out, and our swimming pool is all the way back at the hotel. We walk in to a few galleries to get out of the heat and then decide it is time for lunch at the Kona Brewing Company. Eager to get back to the calmness of our hotel, we head back to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. Kevin, Cindy, and I sit out on the hotel deck area that overlooks the ocean and enjoy our last mai-tais together. It&rsq...

We are all up and ready early. Terri is leaving this morning. Cindy is leaving tonight. How did our time go by so fast? We enjoy a nice breakfast at King’s Market across the street from our hotel. Terri is in the mood for fish ’n chips so she has them for breakfast. “This is it,” I think to myself. Terri is leaving, and then before you know it we all will be in our own worlds again. The drive to the airport is about twenty minutes. Kevin is playing Hawaiian music in the...

As soon as we sit down, Cindy notices our rings. Then so do Terri, Mom, and Dad. Smiles spread around the table. Dad comes over and says, “I’m happy for you Mijo.” I tell him we don’t have a wedding date yet, but will let them know. Since I don’t like being the center of attention, we are thinking of something very small. I tell Dad that I’m thinking of just eloping and telling people about it later. Stay tuned… Because we are only six, there are a co...

The day feels like it is flying by too fast. I have to keep reminding myself, “Live in the moment, or the moment will pass you by.” In type language this means that I have to honor my preference for Intuition, but I will not let it rule my day. If I flex by using Sensing more often, those great moments won’t just pass me by. Still, Terri and Cindy leave tomorrow. Already. Mom, Dad, Kevin, and I leave the day after. It helps me to think that I can plan something again soon. My m...

After unloading our shopping treasures in the room safe, Kevin and I head down to the pool to join Cindy and Terri. We arrive at the cabana to find Cindy with a cocktail and pu pu platter to share with us. A server comes over, and Kevin and I immediately ask for drinks of our own—mai-tais! They are perfect for a warm Hawaiian afternoon by the pool. Kevin and Cindy have hit it off nicely. He has been wonderful with my family the entire trip. I have shared several times that Kevin’s p...

This article was written by Moira Lawler and originally published on Forbes.com. To read the article on the original website, click here. There are few of us who can resist a good personality test, whether it’s a silly one that pinpoints your spirit animal or a serious one that helps you find your true calling. That’s because getting more insight into ourselves is, at the very least, fun, and at best, seriously eye-opening. Perhaps the most well-known of the eye-opening variety is...

A big part of any trip for Mom is finding souvenirs to bring back to friends and family. A souvenir shop in King’s Market, located just a block from our hotel, is the perfect place. Dad, Cindy, and I settle in as Mom and Terri start collecting trinkets to buy. I wander in and out of the shop relatively quickly and instead find a T-shirt stand being set up just outside. I buy a T-shirt for me and one for Kevin. Dad worries that all the souvenirs Mom is buying won’t fit in their lugg...

It’s Wednesday, and I’m still fighting that sad feeling that our trip is almost over. I remind myself that we still have today. If I let it, today could be a wonderful day. As usual, we are all wide awake very early and ready to go. By starting at the break of dawn we sure are making the most of our days here. Kevin sleeps in while Mom, Dad, Terri, Cindy, and I head out to a restaurant that Cindy has found. It’s called the Hawaiian Style Café and is known for serving t...

As we head back to the hotel for some downtime—nap, pool, walks along the beach—I start to feel that little bit of angst that our time together is going by too fast. It’s already Tuesday. We just have tonight and tomorrow together, and then our trip will be over. This happens to me on every vacation I go on, especially when I’m having a wonderful time. Instead of living in the moment, I let my preference for Intuition take over and start thinking about the future. Doing ...

This article appeared in The Economist on Sept. 10, 2016. To read the article on the original website, click here.  MOST companies worry about discriminating against their employees on the basis of race, gender or sexual preference. But they give little thought to their shabby treatment of introverts. Carl Jung spotted the distinction between introverts and extroverts in 1921. Psychometric tests such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator consistently show that introverts make up between ...

Shave ice is on our mind as we depart the boat and head to our SUV. Kevin, Terri, and I are still a little wet, but we don’t mind. It’s Hawaii after all. As we drive just across the street, we see a large crowd has surrounded the Original Hawaiian Shave Ice stand. On one side of the Blue Dragon Restaurant parking lot the small and colorful stand waits for us to join the crowd. Mom, Dad, and Cindy grab a place to sit. Kevin, Terri, and I get in line and immediately see the delicious looking froze...

After swimming with dolphins we head over to a secluded snorkeling site. No other boats are around, so we have the place all to ourselves. Kevin and I stick together. I love being in the water, but have to admit to being a bit intimidated as well. Staying near Kevin makes me feel safe. Terri swims out to sea, so Damon (our first officer) has to go out to bring her back. I love how adventurous Terri can be. I love how she is making the most of every minute. Terri has this beautiful and open attit...

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Right on time, Captain Bryan appears. He drives up in a big, black Toyota Tundra, gives us all a warm greeting, and then asks us to follow him across the street through the Kawaihae Harbor security entrance. I can’t tell you how excited I am as we drive up to the edge of the harbor and see our little boat for the day. Okay, it’s not actually “our” boat, but I can pretend. It’s a medium-size catamaran, with shaded seating inside, cushy seats, and netting to lay in ...

I have facilitated many individual and group MBTI® feedback sessions during the 28 years I’ve used this amazing tool. I have also trained many people on how to deliver that feedback, and at times I’ve found that people feel a bit overwhelmed by all the steps involved. That’s why I like the new Exploring Your Myers-Briggs® Type Workbook. It gives you the exact steps you need to walk someone, whether individually or in a group, through MBTI feedback. In the workbook, yo...

It’s Tuesday. I’m wide awake by 4:30 a.m. Kevin is sleeping peacefully, so I quietly get up and get ready to meet the rest of my family downstairs for breakfast. We agreed the night before to meet at 6 am. Sure enough, as I walk in to the lobby, Mom, Dad, Cindy, and Terri are there and ready to go. I think yet again that I need to travel with my family more. Everyone is so easy to be around. There is no drama either. So nice! We are all ready to get our day started with a nice breakfast. The p...

The dinner goes off beautifully. Kevin reaches over and whispers, “You did it,” as each course comes out. He knows I’ve been planning every detail of this night. I’m feeling relieved, happy, and a bit emotional. I’m so glad we are all here together in this beautiful place. I continue to think that we need to plan more family time sooner rather than later. Jenny, our host for the night, is spot-on with everything. She is supported by people coming and going with water, cocktails, a nice pupu p...

Kevin and I arrive in the lobby at the agreed-upon time: 6:15 p.m. Mom, Dad, Cindy, and Terri are already there looking nice in their fancy tropical attire. From the second-floor open-lobby balcony we can see that the cabana near the beach is being set up for our arrival. We arrive at the entrance to the restaurant, and the host knows right away we are here for our event. She takes us around the large swimming pool over to the very last cabana, where a table for six has been set up with a beaut...

Getting Mom and Dad to their room and then Kevin and me to ours feels good. We have beachfront rooms and they do not disappoint. As we open the door onto the ocean, the view just takes over. It is beautiful. I’m feeling relieved that everything is going so well, including our hotel for the rest of the trip. Kevin and I start unpacking and organizing our room. As usual, I get the left side and he gets the right. We are both very neat, and getting the room all worked out is the first thing we us...

After a nice lunch in Kona (Rebel Kitchen…delicious!) we finally reach the turnoff for Waikoloa Beach. Finally. As we drive up to the entrance of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, I see Cindy (the first-born sibling in our family) walking out to greet us. Mom, Dad, and Terri visit with Cindy a couple of times a year. Sadly, I haven’t seen Cindy in almost 30 years! Kevin has never met Cindy. Time flies for sure, but I realize I need to do more to see my big sister. We hug and are a...

Ahead of schedule, we are ready for the drive from Volcano to Waikoloa—the exact opposite side of Hawaii. We could take the same route across the island that we took yesterday, but Kevin suggests we try a different and more scenic route down, under, and then back up the coast. The SUV is packed up, and the house is straightened up before we all pile in and get on the road by 10:30 a.m. I’m feeling good about being ahead of schedule, knowing this will give us plenty of time for lunch along the wa...

It's about 6:30 a.m. when we drive through the entrance of Volcano National Park. There are very few cars around, so it feels like we have the place to ourselves. I see no way to pay for entering the park, so I make a mental note to do that on the way out. We first stop at the steam vents. It is incredible to see the terrain all around us seeping steam. Terri's eyes are growing bigger and bigger as she scans everything around her. We take the short trail to one side and come upon Kilauea volcano...

I'm awake early and try several times to fall back to sleep. Finally, I decide to get out of bed after hearing rustling in the room across the hall. I get up and head downstairs to start breakfast. It's 4:30 am. I get to cook! Kevin is sleeping peacefully in bed. I'm a little envious that he is able to sleep. Dad comes down first. He has been awake for a couple of hours and looks relieved that he can finally come downstairs without disturbing the house. Like me, Dad doesn’t like to be an...

To enhance leadership potential and help teams meet the demands of real-world challenges, it is essential that your people understand how their facet results can influence their perceptions, problem solving, and decision making. Here are two exercises that use MBTI® Step II™ results to achieve leadership development goals and build stronger teams: “Improving Leadership Performance Using MBTI® Step II™ Results” “Team Exercise: Engaging S–N Fac...

The temperature on this side of the island is much cooler, so Kevin sets about getting a fire started downstairs. I go online to look for restaurants having been assured by the owner in previous emails that it will be easy to get a reservation on a Sunday night. What we both forgot is that this Sunday is Father’s Day. Being the small town that it is, there aren’t many restaurants, and most of them are booked. What to do? Time to use my Perceiving preference (superpowers?) and come up...

As you work with individuals to help them improve essential components of their professional development, it is important that they understand how to combine different aspects of their individual MBTI® Step II™ facet results and learn the most appropriate ways for them to flex their preferences. Here are two complimentary ebooks that offer ideas and tips for using Step II results to increase your people’s self-awareness and understanding: "How to Manage Seemingly Contradicto...

To provide the President of the United States with the support that he or she needs to govern effectively, the Executive Office of the President (EOP) was created in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The EOP has responsibility for tasks ranging from communicating the President’s message to the American people to promoting our trade interests abroad. Overseen by the White House Chief of Staff, the EOP has traditionally been home to many of the President’s closest ad...

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 ...

Helping people deepen their MBTI® experience by applying Step IITM insights is an important part of what you do. Upgrade your practitioner toolbox with our new workshop facilitation kit, “Introducing MBTI® Step II™ Results.” Designed to align with the refreshed Step II reports and save you prep time, this kit includes everything you need to deliver a high-quality introductory Step II workshop: Workshop-ready: comprehensive, ready-to-deploy presentation slides and ...

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...

My plan upon arrival in Hawaii is meant to take us down the west coast of Hawaii and down and under the south end, where we will end up in Volcano. I've rented a house through Airbnb that is just one mile outside Volcano National Park. My early plan, until the switch to our itinerary, was to have an early lunch around the south tip of the island. Now that we are past lunch, I figure we can get into the house just in time for dinner. This will then give us time to visit Volcano National Park toni...

By Pam Fox Rollin, MBA, MBTI® Master Practitioner “Please send me an email outlining what I should do to be a good leader of culture,” requested an introverted C-level executive as we launched a major culture initiative across his organization. What would you write? Would you give him a list of generic “good leader” behaviors? Would you describe what you’d do? Or, maybe, would you tell him what you’ve seen your favorite leaders do? Let’s look at how ...

Our state of bliss is then interrupted when Terri tells me that Cindy's flight has been delayed until tonight. Now, I've spent a lot of time planning this trip. In fact, I'm quite the planner. This surprises people when they learn I prefer Perceiving. My MBTI® Step I™ preferences are INFP. However, on the MBTI® Step IITM assessment, I report Expressive, out-of-preference. I also report out-of-preference on Planful, which is about leisure and long-term life events. Leisure is definitely a big p...

The flight over is a bit long since the airline canceled our original itinerary and connected us through Seattle. Still, we board, deplane, eat, and board again with no real hassle. Halfway over the sea, the flight crew announces that my parents are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. Everyone claps and offers congratulations. Glasses of champagne are brought over as well. Since my mom and dad don't like champagne (how could someone not like champagne?), they slip the glasses over to us....

Sitting at the departure gate in the Kona-Keahole airport in Hawaii still feels like being on vacation. The cool Hawaiian breeze and the many palm trees close-by can fool you just a little bit into not feeling sad that you are leaving. But I feel sad every time I leave these islands...every single time. I have to convince myself "I'll be back" or I know I will start to cry. Being in Hawaii is such an escape from so many of the stresses of life. While I work to honor who I am, I also spend too m...

To conclude this series on decision making with the MBTI® mental processes and the eight patterns of mental activity, we come to introverted Feeling (Fi), which is about making decisions in line with the inner values that guide and drive us. When deciding where you want to go on vacation this summer, consider these Fi questions: What do I want to do this summer? (This may be different than what everyone else wants to do.) What vacation options connect best with my inner values? ...

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, which means approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S. People need blood for a variety of reasons, from chemotherapy treatment to natural disasters, and many often need more than a few pints. A single car accident victim can require as many of 100 pints of blood. In addition, blood can’t be manufactured – it can only come from generous donors. And since 1940, under the leadership of Dr. Charles Dre...

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...

Continuing with the Judging patterns of mental activity in our quest for the perfect summer vacation, we come next to introverted Thinking (Ti), which is about creating internal order and logic to find the “correct” answer to problems. As you continue to think about where you might go for vacation this summer, consider the following Ti questions: What’s right and wrong with the choices I’m considering? (Allow yourself to be critical.) What’s wrong with the ...

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...

You’ve probably encountered Celanese Corporation’s products throughout your day and not even been aware of it. From the materials that make up the places you work and live, to the vehicle that helps you get there, and the technology that protects you and enhances your life, Celanese is in all these places. Celanese is comprised of engineers, scientists, operators and product developers who work together to solve problems and spur innovation in chemistry and the modern materials indu...

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...

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...

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...

By Catherine Rains  Again, since students have already heard from other students with their opposite preferences about what faculty members with those preferences want from them, they find it fairly easy to identify success strategies in such a classroom. Let’s explore how students who prefer Introversion and Sensing (IS) can thrive in a classroom taught by faculty members with their opposite preferences, Extraversion and Intuition (EN). The following are some of the suggestions I hav...

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 ...

With an emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, collaborative research and social responsibility, the USC Marshall School of Business is ideally positioned to address the challenges of a rapidly changing business environment. Their guiding philosophy – success demands an understanding of the inner workings of the global marketplace –has established USC Marshall as a leader among the nation’s premier business schools. USC Marshall provides powerful global experiences across...

Hello, everyone. I’m back and writing again after my very busy travel schedule has finally slowed down just a little. Thanks so much to Mathew David Pauley for filling in on my blog duties with his very insightful writing. I loved reading his posts as I traveled from city to city. I’m going to continue Mathew’s emphasis on the mental processes in this next blog series. As I sit back and get ready to write once more, I’m a bit startled by how fast the year is going by. It ...

Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR This is the final post in my 10-part blog series, “Type at the Family Conference Table,” and I would like to begin by thanking CPP for a great collaboration throughout my participation in the MBTI® Certification Program and throughout these posts. Certification Trainer Michael Segovia and his team went out of their way to assist me during the program (which was sort of a birthday present), increasing the pressure for me to have the...

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...

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 ...

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...