An MBTI Approach to More Effective Team Working

An MBTI Approach to More Effective Team Working: understanding self and others Kathy Duffy Education Development Manager, NWD

Objectives of session • Introduction to MBTI personality types • Exploration of own type • Understand how team working can be affected by difference in personality • An opportunity to explore strategies to develop own approach to working with others.

So, why are team dynamics important? • Think about a difficult team you have worked in, where you felt other personalities were hard to work with. • Discuss in trios and highlight some of the issues and consequences. Ø Understanding self and others in terms of personality types can help to inform more effective approaches to team working

So… What is the MBTI? The Myers Briggs Type Indicator is a tool or framework for understanding our own Personality Type and that of others. • It is an indicator not a test so there are no right or wrong answers • It looks at normal behaviour • It identifies preferences rather than competencies, abilities or skills. Remember…there is no better or worse Personality Type to be!

About MBTI earn • Purpose: people • Application: a development tool e. g. Developing your approach to more effective team working • History: Jung’s theory of leadership • Research: Strong support for the reliability and validity of the MBTI. • Ethics: Each individual owns their data and can choose to share it or not as they wish.

What is a preference?

The concept of ‘preference’ “Natural” “Easy” “Quick” “Comfortable” “Effortless” “Unnatural” “Difficult” “Slower” “Awkward” “Took more Energy”

Basic Assumptions of Type Theory • The MBTI questionnaire assesses preferences. • Preferences are not absolutes: everyone uses all eight. • Preferences are not abilities: MBTI preferences do not tell you what you can and can’t do. • There are no better or worse types: all types have potential! • People are the best judges of their own type

The Four Dimensions of Type Preferences are not absolutes: everyone uses all eight Extraversion and Introversion Where you prefer to get and focus your ‘energy’ or attention Sensing and i. Ntuition What kind of information you prefer to gather and trust Thinking and Feeling What process you prefer to use in coming to decisions Judging and Perceiving What process you prefer to use in coming to decisions

E : I Where you prefer to get and focus your ‘energy’ or attention Extraversion Get energy from the outer environment of people and experiences Focus energy and attention outwards in action Introversion Get energy from the inner environment of reflections and thoughts Focus energy and attention inwards in reflection

Analogy E I

Ask yourself… • How do you prefer to relax at the end of a stressful week? • How do you prefer to behave in meetings?

Characteristics Extraversion vs Introversion Do-think-do vs Think-do-think Action vs Reflection Talk things through vs Think things through Expressive vs Contained Interaction vs Concentration Breadth of interest vs Depth of interest

What is your preference? While everyone can operate in both modes, we do not prefer them equally. E Clear ? Moderately Clear Not Sure I Moderately Clear

Sensing and i. Ntuition

What did you see?

S : I The kind of information you prefer to gather and trust Sensing Prefer information coming from the five senses Focus on what is real Value practical applications i. Ntuition Prefer information coming from association Focus on what might be • Value imagination and insight

What do you see? S N See the specifics See patterns then the pattern the specifics

Characteristics Sensing vs i. Ntuition Facts vs Ideas Specifics vs Big picture Realistic vs Imaginative Here and now vs Anticipating the future Practical vs Theoretical Observant vs Conceptual

What is your preference? While everyone can operate in both modes, we do not prefer them equally. S Clear ? Moderately Clear Not Sure N Moderately Clear

Thinking : Feeling T Makes decisions by stepping out of the problem to be objective F Makes decisions by stepping into the problem to be compassionate

T : F What process you prefer to use in coming to decisions Thinking Prefer to make decisions on the basis of logic and objectivity Feeling Prefer to make decisions on the basis of values and personal convictions Quick to see errors and give a critique Quick to show appreciation and find common ground Step out of situations in order to analyse dispassionately Step into situations to weigh human values and motives

Ask yourself… • What would you do if a friend was burgled? • How do you show appreciation?

Characteristics Thinking vs Feeling Guided by personal values Guided by cause-and-effect reasoning vs Logical analysis vs Understand others’ point of view Seek objective truth vs Seek harmony Impersonal criteria vs Personal circumstances Critique vs Praise Focus on task vs Focus on relationship

What is your preference? While everyone can operate in both modes, we do not prefer them equally. T Clear ? Moderately Clear Not Sure F Moderately Clear

J : P How you prefer to deal with the world around you : your ‘lifestyle’ Judging Perceiving Prefer to live life in a planned and organised manner Prefer to live life in a spontaneous and adaptable manner Enjoy coming to closure and being decisive • Enjoy keeping options open and being curious Avoid stressful last-minute rushes • Feel energised by last-minute pressures

J : P Illustration J P

Characteristics Judging vs Perceiving Planned vs Emergent Organised vs Flexible Controlled vs Unconstrained Structured vs Go with the flow Scheduled vs Spontaneous

Ask yourself… • If tomorrow’s work were cancelled, what would you do? • How do your food shopping?

What is your preference? While everyone can operate in both modes, we do not prefer them equally. J Clear ? Moderately Clear Not Sure P Moderately Clear

Preference Type When combined your preferences indicate your Preference Type: E or I S or N T or F J or P There are 16 preference types (e. g. ESTP, INTJ, ENFP, INTJ etc) 31

Type of Type? ! √ Self Assessed Type The preferences you have chosen so far combine to give your “Self Assessed” Type. Reported Type The preference type reported after you have completed the MBTI questionnaire. You will also get a ‘preference score’ showing how consistently you chose one preference over the other. → Best Fit Type You are the best judge of your own type!

Type Table (guide only – refer to detailed descriptors / reference material) ISTJ Inspector ISFJ Protector INFJ Counsellor INTJ Mastermind ISTP Crafter ISFP Composer INFP Idealistic INTP Architect ESTP Promoter ESFP Performer ENFP Champion ENTP Inventor ESTJ Organiser ESFJ Provider ENFJ Coach ENTJ Leader

Now you know your type… • Read your type descriptor • What effect does this have in how you interact in the workplace? • Can you begin to see where personality type might have an effect? • How might different personality types clash?

Group exercise • In small groups, complete the following task: – Plan a training session for junior doctors on ‘Improving interview skills’ – Produce a flyer advertising your event • One or two observers for each group • Notice how the team works and how individual personalities contribute.

Feedback from groups • What different types of interaction did you notice? • Did you notice your own personality affecting how you interacted? • What aspects of the activity did you find frustrating? • Did you notice behaviours/actions of others that surprised you?

Interactions with colleagues: Intuitive types Sensing types Bring up new possibilities Bring up pertinent facts Anticipate future Realities of situation Apply insight Apply experience Focus on long-term Focus on what needs doing now Feeling types Thinking types Assess how others will react Analyse implications Make exceptions for individuals Be consistent Attach importance to values Attach importance to principles Aim for harmony Create logical systems

Working in teams: MBTI developments : MTR-i looks at team ‘types’ Coach Crusader Explorer Innovator ESFJ/ENFJ ISFP/INFP ENTP/ENFP INTJ/INFJ Sculptor Curator Conductor Scientist ESFP/ESTP ISFJ/ISTJ ESTJ/ENTJ ISTP/INTP • Stretch = Difference between preferred and actual team role • Stretch can be developmental/motivating • However, large/prolonged difference can result in stress

In summary • Greater understanding of self and own personality • Appreciation of and respect for difference in approach to work/team • Questions / observations you might use to give you better insight into those with other personality preferences? • Initial thinking on ways to be personally more effective within teams, and develop own team role/s

Contacts/References/Further reading • Kathy Duffy BA Hons, RGN, MA Ed, MBTI Part 1 qualified; CIPD Certificate in Coaching k. duffy@nwpgmd. nhs. uk • • MBTI resources materials: © OPP 2006 http: //www. businessballs. com/personalitystylesmodels. htm • • Introduction to Type (2000) © OPP Introduction to Type and Leadership (2008) © OPP • http: //www. opp. eu. com/psychometric_instruments/mbti/Pages/default. aspx • • http: //www. slideshare. net/malpascoe/mbti-team-dynamics http: //www. teamtechnology. co. uk/myersbriggs. html