MBTI

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How people perform at work not only depends on their education, skills and experience, but is also strongly influenced by their personal nature and preferences. These innate preferences determine how we perceive situations, which decisions we make and which attitude we adopt towards our environment. Personal preferences lie at the basis of our behaviour. To clarify this concept, I invite you to answer the following questions:

  • Are you an extrovert or introvert person?
  • Are you more inclined towards adopting a realistic and empirical attitude towards matters, or do you aim for a more creative and innovative approach?
  • Are you task-oriented or people-oriented?
  • Do you take decisions based on objective logic and analysis, or are you guided by personal values and/or harmony, in other words, subjective aspects?
  • Do you prefer a planned and structure approach or are you more productive when working under the pressure of time and keeping your options open?

Measuring personal preferences
All these questions and many more are discussed for the MBTI, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The MBTI is based on C.G. Jung’s work on psychological types. The instrument has been assessed over several decennia of scientific research and found to be very accurate and reliable. Worldwide, MBTI is the most used personality questionnaire of its kind in various professional development programs. MBTI is especially helpful prior to or during a coaching program, but also with team building. Examples are leadership development, management development, personal effectiveness and cooperation within teams.

By charting preferences, it is possible to distinguish sixteen different preference types, enabling you to better recognize and predict behavioural patterns. This provides an overview of human diversity and facilitates more understanding amongst people. After all, every type has its strengths, weaknesses, mode of communication and ability to develop.

There is no right or wrong
The MBTI is not a test, it is an instrument of self-perception. The outcome shows how one sees oneself. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. Each of the sixteen types has its own advantages and disadvantages. The MBTI helps you with fine-tuning tasks to preferences. On top of that, it is possible to fine-tune each other’s tasks and the structure of cooperation to each other’s personal preferences.

Now I understand why I always respond like that!
From the preferences that MBTI uncovers, certain behavioural inclinations can be derived.
For example: extrovert people are more inclined to align themselves with the outside world of people and things. They develop ideas by talking about them and they easily take initiative in work, relationships and networks. They have wide interests. Introverts, however, are generally more drawn to the inner world of thoughts and images and they develop ideas by thinking about them. They take initiative when something is really important to them, they are most comfortable when working alone and they enjoy contributing by being profound and thorough. People with a preference for the empirical rely on facts and experience. They are realistic, prefer a systematic approach, but can also miss an opportunity or new possibilities. Those who choose intuitive perception, rely on their inspiration. They have a natural talent to notice trends and possibilities, but they can also loose touch with reality.

This fits me better
Depending on your type, you can feel comfortable or not doing certain jobs or tasks alone or with a team, or you prefer a specific organisational structure.
Research has shown that certain characteristics or qualities are connected to specific preferences. Characteristics such as dependency, formality, prudence, determination and a passive attitude are all linked to certain preferences. The MBTI can therefore help in fine-tuning your characteristics or those of your team to the characteristics that are useful for a certain task or assignment.
The MBTI not only shows preferences and types, but also dominant and weaker skills. This gives you and/or your team valuable feedback on natural talents and value, while at the same time uncovering blind spots and areas in which growth and development are possible.

Applying MBTI
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is ideal for:

  • career development
  • individual counselling/coaching
  • leadership development
  • strengthening communication
  • improving corporate culture
  • talent development

MBTI shows how people:

  • can best use their strength and talents;
  • can best deal with others that have different preferences;
  • can best support and appreciate the corporate vision/mission.

MBTI helps with:

  • answering the question who is best suited for a task/assignment;
  • internal and external client relations;
  • implementing changes;
  • uncovering new areas of personal growth and improvement;
  • establishing a positive corporate culture.

MBTI in practice:

  • An MBTI-test is always done voluntarily; it takes two conversations of 90 minutes to two hours.
  • You are the only one who is shown and given the results. It is up to you whether you want to share them.
     
  • At first you will fill out several questionnaires. Then together we will look at all your answers until you come up with a certain self-image.
  • During the second meeting, we will compare the test result to your self-image. You determine your own type and we discuss what this implies for you, which aspects are open to development and how you can best set about it.

MBTI can open your eyes. All of a sudden, the pieces of the puzzle will fit and you will understand why you always respond to certain situations in specific ways and why you can for instance leave that certain colleague alone for a while during a stressful situation. MBTI provides you with insights and increased self-knowledge. Are you interested in what MBTI can mean to you and/or your organisation? Then make an appointment with Houthoff. In a personal interview in which we will get acquainted, we can discuss the question of what we can provide you with.

For an appointment or for more information:

Houthoff Training & Coaching
Van Vredenburchweg 170
P.O. Box 1108
2280 CC Rijswijk

The Netherlands
phone: +31(0)70-3623617
fax: +31(0)70-3623917
info@houthoffgroup.com

Do you wish to have more information on the background and origin of MBTI, then take a look at the website of OPP Nederland: www.opp.eu.com ® OPP and the OPP-logo are registered trademarks of OPP Ltd. ® MBTI is a registered trademark of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Trust. OPP Ltd. has obtained the license to use the trademark in Europe.