What is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator?

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the most universally accepted, personal development resource used worldwide in corporate and non-corporate organisations.

  • Over 2 million people a year are introduced to the MBTI;
  • It is translated into over 16 languages;
  • Offers over 4000 books on aspects of relationships;
  • Has over 60 years of scientific research behind it;
  • The MBTI is positive and non judgemental.

The MBTI does not measure:

  • intelligence
  • skills
  • mental health
  • whether you are a ‘nice’ person or how well you get along with others.
  
     
     
 

The four opposite poles

The MBTI is made up of four opposite poles:

Extraversion (E) – Introversion (I)

Extraversion – Energised by the external world of people, activities and things.
Introversion – Energised by the personal world of thoughts, feelings and reflections.

Sensing (S) – Intuiting (N)

Sensing – Look for facts and details. Practical, concrete thinkers.
Intuiting – Look for patterns and connections. Ideas-oriented, abstract thinkers.

Thinking (T) – Feeling (F)

Thinking – Make decisions based on logic and objective facts.
Feeling – Make decisions based on personal values and feelings.

Judging (J) – Perceiving (P)

Judging – Prefer to live a planned, organised and structured lifestyle.
Perceiving – Prefer to live a casual, flexible and spontaneous lifestyle.

There is a high probability that your partner, family, friends, team members and managers are opposite to you in one or more of the four poles. Knowing how you are opposite helps you to communicate and avoid unnecessary conflict.

 

  
     
     
 

Why Learn the MBTI?

Knowing the MBTI gives you a practical model to:

  • identify your natural personality strengths
  • how to fully develop those strenghts
  • help predict certain aspects of other people’s behaviour
  • avoid unnecessary conflict
  • enable you to adapt your communication style.

Practical Applications

The MBTI has many practical applications for example in:

  • team building
  • dispute resolution
  • teaching
  • learning styles
  • career direction
  • executive coaching for leadership and management styles
  • selling
  • counselling,
  • parenting