Myers Briggs
How to work out your type

The Myers Briggs model of personality is a theory of preference. That is, the Myers Briggs model identifies how you prefer to behave, or your inbuilt natural inclinations. This is analogous to handedness, where you sometimes use your preferred hand (e.g.: when using a pen to write) and sometimes use your non-preferred hand (eg: the hand you use to change gear whilst driving a car is determined by the design of the car, not your preferences). The Myers Briggs model describes which mental functions or processes you prefer to use.

Myers Briggs preferences and team role

There is an important distinction between your preference and actual behavior. Your Myers Briggs preferences are relatively static throughout life. However, your behavior can change from situation to situation. Sometimes this behavior will be close to your preferences, sometimes it will be very different. The difference between your preferred and actual behavior is called the "stretch", and understanding your stretch can be useful in many ways - from improving your performance to managing your levels of stress.

 

Myers Briggs model of personality

The Myers Briggs® model of personality is based on 4 preferences.

  1. Where, primarily, do you direct your energy?
    If you prefer to direct your energy to deal with people, things, situations, or "the outer world", then your preference is for Extraversion. This is denoted by the letter "E".

    If you prefer to direct your energy to deal with ideas, information, explanations or beliefs, or "the inner world", then your preference is for Introversion. This is denoted by the letter "I".

  2. How do you prefer to process information?
    If you prefer to deal with facts, what you know, to have clarity, or to describe what you see, then your preference is for Sensing. This is denoted by the letter "S".

    If you prefer to deal with ideas, look into the unknown, to generate new possibilities or to anticipate what isn't obvious, then your preference is for Intuition. This is denoted by the letter "N".

  3. How do you prefer to make decisions?
    If you prefer to decide on the basis of objective logic, using an analytic and detached approach, then your preference is for Thinking. This is denoted by the letter "T".

    If you prefer to decide using values and/or personal beliefs, on the basis of what you believe is important or what you or others care about, then your preference is for Feeling. This is denoted by the letter "F".

  4. How do you prefer to organize your life?
    If you prefer your life to be planned, stable and organized then your preference is for Judging (not to be confused with 'Judgmental', which is quite different). This is denoted by the letter "J".

    If you prefer to go with the flow, to maintain flexibility and respond to things as they arise, then your preference is for Perception. This is denoted by the letter "P".

The Myers Briggs type code

When you put these four letters together, you get your Myers Briggs type code, and there are sixteen combinations. For example, INTJ indicates that you prefer Introversion, Intuition, Thinking and Judging. However, don't forget that you also use Extraversion, Sensing, Feeling and Perception. Myers Briggs is a model of preference, and does not limit your behavior.

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