How Myers Briggs Assessments can help to Build Workplace Teams
TheMyers Briggsassessment is not an official test. It is way to find out four very specific things about an individual. Based on these four basic traits teams, can be formed that can work well together, but still be flexible enough for the group to come up with a number of viable solutions. There really is a recipe for a team that can work well together. The key is to remember that this is only one tool and not the whole picture.So what does your company learn about you through theMyer Briggs assessment?1. How you get your energy and where you focus your attention2. Your orientation toward the world or general attitude3. How you take in and process information4. How you make your choices and come to your decisionsImagine if you have an entire team of people who are very detail-oriented and no-one who views the whole picture. There would be many discussions about the details of the project, but no-one with the special skill-set to bring all together and wrap it up. Really it is just common sense. Put people together who work well together, but have different skill sets.A touch of background may help put people at ease about what the assessment does and how it can be used. The assessment is based on the work of a Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung. His book “Psychological Types” inspired and gave Katherine Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Myers Briggs the tools to build the assessment. They came up with four preferences that are combined into 16 personality types. Teams can be built with this information.The four preferences are:*Extroverts vs IntrovertsIntroverts need to think things through before they make a statement. Typically they really want to focus on the project and do best in a quiet environment. Their ideas are motivated internally with reading and reflections.Extroverts enjoy interactions with other people. Their ideas come from discussions and bouncing ideas off of each other. They just say that they think, often without any thought.*Sensors vs IntuitivesSensors like concrete information like facts, dates and times. They focus on the immediate and provide a realistic, practical view based on fact.Intuitives are the solvers and dreamers. They look at the big picture and like to find solutions and ways to get the results.Thinkers vs FeelersThinkers can put their emotions in a box . They tend to step back from a personal view and make decisions by analyzing facts and information. They tend to focus on tasks and expect and show mutual respect and fairness.Feelers tend to judge every situation on a personal level. They want harmony and peacefulness. They can clearly see both sides.Judges vs PerceiversPerceivers like flexibility with deadlines, tolerance and they are spontaneous and enjoy the entire process of the project.Judges like to have an outline and stick to it. They make quick decisions with the facts at hand.It is important to realize that none of these are better than the other. They are all necessary for a company to function and be cohesive. It is clear that the assessment can help management build teams that will work well together and yet cover all that is needed to reach the project goal. It is a great way to build a team.
