Personality Matters Blog
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...
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MBTI Step II Facets: New Experiences for the Experiential or the Theoretical
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...
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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...
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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...
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Showing Appreciation—ENTJ
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...
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Showing Appreciation—INFJ
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...
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MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / It Doesn’t Just Flatter You
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...
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MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / Type Dynamics
Another criticism Patrick Kerwin addressed is that “Jung even said there is no such thing as a pure Introvert.” Patrick (and I) actually agree! We all live in both the extraverted and introverted worlds. And, if you understand type dynamics, we all use a mental process in the extraverted world and a mental process in the introverted world. For example, I have preferences for INFP. I am not an Introvert. Instead, I introvert (I use this word as a verb since I don’t believe in ...
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MBTI® Users Conference—Communication Breakthroughs: The Genesis for Better Understanding of Others
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...
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Celebrating a 60th Wedding Anniversary—A Sensing vs. Intuition Challenge
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...
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Celebrating a 60th Wedding Anniversary—Live in the Moment
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 ...
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Celebrating a 60th Wedding Anniversary—INFP Preferences in Overdrive
The drive over goes by quickly, though at one point the rain and wind at 4,000 feet up is a little scary. Our destination is thankfully much closer to sea level, and by the time we get to the town of Volcano the rain stops. All around us is nothing but green...wet green trees, bushes, and moss. This is my second time to Volcano, and I’m so happy to be back. The driveway to our Airbnb home welcomes us down a curved passageway to finally come to a stop next to the large house. It has been ...
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Celebrating a 60th Wedding Anniversary—Extraverted Intuition Meets Introverted Sensing
Hawaii (the Big Island) is like no other Hawaiian island. It has so many different landscapes from one part to the next. As we drive along the newly renovated Senator Daniel Inouye Highway, patches of lava rock intermingle with plants and small trees. We pass a few small neighborhoods as well and dream as we see an occasional “For Sale” sign. As soon as we got on a straightaway, I was sure everyone in the back seat will be sound asleep. Instead, we are all wide awake, looking around and not want...
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Summer Vacation Decision Making—Introverted Intuition
In my previous post I covered extraverted Intuition. It’s now time to address introverted Intuition (Ni). While there is a similar focus on big-picture possibilities, introverted Intuition most often helps us perceive the big picture as it relates to long-term possibilities. As you think about where you might go for vacation this summer, consider the following Ni questions: What is the most unique and unusual vacation experience I can imagine? What would be a vacation that I would...
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Summer Vacation Decision Making—Extraverted Intuition
Once you have spent time considering the facts and details during decision making (more about that in our previous blog post here), it’s important to consider the possibilities beyond the “what is.” Extraverted Intuition (Ne) most often helps us consider the possibilities beyond what is right in front of us and what we have learned from the past. As you think about where you might go for vacation this summer, consider the following Ne questions: How can I keep my options o...
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Putting E–I and S–N together to support student success, Part 3
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...
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Summer Vacation Decision Making—Extraverted Sensing
When I think about the best decisions I have made in my life, it usually comes down to taking a more balanced approach to whatever I’m deciding. That balanced approach often comes easier when we consider using all four of our mental processes (Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, and Feeling) along with the attitudes of each (Extraversion and Introversion). Put that all together and you get the eight MBTI® patterns of mental activity (Se, Si, Ne, Ni, Te, Ti, Fe, Fi). If you want to read more ...
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I’m Back and Summer Is Almost Here!
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 ...
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Type at the Family Conference Table: Introverted Intuition
Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR INTJs and INFJs, Introverted Intuitive types, tend to be big-picture, well-organized individuals who can bring both qualities to bear as they work toward their goals. They are often known for their uncanny insight and ability to anticipate things before they happen. However, unlike individuals with a preference for Perceiving, who typically are ready to respond to the unexpected and flex to meet new challenges, INTJs and INFJs would rather dimini...
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Type at the Family Conference Table: Extraverted Sensing
Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR Leaving the hospital is often wrought with anxiety for family members faced with numerous things they must address for the patient. Hospitals are staffed with highly trained and highly attentive teams of caregivers, so the prospect of a loved one leaving the relative's safety with the hospital can be nerve wracking. Even moving from one unit to another within the same hospital is often cause for concern. That said, everyone who enters a hospital ...
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Type at the Family Conference Table: Extraverted Intuition
Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR People with preferences for ENTP and ENFP are comfortable directing their focus and energy toward the future and what is possible. They generally see potential options, but when they cannot, they often are willing to create them. They can generate a sense of optimism in others due to their natural abilities to see connections and brainstorm different, creative approaches to problem solving. This is exactly what ENTPs’ and ENFPs’ favorite mental functi...
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Type at the Family Conference Table: Introverted Sensing
Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR As care providers, we are often balancing experience with hope. When our patients are critically ill, we weigh our desire to help them return to normal life against our experience with all the cases we have dealt with in the past—those that had a good outcome and those that did not—and we try to make the best recommendations we can. From a type perspective, there is an intriguing analogy between analyzing data and maintaining hope and our preferences ...
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16 Types in the Workplace—ENTJ
So often I see people with preferences for ENTJ and ESTJ looking so similar and then so different. People with preferences for ENTJ have the ability to cut to the chase and a get-it-done approach to solving problems, but they tend to like to tackle those problems in a new and innovative way. Their favorite mental process, extraverted Thinking (Te), helps them get to an objectively logical conclusion. This favorite process is backed up by their second favorite process, introverted Intuition (Ni),...
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16 Types in the Workplace—ENFJ
I think of one particular colleague I work with who has preferences for ENFJ and I’m always so appreciative of her outwardly warm and supportive approach at work. The favorite mental process of people with preferences for ENFJ, extraverted Feeling (Fe), helps them connect to the harmony and values of those involved on a team. This favorite process is backed up by their second favorite process, introverted Intuition (Ni), which can help them see what’s coming around the bend, as well as the bend ...
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16 Types in the Workplace—ENTP
The people I know with preferences for ENTP tend to provide a new and innovative approach to figuring out solutions that our work projects need. Their favorite mental process, extraverted Intuition (Ne), helps them move beyond what is real to what could be. This gift can help organizations anticipate what is coming around the corner, as long as their ideas are not shut down for lack of evidence. This favorite process is backed up by their second favorite process, introverted Thinking (Ti), which...
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16 Types in the Workplace—INFP
My MBTI® preferences are INFP, and I’m told I provide a calm and supportive approach to solving problems that our work projects need. I was facilitating a webinar a while back, and the technology was not cooperating. Others in the room were getting a bit frazzled. A colleague sitting next to me said, “You seem so calm.” “It will work out,” I replied, as I focused on completing the tasks that would help the event run smoothly. My favorite mental process is introv...
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16 Types in the Workplace—INTJ
The people I know with preferences for INTJ tend to provide a new approach to solving problems that our work projects need. Their favorite mental process, introverted Intuition (Ni), helps them come up with innovative ways to resolve problems that may escape others. This gift can sometimes help their organization discover the next “best” thing, as long as these individuals are encouraged to share their sometimes “out-there” approach. This favorite process is backed up by their second favorite pr...
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I’m Next! Part 2
First and foremost, of course, we need to honor the preferences we have been born with. Then, it’s important to consider using the opposite side as appropriate. If you want some ideas on how to do this, check out the “Type and Problem Solving” section of the Introduction to Myers-Briggs® Type booklet (pp. 50 and 51) for questions covering each of the four mental processes (S, N, T, and F). Also included in the section are four steps to remember when problem solving: St...
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MBTI® Tool and Influencing—The Power of the Mental Processes
I slept well and was excited about what day 2 of the MBTI® Users Conference would bring. The first session of the day was an exciting keynote by Damian Killen, Founder & Managing Director at Thrive, and Rich Thompson, Divisional Director of Research at CPP. The session was titled “MBTI®—The Missing Piece in the Influencing Jigsaw.” Anyone who attended the conference received a very informative and snazzy white paper on influencing, based on current research from 2...