Understanding Personality TypesThe 16 Personality Types That Affect

Our Leadership Styles

A Brief History…

• Carl Jung – Swiss-born psychologist suggested that human behavior was not random but was in fact predictable and, therefore, classifiable.

• Jungian Theory – People are born with a predisposition for certain personality preferences.

• Wrote Psychological Types (1923)

How can we measure this?• Needed a psychological instrument that would

explain, in scientifically rigorous & reliable terms, differences according to Jung’s theory.

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) : 95-100%• Keirsey Temperament Sorter : 80-85%

What exactly do the tests measure?The MBTI measures your PREFERRED ways of thinking and behaving…

pref·er·ence / n.1. a. The selecting of someone or something over another or others.

b. The right or chance to so choose.c. Someone or something so chosen. See Synonyms at choice.

2. The state of being preferred.

How does understanding your personality type and those of others help you to become a better leader?

Understanding your preferences can help you to:

- Be more successful- Deal with other people better- Contribute more to the team

- Reduce stress- Resolve conflicts effectively

- Get the most out of yourself & others

Understanding the Types

Extraversion vs. Introversion

Sensing vs. iNtuition

Thinking vs. Feeling

Judging vs. Perceiving

Basic Functions of Personality

Information-Gatheringvs.

Decision-Making

We gather information about our worldand

we make decisions based on the information.

The Information-Gathering Function

Sensors vs. iNtuitivesNothing else takes place without first gathering some information

Sensors (S)

SequentialPresentRealistic

PerspirationActual

Down-to-earthFact

PracticalitySpecific

iNtuitives (N)

RandomFuture

ConceptualInspirationTheoretical

Head-in-cloudsFantasy

IngenuityGeneral

The S-N Interaction: “What time is it?”

The S-N Interaction:“What time is it?”

Sensor: “What time is it?”iNtuitive: “It’s late!”

Sensor: “What time is it?”(somewhat surprised)

iNtuitive: “It’s time to go!”(insistent)

Sensor: “Hey, read my lips! I asked, (getting impatient) ‘What time is it?’”iNtuitive: “It’s past three.”(equally impatient)

Sensor: “Close, but no cigar! I shouldn’t (exasperated) have to ask a simple question

four times to get a close answer.”iNtuitive: “You shouldn’t be so picky.”(perturbed, because he believes he answered correctly the first time)

The Decision-Making Function

Thinkers vs. FeelersWith information in hand we seek closure to make judgments

Thinkers (T)

ObjectiveFirm-minded

LawsFirmness

JustClarity

CritiquePolicy

Detached

Feelers (F)

SubjectiveFair-hearted

CircumstancesPersuasion

HumaneHarmony

AppreciativeSocial Values

Involved

The T or F Decision-Making Process: “Does she get the car?”

The T-F Decision-Making Process:“Does She Get the Car?”

The car was promised earlier in the week to the teenage daughter to go to a Friday night party.

But, a snowstorm has begun and the road conditions aren’t great.

Mom’s a Thinker and Dad’s a Feeler. Even though they both agree to let her go, their arguments for deciding so are different:

Thinking Mom:“We can each learn a lesson from this. Parenting involves learning how to take risks and growing up requires learning how to take responsibility. Parenting involves training yourself to let go and this will be good practice for letting go when she is no longer under this roof. According to my calculations, the risks here are outweighed by the benefits of the learning experience.”

Feeling Dad:“How would I feel if the car was indiscriminately snatched out from under me without any regard for my personal feelings? She will feel embarrassed if she has to call her friends and ask for a ride when she was going to be one of the drivers. If I were she I would be crushed and understandably so. There is no way I could be so insensitive.”

Basic Functions of Personality

Source of Energyvs.

Life Style

Do we prefer to gather information & make decisions in the outer or inner worlds

and Do we information gather or decision make more

naturally as we relate to the outer world?

The Source of Energy Function

Extraverts vs. IntrovertsDetermines how and where we gather information or make

decisionsExtraverts (E)

SociabilityInteraction

ExternalBreadth

ExtensiveMultiple Relationships

Energy ExpenditureExternal Events

GregariousSpeak, then think

Introverts (I)

TerritorialityConcentration

InternalDepth

IntensiveLimited RelationshipsEnergy Conservation

Internal ReactionsReflective

Think, then speak

How E’s & I’s Cope: 3:1 Ratio in U.S.

How E’s & I’s Cope: 3:1 Ratio in the U.S.

• In American society, Introverts are outnumbered about three to one.• Thus, the Introvert is pressured daily to respond and conform to the outer

world

• Classroom Participation puts I’s at a disadvantage. Raise your hand or wait?

• E’s can “invade the space of others

The Life-Style Function

Judgers vs. PerceiversDo you information gather or decision make more naturally as you

deal with the outer world?Judgers (J)

ResolvedDecided

FixedControlClosurePlanned

StructureDefinite

ScheduledDeadline

Perceivers (P)

PendingWait and See

FlexibleAdapt

OpennessOpen-ended

FlowTentative

SpontaneousWhat Deadline?

The Most Difficult Preference to Hide: “Did you go to the movies? How was it?”

The Most Difficult Preference to Hide:Did you go to the movies? How was it?

“P” Statements:

“Yes. I saw the new Will Ferrell movie.”

“Yes. The new Will Ferrell movie is out and getting a lot of press.”

“Yes. The new Will Ferrell movie just opened at the Galleria.”

“J” Statements:

“Yes. The new Will Ferrell movie was hilarious, but it was a little too

long.”

“Yes. I think Will Ferrell should win an Oscar for his new movie.”

“Yes. Make sure you don’t miss Will Ferrell’s new movie.”

Type Development is a Lifelong Process

• The development of your four preferences and coming to terms with your non-preferences, continues throughout life.

• While your four-letter type probably remains the same your entire life, the strength of your four preferences may vary

considerably.

• The more you understand your type and the types of others, the more effective you will be in dealing with others and the

more influence you will have.