# Presentation: 925461

## MBTIMyers-Briggs Type Indicator 

- An Overview of MBTI and How It Can Be Applied to You!
- NWS Alaska Region
- Senior Forecaster Workshop
- June 24-26, 2008

**Notes:**
This section will be an introduction to Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, otherwise known as MBTI?  How many of you have heard of MBTI?  So, Forecaster A, please describe what MBTI is.  Today we will only be scratching the surface.  People have studied type for years and years and it continues to be refined and applied to various aspects of our lives.  I have been professionally trained by Margaret T Hartzler, Ph.D.  Dr. Hartzler has over twenty years experience developing and presenting interactive training programs about the ethical and effective use of psychological type. She has presented more professional MBTI® qualifying programs in more countries than any other trainer in the world. She has designed and conducted research on how type can be useful in intimate relationships, in managing change, in understanding power and the role of type in leadership, career counseling, and the role of the eight functions in the development of the personality. She has authored and co-authored multiple publications on how to use type as a trainer. She is the founder of Type Resources and served as CEO for nine years.

Now let’s proceed...

## * Voluntary Instrument * 

- I sent out an email on May 28th with instructions/prerequisites for this workshop
- MBTI-like instrument is optional.  Taking the instrument is optional and sharing your type is optional.
- We will talk in depth about type and how it applies to you and your job

**Notes:**
Folks are not required to take this instrument OR share results per NWSEO, 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) betweenthe National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO) regarding use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Instrument (MBTI) 
The use of the MBTI instrument supports NOAA's Managing Diversity goals. The MBTI identifies individual preferences for gathering and processing information and making decisions, providing increased understanding of individual preferences as well as those of others. The MBTI can promote enhancement of interpersonal relationships through increased awareness and understanding of differences among employees both on an interpersonal and personal level. The parties agree increased knowledge and understanding of commonalities and differences can be both empowering and critical to individual and, ultimately, organizational success. 
Therefore, the NWS and NWSEO agree to the following conditions regarding the administration of the MBTI instrument to all NWSEO bargaining unit employees: 
1. The MBTI instrument shall be administered in accordance with the requirements and obligations established by Consulting Psychologists Press Inc.; practitioners are encouraged to review and incorporate NOAA s Diversity Council guidance into administration of the MBTI instrument; 
2. The MBTI instrument shall be administered on a voluntary basis only; 
3. Employees shall not be coerced in any way to participating in taking the MBTI instrument; accordingly, employees shall have the right to refrain from participation without fear of penalty, reprisal, disparate treatment, or any other prohibited personnel practice; 
4. MBTI results, or a lack thereof, will not be used as the basis for effecting, or not effecting, any personnel action; 
5. MBTI results will be kept confidential unless authorization is obtained from the respective employee; authorization may be either written, or implicit if the employee chooses to share his/her results during or after the feedback session; 
6. The local union steward shall be notified of MBTI feedback sessions involving bargaining unit employees at the time employees are notified; the steward shall be afforded the opportunity to attend each session on official time; 
7. The parties agree participation in the MBTI feedback session can be useful for all employees, regardless of an individual s participation in the instrument. However, employee participation in MBTI feedback session shall be on a voluntary basis when such sessions are held outside an employee s fixed tour of duty. Appropriate overtime or compensatory time shall be authorized for employees attending outside their fixed tour of duty. 
8. Violations of this understanding may be grieved through the applicable negotiated grievance procedure. 
9. This MOU becomes effective on the date endorsed by the latest signatory and remains in effect as long as NWS continues offering the MBTI instrument to NWSEO bargaining unit employees. 
Signed   

Signed 8-23-00       Ramon I. Sierra      John J. Kelly, Jr. 
                             NWSEO President   Assistant Administrator For Weather Services

## So, what is “type” anyway?

**Type** /taɪp/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[tahyp] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, noun, verb, typed, typ·ing. –noun
- 	1. a number of things or persons sharing a particular characteristic, or set of characteristics, that causes them to be regarded as a group, more or less precisely defined or designated; class; category: a criminal of the most vicious type.                                                                                                                 2. a thing or person regarded as a member of a class or category; kind; sort (usually fol. by *of*): This is some type of mushroom.

- Definitions taken from dictionary.com

**Notes:**
Definition of “type” is a little different than the way we define type.

## Slide 4

## Sixteen Types

*MBTI identifies ****preferences**** not abilities or skills*
- There are no “good” or “bad” types
- I am I/ENFP – have taken the instrument 7 times (Introverted/Extrorverted Intuitive with Feeling)
- Descriptions of an ENFP include: creative, curious, energetic, enthusiastic, expressive, friendly, imaginative, independent, original, restless, spontaneous, and versatile

**Notes:**
The MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) personal inventory provides a useful method of understanding people by looking at 8 personality preferences that everyone uses at different times.  These 8 preferences are organized into 4 opposite pairs.  When you take the indicator (tool), the 4 preferences (one from each pair you identify as being most like you) are combined into what is called a type.

The 4 pairs of preferences, or dichotomies, describe 4 activities:

ENERGIZING – how a person is energized – either Extraversion (E) or Introversion  (I)
PERCEIVING – what a person pays attention to, either Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)
DECIDING – how a person decides, either Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
LIVING – the lifestyle a person adopts, either Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

## History of MBTI

- Based on years of observations by psychologist Carl Jung and by the instruments authors Isabel Briggs Myers and Katharine Cook Briggs.
- Their ideas help explain why different kinds of people are interested in different things, are good at different kinds of work, and sometimes find it hard to understand each other.

**Notes:**
Been under development since 1942.  Several modifications since that time but the characteristics that make it the most widely used personality test in the world has not changed.

## Why use MBTI?

- Helps a person to better understand themselves
- Helps you to understand peoples “preferences”
- Very useful in understanding how to work with an individual, how to work as teams (you do not want a group of people on a team with similar preferences, etc.)

**Notes:**
MBTI is an important tool to help you to understand more about yourself and others.  One of the greatest benefits in our organization is to help us form teams.

## Quick on-line tools

- Prerequisite:  Complete the on-line tool and print out the results page (which defines your type e.g. INFP)
- http://similarminds.com/jung.html
- Resource for many on-line personality tests...
- http://similarminds.com/personality_tests.html

**Notes:**
Prior to your attendance at this workshop, you were asked to complete an on-line MBTI-like tool.  I had asked each of you to print out the page and share with me your type.  

## How Do We Stack Up?

| ISTJ
 | ISFJ | INTJ | INFJ |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ISTP

 | ISFP | INFP | INTP |
| ESTP
 | ESFP | ENFP
1 | ENTP |
| ESTJ | ESFJ | ENFJ | ENTJ |

**Notes:**
So, I have taken a look at each of your “types” and have placed you in the appropriate square.  What do you notice?  E vs. I?  S vs. N?  T vs. F?  J vs. P?  Any similarities between the groups?  Differences?  Any surprises?  Comment.

## Extravert / Introvert

- E/I (Extravert, Introvert)
- Extraverts relate more easily to people and things outside you
- Introverts relate more easily to the ideas and thoughts in your mind

- These are two different orientations or attitudes toward the world around us.

## E/I Quiz

- John is the local office GFE team leader.  He coordinates with the adjacent offices and headquarters and sets up/runs all of our meetings.  E  or I ?
- Jackie is an asset to the office’s Climate team.  She is the one who works through all of the details to determine what needs to be on the office’s web page and how to set it up.  E or I ?
- Judy is the assistant WCM in the office.  She enjoys working with the spotter groups but sometimes has a difficult time speaking in front of large groups.  She does a fantastic job...but needs a bit of time by herself to “recharge her batteries”.  E or I ?

## Sensing / Intuition

- S/N (Sensing, Intuition)
- Sensors are interested in what their five senses are telling them – what exists in the present
- Intuitors are using their imagination to see new possibilities and insights hidden from the eye

- These are two different ways of perceiving or gathering information.

## S/N Quiz

- Bobby is a great addition to the short range forecast team.  He has amazingly captured each step of the process and will present his findings to the group in an attempt to gain efficiencies.  S or N ?
- Sandy is the union steward at our office.  She is a dynamic person and enjoys working on complex problems.  During our last meeting, Sandy came up with an innovative way to schedule the forecast desks.  The forecasters at first were very hesitant to embrace this new idea, however over time they agreed that this was the best alternative for the office.         S or N ?
- Helen had a great idea at our last staff meeting.  She proposed a whole new method of office verification to the staff.  The verification team will take up  this issue at their next meeting.  S or N ?

## Thinking / Feeling

- T/F (Thinking, Feeling)
- Thinkers base their decisions on impersonal analysis and logic.
- Feelers base their decisions on their values.

- These are two kinds of judgment or decision making.

## T/F Quiz

- Jackie is very process oriented.  At our last meeting, Jackie was able to logically sketch out a flow chart showing how our local office projects should be handled.  The MIC was very proud of her work.  T or F ?
- Ben is a great person to have on our publications review team.  After a scientific paper is written, the team leader likes to have Ben give it a “once over”.  His comments and suggestions are appreciated.  T or F ?
- Artie is a compassionate person.  When Amy had a hard time at our last staff meeting, Artie was there to talk with her.  Amy always says that Artie is there for her when she needs a friend.  T or F ?

## Judging / Perceiving

- J/P (Judging, Perceiving)
- Judgers like to have things decided; their life is likely to be planned and orderly
- Perceivers do not want to miss anything; their way of life is likely to be spontaneous and flexible

- These are two ways of living in the world around us.

## J/P Quiz

- Jason is an awesome addition to our strategic thinking team.  We are trying to decide on where the office/region needs to go in the next five years and Jason has set up an incredibly detailed outline with goals and milestones.  Jason is a natural leader.  J or P ?
- Susan is on the office automation team.  At a recent meeting, a decision was made to go from Microsoft to Corel.  The team became unglued and asked why such a decision had been made.  Susan was one of only a few people that looked at all of the benefits that Corel would bring, not to mention a huge cost savings to the organization.  J or P ?
- Harry had already made up his mind that he didn’t want to go to a new schedule where each forecaster would have to work a month of mids in a row.  No matter how convincing his teammates were, Harry stuck to his guns and said “no”.  J or P ?

## MBTI Firing

- Differences between T and F (thinkers vs. feelers)
- Group discussion
- How would you have handled it?

## Prayers of Myers-Briggs Types

| ISTJ  
God, help me to begin relaxing about little details tomorrow at 11:41:32 a.m. | ISFJ
Lord, help me to be more laid back, and help me to do it exactly right! | INFJ
Lord help me not be a perfectionist.  (Did I spell that correctly?) | INTJ
Lord, help me open to others’ ideas, WRONG through they may be! |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ISTP
God, help me to consider people’s feelings, even if most of them are hypersensitive! | ISFP
Lord, help me to stand up for my RIGHTS! (if you don’t mind my asking) | INFP
Lord, help me to finish everything I sta | INTP
Lord, help me be less independent, but let me do it my way. |
| ESTP
God, help me to take RESPONSIBILITY for my own actions even though they’re usually not my fault! | ESFP
GOD,  HELP ME TO TAKE THINGS MORE SERIOUSLY-ESPECIALLY PARTIES & DANCING | ENFP
God, help me keep my mind on one th..LOOK, A BIRD!...ing at a time. | ENTP
God, help me follow established procedures today.  On second thought, I’ll settle for a few minutes. |
| ESTJ
God, help me to try not to RUN everything.  But, if You need some help, just ask! | ESFJ
LORD, GIVE ME PATIENCE, AND I MEAN RIGHT NOW! | ENFJ
God, help me to do only what I can, and trust you for the rest.  Do you mind putting that in writing? | ENTJ
God, help me to slow downandnot rushthrough whatIdoAmen! |

## Four Quadrants

- Used to describe leadership, learning, and work styles as well as corporate culture and ways of handling change
- IS, IN, ES, EN

| IS - Thoughtful Realist | IN - Thoughtful Innovator |
| --- | --- |
| ES - Action Oriented Realist | EN - Action Oriented Realist |

## Four Quadrants (con’t)

- IS – Thoughtful Realist
- IS motto “Let’s keep it!”
- IN – Thoughtful Innovator
- IN motto “Let’s think about it differently!”
- ES – Action Oriented Realist
- ES motto “Let’s do it!”
- EN – Action Oriented Realist
- EN motto “Let’s change it!”

## Four Quadrants Quiz

- Janie is a stellar employee.  She is generally quiet, is always to work on time and follows policy and procedures.  She tends to be a bit resistant to change.  You really have to work on Janie to get her to buy in on a new idea.  IS, IN, ES, EN ?
- Jake is reflective and thoughtful person.  He is a bit flexible and embraces change.    IS, IN, ES, EN ?
- Paul is an outgoing person with lots of energy.  Paul learns by doing.  He is very practical in his actions.  IS, IN, ES, EN ?
- Juanita has a lot of enthusiasm.  She has really good working relationships with folks in other offices.  Juanita likes to talk/act through her ideas.           IS, IN, ES, EN ?

## Function Pairs

- Relate to communication style, problem solving, career choice, and organizational culture
- ST, SF, NF, NT

| ST – Sensing, Thinking | SF – Sensing, Feeling |
| --- | --- |
| NF – Intuition, Feeling | NT – Intuition, Thinking |

## Function Pairs (con’t)

- ST – Focus on “the facts”, have as a goal “efficiency”
- SF – Focus on “the facts”, have as a goal “helping others”
- NF – Focus on “the possibilities”, have as a goal “empowerment”
- NT – Focus on “the possibilities”, have as a goal “mastery”

## Function Pairs Quiz

- Billie is all about efficiency.  She keeps the team in check by asking them to “focus on the bottom line”  ST, SF, NF, NT ?
- Sharon likes to help others and experiences conflict with people disagree. ST, SF, NF, NT ?
- Peter thrives on empowerment.  He wants the team to give encouragement.  ST, SF, NF, NT ?
- Lisa is our systems person.  She makes sure all of the principles are sound and is able to contribute through theoretical concepts.  ST, SF, NF, NT ?

## Four Temperaments

- Based primarily on observable clusters of behavior which may be seen as “activity patterns”
- SJ, SP, NF, NT

| SJ - Guardians | SP - Artisans |
| --- | --- |
| NF – Idealists | NT - Rationals |

## Four Temperaments (cont’d)

**SJ – Guardians**
- 	- Leadership style – traditionalist, stabilizer, consolidator
- 	- Work style – sense of duty, responsibility, loyalty
- 	- To do their best work – need knowledge of the goal and what they are   	supposed to do to get there
- 	- Want to be known for – dependability
- 	- Can get into trouble by being – too bureaucratic

## Four Temperaments (cont’d)

**SP - Artisans**

-      - Leadership style – troubleshooter, negotiator, firefighter
-      - Work style – acts with cleverness and timeliness
-      - To do their best work – freedom to do things as they need to see fit
-      - Want to be known for – spontaneity that includes a spirit of play
-      - Can get into trouble by being – too expedient

## Four Temperaments (cont’d)

**NF – Idealists**
- 	- Leadership style – catalyst, spokesperson, energizer
- 	- Work style – persuades people about values and inspirations
- 	- To do their best work – personal meaning and congruence with who they             are
- 	- Want to be known for – ability to inspire others
-  	- Can get into trouble by being – too idealistic

## Four Temperaments (cont’d)

**NT – Rationals**
- 	- Leadership style – visionary, architect of systems, builder
- 	- Work style – adds ingenuity and logic to ideas and actions
- 	- To do their best work – intriguing models to challenge their imagination- - Want to be know for – expertise
-  	- Can get into trouble by being – too competitive

## Short Descriptions of the 16 Types

| ISTJ
dependable , exacting, factual, logical, organized, practical, realistic, reliable, reserved, sensible, steadfast, thorough | ISFJ
accommodating, detailed, devoted, loyal, meticulous, organized, patient, practical, protective, quiet, responsible, traditional | INFJ
compassionate, conceptual, creative, deep, determined, idealistic, intense, intimate, loyal, methodical, reflective, sensitive | INTJ
analytical, autonomous, determined, firm, global, independent, organized, original,  private, systems-minded, theoretical, visionary |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ISTP
adaptable, adventurous, applied, expedient, factual, independent, logical, practical, realistic, resourceful, self-determined, spontaneous | ISFP
Adaptable, caring, cooperative, gentle, harmonious, loyal, modest, observant, sensitive, spontaneous, trusting, understanding | INFP
adaptable, committed, curious, deep, devoted, empathetic, gentle, idealistic, imaginative, intimate, loyal, reticent
 | INTP
autonomous, cognitive, detached, independent, logical, original, precise, self-determined, skeptical, speculative, spontaneous, theoretical |
| ESTP
activity-oriented, adaptable, adventurous, alert, easygoing, energetic, outgoing, persuasive, pragmatic, quick, spontaneous, versatile | ESFP
adaptable, casual, cooperative, easygoing, enthusiastic, friendly, outgoing, playful, practical, sociable, talkative, tolerant | ENFP
creative, curious, energetic, enthusiastic, expressive, friendly, imaginative, independent, original, restless, spontaneous, versatile | ENTP
adaptive, analytical, challenging, clever, enterprising, independent, original, outspoken, questioning, resourceful, strategic, theoretical |
| ESTJ
decisive, direct, efficient, gregarious, logical, objective, organized, practical, responsible, structured, systematic, task-focused | ESFJ
conscientious, cooperative, harmonious, loyal, personable, planful, responsible, responsive, sociable, sympathetic, tactful, traditional | ENFJ
appreciative, congenial, diplomatic, energetic, enthusiastic, expressive, idealistic, loyal, organized, personable, responsible, supportive | ENTJ
challenging, controlled, decisive, energetic, logical, methodical, objective, opinionated, planful, straightforward, strategic, tough-minded |

## Detailed Type Descriptions

- For a more detailed description of your type...please use the following resources:
- http://www.personalitypage.com/high-level.html
- http://similarminds.com/software.html
- http://www.oswego.edu/plsi/16types.htm

## Discussion

- How do you see type as being useful in your job?
- Do you believe that knowing and understanding your co-workers type will benefit you in developing a better working relationship?
- Other comments?

##  Meteorologist

**Interests & Personality Preferences**For those of you who have completed the Career Planning Workshop and now know your Interest Type and Myers Briggs Personality Type (MBTI), this field attracts people who have the following types. Please note this does not indicate ability - people from all types can and do work effectively in this field - these types just typically prefer this field:
**Strong Interest preference **o Investigative, Realistic, Directive
**MBTI preferences**o INTJo INFPo ESTPo ENTPo ENTJ
- York University Career Centre
- Toronto, Ontario
- February 2003