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I love it when real life situations inspire a “doodle” – one of my MBTI cartoons. I had scheduled a day of work with a friend, who happens to have a preference for Perceiving, when towards the late afternoon she asked if we could continue in the evening as she had other things scheduled.

Work horse that I am, I had to ask what could possibly interrupt our work flow. A big grin crossed her face as she announced that this was a “S” day and that as well as working with me she also had a swim time planned followed by Scrabble.

I laughed thinking that it was a coincidence that everything started with an “S”, but when I asked what letter day the next day was she rattled off the items all starting with “C” with such a straight face as if it was the most natural way of scheduling one’s day.

I realize this an unprofessional question but I wonder “Do P”s have more fun?”

In self-development work it seems to me that people often fall in love with the first assessment tool that offered them some insight. The Enneagram is that tool for me. This model of nine worldviews and ways of focusing attention was the first window that allowed me to see that how I was in the world made sense in the larger scheme of things. At the same time it held up a mirror so that for the first time I understood the concept of “blindspot” and how mine played out in my thinking and behaviour.

During a recent visit to Victoria British Columbia I attended an Introduction to the Enneagram workshop hosted by Kira MacDuffee and Edward Colley. Both Kira and Edward use the Enneagram as a lens in their work with clients as Clinical Counsellors so they have an intimate familiarity with the model.

While their presentation was chock full of useful and practical applications of the the model what I appreciated most was just how grounded their teaching was in the deeper meanings offered by the Enneagram. One of the things that initially appealed to me about the Enneagram was illustrated by the respectful approach taken by my first teachers. Kira and Edward made a point of setting the training in a historical context and helping us make the distinction between finding our type as an orientation – a home base and using it as yet another way to excuse or restrict ourselves. They reinforced the importance of not using the model label but rather to understand possible dynamics between essence qualities and how our personality acts to compensate for loss of connection with that essence quality.

The participants in the workshop responded to this approach willingly engaging in exercises designed to mark out how aspects of the various types are alive for each of us. One woman, an Enneagram Four expressed the impact of taking an online Enneagram assessment, ” When I got my Enneagram results it was one of the few times I’d felt seen and by a computer at that!”

The reminder that the Enneagram is a map of how we have lost our connection to our central nature, a look at our strategy to avoid pain was enough to remind me why I fell in love with it in the first place. It has helped me develop compassion for myself and others.

Thank you Kira and Edward

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIT7easNGFE

Visioning through collage making is something that I have done with individual clients and teams. The process typically includes some upfront exercises and discussions to clarify the purpose of the exploration and to focus in on what’s important. During the collage making itself participants are encouraged to be spontaneous and allow surprises to happen. And they do!

If time allows my preference is always to work on good quality gessoed canvas with professional quality paint. Colour plays an important role in setting the tone. I want people to be able to paint their canvas the colour that matches their vision. If you just asked what the heck does that mean, it’s not so woo woo. If the next steps will require the intention of passion and drive the colour might be red or orange, if the coming year is one of integration a cooler colour such as blue or green may be the right call. In all the years of doing this people just know what colour they need/want after a few exercises upfront to mine for gold.

Because we integrate the cognitive processes at the beginning, people are more willing to go into a “play” zone, similar to brainstorming where we say YES to everything and then edit down afterward by listening to our intuition and the wisdom of the body as well as our more rational side.

This collage making process integrates nicely with other work:

• Creating a vision of excellent client care for a service organization
• Emerging the leading edge of personal leadership for directors and managers
• Anchoring discoveries during an intact team offsite
• Setting an intention for the upcoming year for independent professionals / coaches /consultants
• Rounding out a business planning session to capture the essence of the new direction
• Illustrating the sweet spot of growth as part of retreat using the Enneagram
• Focusing on what’s important for individuals dealing with cancer

I have had 99% positive response

• From people of all MBTI types
• From senior managers who came into the room shocked and clutching the door who later did a complete 180 dragging me into their office to brag about their piece during the following months
• From coaches who have brought their clients for a joint session. The clients not only gained some insight but by seeing their coach work the level of trust, transparency and deep conversation was enhanced
• From team members who were surprised at what they learned about each other

Because the message of the collage is captured visually with colour and images the person is able to anchor the essence of their intention for what they are focusing on next. I have heard from people who put the collage in their office but also from folks who have theirs in the laundry room or bathroom where they will see it. I have one friend who does an annual collage and swears it is her best planning tool as she almost always completes her vision withing six months.

Collage – have you done one?

Aaron was inspired to do his own MBTI cartoons for his type INFJ. He tells me that the inspiration for these come from his own life. I think they speak for themselves. Thanks for sharing Aaron. You can learn more about him at his website, blog or follow him on Twitter

Sensing and Intuitive Entrepreneurs in Action

This “Doodle” came out of a chicken and egg conversation I had this week. The natural starting point for those who prefer Intuition is with the big picture. Those with a Sensing preference may start with something more concrete and visible and build the big picture as the pieces add up.

Even though I know better – this still blows my mind.

Where do you start? AND how does it work for you?

Life Coach Yost posted a great piece on INTJ humour which was too good not to pass on. This post features the Intel commercial below which is funny in itself. What I enjoyed about Yost’s post, MBTI geek that I am, is the way Lauren, a self- disclosed INTJ talks about the video clip. There is nothing like hearing things first hand.

I did a workshop for an intact team that had a predominance of INTJ’s and they were very silent during the session. During a break one of the participants assured me that they were hilarious but that with my ENFP sensibilities I just might not “get it.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXZ1Qg-k3Xc

Cartoons take the cartoonist aka the “doodler” into a world of imagination. The trick is to anchor them in something very real and recognizable. Hopefully in both the reality and the exaggeration a nugget of truth will emerge.

My Twitter friend Aaron Caycedo-Kimura has been playing with some doodles of his own which he has generously offered to share here and with his community of INFJ friends. Aaron comments on the value he has experienced in capturing his thoughts this way. Such an authentic gesture always benefits others as well.

The last few books I’ve read have been about the authors’ childhoods, and they made me think about how I could give voice to my experience. I’m not really a writer, and it’s hard to express what I want with just images. So, this doodling has been great.

One more thing about Aaron. I loved looking at the work he has on his blog. You might like to have a visit there to say hello.

A Doodle from Aaron Caycedo-Kimura

Poetry is subversive. It dives in and plays deep in territory we haven’t stepped into before, asking questions we dare not ask.

Poet David Whyte, speaking at the Remarkable Leadership series, considers the bigger questions.

He weaves poetry with story and observation to offer keys to help us consider how the particular aspects of our work and passions connects to a much larger reality that is quite invisible to us. We also come to see that if we limit our perception of self, work and relationship to the superficial, we miss the way these everyday items and events can open us to the deeper purpose supporting our work and to the wellspring of our creativity.

David tells the Sufi teaching story of Mullah Nasruddin. Nasruddin traveled each day from Saudi Arabia to Egypt with his donkey loaded with many packs, and each day the border officials would search his packs to see what he was smuggling in. They never found anything suspicious. For four years, the border officials were determined to catch this smuggler. They watched him become increasingly wealthier until he finally stopped crossing the border every day. Later the chief border official also retired and he happens to meet meet Nasruddin. The official said, “Now that we are both retired, you are not in any danger. For my own sense of curiosity, please tell me what is was that you were smuggling.” Nasruddin answers, “Donkeys.”

The focus on the minutia caused the officials to miss seeing what was happening. The smuggling was about a different donkey every day for four years.

Assessment tools such as the MBTI, Enneagram, Reiss and DiSC look at parts of a whole to shine a light on aspects of a person’s preferences, worldview, motivation and strengths. We understand that this is not who we are but rather that these tools provide a way of reflecting back to ourselves ways we might be in the world. They open the door for inspection and discussion so that we can understand who we are and make sense of how others may be different.

If we get distracted or lost in the details of these tools we miss the whole. Indeed we miss the person.

In addition, if we focus all of our attention on the superficial aspects of the person and their work we miss the larger territory below the surface and all that that can contribute to finding deeper meaning and to our well-being.

“Notes from the Universe” arrives like clockwork in my email bringing me upliftng reminders and dollops of wisdom. This missive is sent from the witty and wise Michael Dooley -entrepreneur, author and current day thought provoker. Michael Bungay Stanier talks with Michael in the most recent of his “Great Work Interviews.”

Michael Bungay Stanier challenges us to shift from doing “lots of work” and thinking that that is what counts to doing “great” work. Great work is soul stuff…what we are meant to be doing. I think you will enjoy this “Great Work Interviews.”>audio. It is a confirmation that working to get the best pay cheque can’t hold a candle to doing work you LOVE that fits you to a “T”

Type Practitioner Blueprint
Get training from 8 international psychological type experts

If you are a coach, personality type practitioner, a consultant in leadership development or a leader wanting to step into new levels of excellence, you get tons of invitations to trainings and seminars. Right? Some are tempting and you want to do them but there is often a BUT… It might mean traveling to another city for a conference, you don’t have the time or you aren’t certain if this is the right thing right now. Well Kris Kiler of TypeLabs has brought together a program that is a “no brainer” for anyone wanting to refresh and reenergize their work.

Learn from the learners and innovators in the field of personality typology
When I saw the list of experts that Kris has brought together I was so excited. I know the work of five of the eight and two of these people were the ones who I did my first MBTI training with so I can personally vouch for the impact that they have made in my life. Imagine having an opportunity to learn from them again without having to get on a plane. That works for me!

As I looked over this list these folks have all continued to learn and develop their knowledge and use of type – no one here is resting on their laurels or repackaging old material. This is new thinking with new approaches that will inspire and inform how you work with others as well as enhance your own leadership capacity. The focus with all eight of these experts is on application. This will be so much more than learning for learning sake. That is part of what makes this line-up so exciting.

A Stellar Line – Up

Marci Segal: Language to Leverage for Creative Thinking

Dario Nardi: 8 Keys to Self-Leadership

Peter Geyer: Psychological Type: Interpretation and Development from Jung to Today

Daniel Liew: Cross Cultural Communication and Psychological Type

Scott Campbell: Using Social Styles to Be a Better Leader

Hile Rutledge: Making Type Training Experiential

Pam Fox Rollin: Coaching People Through Type-related Blindspots

Susan Gerke: Driving Team Performance from the Inside Out

The Whole Menu or Skip Right to Dessert

Kris has set this program so that you can sample from this great menu or enjoy the whole feast at a special discounted rate. These experts represent the best leaders in their field from Canada, the US, the UK, Malaysia and Australia. Type professionals and others who are passionately interested in using the latest thinking in creating workplaces that actually work for people will be on these calls. This will truly be a global conversation.

Run don’t walk to sign up now by clicking on the link below. I will see you there.

Type Practitioner Blueprint
Get training from 8 international psychological type experts