Personality Matters Blog

Posted 20 November 2023 by
Global Marketing

Should personality assessments be used in hiring?

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

Posted 23 November 2022 by
Sherrie Haynie, Sr. Director of Professional Services at The Myers-Briggs Company

Are personalities permanent? Can your personality type change?

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

Posted 02 July 2018 by
By Sherrie Haynie, Director of US Professional Services

We’re All Innovators Pt II: Bringing the Vision to Fruition

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 ...

Posted 26 June 2018 by
Global Marketing

We’re All Innovators...But We Do It According to Type

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...

Posted 30 November 2017 by
Global Marketing

10 Books About the MBTI Tool and Type That You Should Read in 2018

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...

Posted 14 November 2017 by
Global Marketing

MBTI Step II Facets: Traditional or Original and the Holiday Season

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...

Posted 24 October 2017 by
Global Marketing

MBTI Step II Facets: Practical–Conceptual & the Importance of Ideas

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...

Posted 10 October 2017 by
Global Marketing

MBTI Step II Facets: Realistic–Imaginative

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...

Posted 26 September 2017 by
Global Marketing

The Importance of the Order of the Sensing–Intuition Facets

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...

Posted 12 September 2017 by
Global Marketing

MBTI Step II Facets: Tough–Tender

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...

Posted 29 August 2017 by
Global Marketing

MBTI Step II Facets: Critical–Accepting

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 ...

Posted 14 August 2017 by
Global Marketing

MBTI Step II Thinking-Feeling Facets: The Importance of Facet Order

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...

Posted 02 August 2017 by
Global Marketing

Team Building with the MBTI Step II Thinking-Feeling Facets

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...

Posted 19 July 2017 by
Global Marketing

MBTI Step II Facets: Can We Be Too Accommodating?

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” ...

Posted 05 July 2017 by
Global Marketing

MBTI Step II Questioning Facet: In-Preference and Out-of-Preference

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...

Posted 06 June 2017 by
Global Marketing

Leadership and the Intuition–Thinking (NT) Process Pair

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...

Posted 30 May 2017 by
Global Marketing

Leadership and the Intuition–Feeling (NF) Process Pair

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 ...

Posted 25 April 2017 by
By Dr. Penny Moyle

Responding to Criticism of the MBTI Assessment

"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. ...

Posted 18 April 2017 by
Vanessa Bradford, The Myers-Briggs Company

Neuroscience, psychology, and your MBTI® personality type

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.

Posted 04 April 2017 by
Global Marketing

Ten Recommended Books about MBTI Personality

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...

Posted 31 March 2017 by
Global Marketing

The Importance of Good Judgement - Values, Leaders & the MBTI Assessment

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...

Posted 03 January 2017 by
Global Marketing

MBTI® Users Conference—Type, Interpersonal Needs, and Stress: A FIRO-B® and MBTI® Workplace Culture Connection

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 ...

Posted 29 November 2016 by
Global Marketing

MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / Some Clinical Psychology Criticism

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...

Posted 08 November 2016 by
Global Marketing

MBTI® Users Conference—From Diversity to Inclusion to Engagement

There was a short break in between the keynote and the first breakout session of the day. I planned my day out the night before and knew I wanted to attend Dr. Pete Hammett’s session. Dr. Hammett is the director of HR at Oklahoma Gas & Energy. In his session he asked us to consider how personality type can influence a culture of inclusion. Hammett made the point that culture is a matter of life and death at the organizations he has been a part of (including NASA and many others). He has f...

Posted 01 November 2016 by
Global Marketing

MBTI® Users Conference—A Step II™ Day

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 ...

Posted 25 October 2016 by
Global Marketing

New Ready-to-Deliver Workshops for Easier Facilitation

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...

Posted 29 September 2016 by
Global Marketing

Know Your Myers-Briggs Type? Here's How It Could Affect Your Money Decisions

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...

Posted 03 May 2016 by
Global Marketing

UMMS Professionals Give Patients Top Care While UMMS Cares for Professionals with FIRO-B

"The purpose of a doctor, or any human or general, should not be to simply delay the death of a patient, but to increase the quality of life." - Patch Adams (1998) The University of Maryland Medical System is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, neurocare, cardiac care, women's and children's health and physical rehabilitation. It has evolved from its beginnings as the nonprofit University Hospital in 1984 into a multi-hospital system with academic, community an...

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 14 April 2016 by
Global Marketing

3 Simple, Brilliant Ways Introverts Can Conquer Public Speaking

This article was written by Damon Brown and published in Inc. Magazine. To read the article in its original format, click here.  I am an introvert, but I am also a TED Speaker. I prefer solitude, but I love connecting with other people. It's less a contradiction and more the complex nature of introverted leaders. I can count Zuckerberg, Dorsey, and Ev as contemporaries, so it's good company. That said, leadership often requires commanding an audience, whether it be at a sold out conference...

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