MBTI Facts

Click here if you cannot see this doodle

This MBTI based cartoon is based on a direct quote from an ISTJ. I love the word “obviously” smack in the middle of this summation. I can imagine someone who knows what their place is in the organizational structure and abides by all of the spoken and unspoken traditions that accompany the org chart. Efficient, orderly, organized and a strong dose of being realistic. The job at hand gets done – fun, frivolity and spontaneity may not be in the job description here.

Palliative care takes a special kind of person. Imagine stepping into this role with someone in your social circle.

Recently I spoke with a woman who commented that she had just come from the last visit with a woman who she had been caring for for the last 6 months. That wasn’t her career and she hadn’t even started out as a best friend, but here she was saying goodbye to someone important in her life.

Granted she had skills that allowed her to do this work as a caregiver. She had been a nurse and is a trained coach working in the education system with families. However what was amazing to me was the combination of practicality and compassion that went hand in hand in her approach.

Understandably the family of the woman who was dying were in a state of confusion and denial. Part of what this ESFJ offered to them was being able to see through the overwhelm to know what needed to be done not only in the moment but for the next steps. The suggestions she made provided organized, well thought through information with concrete steps that were easily achievable. The family came to trust her open and compassionate guidance. Plus it gave them something to do to feel somewhat in control.

ESFJ’s supply warmth and are a steadying influence. They work well in systems and/or teams as they create collaborative environments where the practical needs of all concerned are top of mind.

What was most evident to me was the value in the simple act of daily conversation. These two women talked from the heart about what was wanting to be said…no holding back…no being afraid to go to all of the scary places.

Perhaps other types can also bring this level of heart and hand but this ESFJ has my vote for getting her angel wings.

What is the logical rational first thing that needs to happen when you are making a significant life or business decision? If you have a preference for Thinking, your answer to this question might just be that you need to identify your criteria for a successful outcome. That way you will be able to compare and decide if the option before you meets that criteria.

While this makes sense in theory, in practice someone with a preference for Feeling will typically have a different approach. They may eventually come up with a very rational and objective set of criteria but a more subjective approach will lead them there.

Getting to know who we are ought to be easy. We look at ourselves in the mirror everyday. That only gives us a snapshot or perhaps a delusion if we think that is all there is. Using the MBTI as a tool for gaining self knowledge is an excellent choice, but as my response to this reader’s request illustrates it isn’t always accomplished with a first glance.

Can you do an article about ENFP and INFP differences?
I’m NFP but don’t know whether E or I.
(To make things more complicated I’m Enneagram 3 which is externally focused, so it is confusing me.)

When people first meet the MBTI model, they often look at it as a collection of preferences. So they try to decide am I really “Extroverted” or am I more “Introverted”. The four letters that make up the MBTI type are really a code that determines how the four functions of Intuiting, Sensing, Thinking and Feeling interact. This means that a person with preferences for INFP has a different dominant or leading function than a person with ENFP preferences. I sometimes think of dominant function as a persons first language. While we use all functions they are not all used equally and this flavours how we show up in the world.

The INFP leads with Introverted Feeling. They approach life looking through a lens of what is important and what is of value in a universal context. They can see the subtle differences in a constellation of factors such as the relative value of all the component parts involved – the various groups, the individual people, their actions, the beliefs and thinking underlying the issue. All of this is measured against their own inner value system to see what is in alignment and what isn’t.

The INFP “loves” the authentic in people and draws that out in them. Integrity, harmony, values and identity are words that resonate with the INFP. They are interested in what is deep and meaningful to the individual and they are not interested in people who don’t live up to their ideals.

On the other hand ENFPs lead with Extroverted Intuition. Having this dominant function is like having radar for the unspoken, the random occurrences surrounding a situation and a sudden knowing of what it all means. Brainstorming is like oxygen and the ENFP floats possibilities out to see which ones will rise to the top. They often follow several tangents at once without attachment and this ability allows them to navigate change as part of exploring life.

The ENFP is an inspiration junkie and wants to inspire and be inspired. They are known for their enthusiasm but have to watch to temper their enthusiasm with reality.

Your Dominant Function
Again it comes down to how do you know? The best way is always to combine taking the MBTI assessment tool through a certified practitioner combined with the coaching they will offer to do a self- determination of type.

I also recommend getting curious over a period of time and becoming a detached observer of your behaviour. On a personal note- even though I spend oodles of time alone and have become less and less social over time – the ENFP dominant function of Extroverted Intuition stands out a mile. Not only do I experience it I hear feed-back from others that this is what they experience too. At the same time I know that while I appreciate deep meaningful conversation I have no interest in sustaining that in the same way an INFP can and does.

The Step 2 Distinctions
To go back to the attitudes of Introversion and Extroversion for a moment. When I use the MBTI, I prefer the Step 2 inventory which breaks down each of the preference pairs into 5 sub-pairs.
People may be out-of-preference on one side of the equation that differs from their type code and this not only adds a layer of complexity but also explains a lot.

One individual who stands out had results that said he was ENTP but he was out-of-preference on the Introverted side for 2 of the 5 distinctions for Extroversion and Introversion. He determined that INTP was a better fit for who he was and how he operated in real life. The team that reported to him also gained an understanding of how to best communicate with him. They could see that he “went to his cave” literally and figuratively at times and yet he would respond when asked so that they had permission to ask.

Also I have seen it work that understanding potential out-of-preference distinctions allowed the person to be really comfortable with their MBTI results and yet fit in this seemingly confusing aspect of their behaviour. One person who typed as an Extrovert was out-of-preference for one of the 5 distinctions on the Introverted side. He was able to explain to his team that there were times were he felt quite shy. The team members confessed that they had experienced this and felt that understanding this distinction helped them not to take this shift in behaviour personally.

As for the Enneagram
Each of these personality tools needs to be first looked at on their own before trying to see how they work along side each other. They do not readily overlap in all places and even so experts do not agree on how they do. My ENFP preferences are not typical for an Enneagram 6 but make sense to me when I see my strong 7 wing.

My suggestion is to look at these 2 tools as separate entities for now. The Enneagram is not a fast study IMHO so be okay with being curious. You are simply fascinating and worth the time investment to explore.

I’d love to hear if this helped you come to a landing place and also love to hear how others resolve MBTI type confusion.

Breanne Potter of “The MBTI Blog” is sending wishes for the New Year MBTI style.

In a recent post she describes her calendar laden with milestones to mark out her progress with her goals for 2010 in true ISTJ style. Her resolution for ISTJ is – “This year I will learn not to sweat the small stuff, even though I believe there is no such thing as small stuff.” The great question she poses is what do New Year’s resolutions look like for each type.

I added an ENFP worthy thought that I have been mulling over for a few weeks –

In 2010 I will “finally” respect the gift of PLAY – embracing it for my personal day to day well-being and bringing it into my coaching and painting – creativity to the MAX…Wooohoooo

What do your New Years Resolutions look like?

No matter what they may be – please accept my best wishes for a wonderful years full of all the richness and blessings you hope for.

This MBTI cartoon aka doodle shows the frustration a person with a Judging preference might feel when their organized approach meets the options oriented approach of someone with a Perceiving preference.

Cool thing is that this interaction happened right in front of my eyes while I was visiting friends. He thought his favourite Bob Marley CD was lost forever. She was wide eyed and innocent that everyone wouldn’t file that way. In fact she was really proud that the CD’s were filed at all. The really funny part for me, is that knowing her the way I do, she might have had a different filing system on a different day. The sad truth is that, I also, can never quite remember what filing methodology made sense to me at the moment. I can totally understand the frustration this creates. I frustrate myself. Grrrr…….

Now where are all those stocking stuffers I bought last July?

An article by this title (Why Introverts Can Make the Best Leaders) was posted at Forbes.com. Jennifer B. Kahnweiler author of a book on how Introverts can leverage their strengths to become great leaders gives five valuable considerations in her article. They include the value Introverts provide in

1. how they think before talking,
2. how they are drawn to deeper more meaningful conversation,
3. how the reassuring calm that is natural to them helps others,
4. how they readily make use of the power of the written word, and
5. how they take time to refuel their thinking, creativity and decision making.

It is a short article that is a teaser for what looks like a very worthwhile book. The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength It is well worth 3 minutes of your time in popping over to read this article in full.

A mention I made of this article on Facebook sparked a conversation about the “below the radar” aspect of the power and strengths of many with a preference for Introversion in organizations. A couple of coaching/consulting colleagues shared their experience about the number of clients they had who they recognized as being quiet “stars”. The question then is how to work with your preferences to let your light shine. Kahweiler’s article at one point talks about the use of Social Media tools to make the strengths of the Introvert more visible to others. Creative, inspiring and practical approaches to help make use of all ones gifts and talents in the workplace – now that sounds like a winner to me.

I am curious to read what gems lie between the covers of this book.

(Aside – There is a metaphor in the last sentence I would love to flog without seeming schmaltzy – get it – Introverts = gems between book covers)

(Aside #2 – This painting of Introversion below captures the calm and stillness and ability to stay in the deeper conversation. Some say the monotone is depressing and inaccurate, but the person whose sketch I based this on had the deeper meanings in mind.)

NFP - How to get along with me

Authenticity may be the INFP’s middle name. They seek meaning and purpose in all they do. They understand that people bring their own gifts and talents. They pay attention to the fact that each individual will react differently and have different timing needs and that all of that needs to be factored in to any process. This doodle is a reminder to value their individuality as they value yours.

INTJ - How to get along with me

This MBTI related workplace tip is a gem. The INTJ can be a great communicator presenting clear and compelling observations and creating clarity around ideas and outcomes for the team. Because their vision of the big picture is so clear they zero in on action toward those goals. They might not appreciate team members who take up a lot of their time being brought up to speed. AND above all else they need people to understand and respect their need for uninterrupted time alone.

INFJ - How to gt along with me

This advice comes from an INFJ and may refer to their dislike of having to manage lots of minutiae and details. They are more interested in the visionary direction and valuable work. So give them enough specifics but don’t overwhelm them with detail or pressure them in the moment to either exhibit extroverted behaviour or to answering without an opportunity for reflection.