What is MBTI? How is it categorized?
MBTI®（The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality type assessment instrument based on the book Psychological Types by Jung, a psychologist, and the MBTI is a classification of personality types.The direction in which energy is received (E/I), the way in which messages are organized (S/N), the references used to make decisions (T/F) and the attitude towards life (J/P)These four dimensions are categorized into 16 personality types using the eight letters of the alphabet. Personality types are not good or bad, nor can they measure personal abilities. It is only a tool to help understand one's personality and strengths. In the workplace, the MBTI can be used to understand the personality preferences of peers and to help teamwork and communication flow more smoothly.
MBTI Classification Tendency 1: Ways of Getting Energized
MBTI The first group of letters, E and I, are distinguished as follows"the direction in which we are energized."The reason is that we all live in two worlds. This is because we all live in two worlds, an "outer world" built up by various people, things and objects, and an "inner world" constructed by our personal thoughts, feelings and reflections. People who focus their energies on external people, events, and objects have an extroverted tendency (E), while the latter have an introverted tendency (I).
Extroversion (E, Extroversion)
Type E HabitsFocus on the outside world.This is because you like to communicate with others by "talking". In the workplace, you may speak a lot, giving the impression that you love to express your suggestions and are good at verbalizing them.
Inward (I, Introversion)
Type I people, in contrast to Type E people, have a habit ofFocusing on the inner worldI need time to organize my thoughts before speaking. I need time to organize my thoughts before speaking, and I am used to communicating with people through "writing". I tend to keep quiet and think about the content of the meeting when I am in a multi-person interactive situation.
MBTI Category Aspect 2: Ways of Organizing and Collecting Information
Sensing. Intuition.
The second group of MBTI letters, S and N, are categorized as follows"The way we organize and collect information, and what information we want and believe in."The descriptions are categorized as "step-by-step" and "abstract or macro view".
For example, if we arrive at an elegantly decorated restaurant, people S will focus on the taste of the space, whether the smell is good, whether the chairs are comfortable, and gather information about the surrounding through their five senses. Person N will think more abstractly, for example, if I had this restaurant, how would I decorate it? Or can I hire a robot to replace the waiter? It has less to do with what actually exists in the scene, and focuses on the imagination.
In the workplace, S people prefer practical and concrete problems, helping organizations to define project processes and rules to follow. N-types, on the other hand, prefer to solve problems in new and imaginative ways, looking at the overall design and then at how it should be done locally.
MBTI Category Verticity 3: Ways of Making Decisions
MBTI The third group of letters, T and F, is differentiated by"the way we make decisions."TheThe categorization of this tendency is between "concern for logic" and "concern for the person in front of me". Those who favor the former are classified as (T) Thinking and those who favor the latter are classified as (F) Feeling.
Thinking (T, Thinking)
T-types emphasize logic and make decisions based on results, and may ignore their own feelings and those of others. In the workplace, they are more likely to be able to point out clearly where their colleagues need to improve and where they differ from the plan.
Feeling (F, Feeling)
F-types emphasize on values and will consider people as their main concern. They will take the initiative to care for their colleagues at work, but it is difficult for them to reject each other or tell their unhappy feelings to the person concerned.
MBTI Classification Dimension IV: Lifestyle
MBTI The last group of letters, J and P, are categorized as follows"The way of life."It is the attitude towards the outside world, or how you organize yourself. It's like planning your life through a structured program or exploring at will. The former is more of a judgmental tendency (J) and the latter is more of a cognitive tendency (P).
Judgment (J, Judging)
People with Judgmental tendencies (J-types) like to have everything under control, to be organized and to have a plan for their lives. Therefore, they don't like to be interrupted in the middle of their work, and even if there are other more pressing events, they may be ignored.
Perceiving (P, Perceiving)
Cognitively inclined people (P-types) like to be flexible and want to have more possibilities before making a final decision, so they may start too many projects at work, causing delays.
Team Strengths of Diverse Personalities
Each MBTI type has unique strengths and potential blind spots. In a team, members of different personality types can complement each other and make up for their weaknesses. By understanding the four MBTI categories and the personality types they represent, we can further understand how to communicate with each other and improve teamwork and communication. This is not a labeling of partners, but rather a way to better develop ourselves and understand others.
Four Key Communication Skills to Help You
At work.CommunicationIt is the core key to promoting cooperation, resolving conflicts and enhancing work efficiency. Even if team members have high professional competence, the lack of effective communication skills may still result in inefficiency. Therefore, it is important for teams to develop comprehensive communication skills.
Here are a few key tips to improve your team's communication effectiveness:
1. Active Listening: Understanding is more important than expression
The first step in communication is to "listen" rather than to express one's point of view. Many people often ignore each other's opinions in communication, leading to misunderstandings or communication breakdowns.
- The practice of active listening:
- Eye contact: Demonstrate focus and respect.
- Don't interrupt each other: Allow the other party the opportunity to fully express themselves.
- Confirmation of understanding: Acknowledge in a timely manner with "I understand..., right?" to make sure there is a mutual understanding.
- Empathic Response: Respond appropriately to the other person's emotions, e.g., "I understand that this is troubling to you.
Active listening reduces misunderstandings, enhances trust among team members, and makes everyone feel that their point of view is valued.
2. Clarity of Expression: Getting to the Heart of the Message
Effective communication requires clear and specific messages to ensure that the other party can quickly understand your ideas and needs. Avoid vague terms or overly complex expressions that could lead to misunderstandings.
- The point of clarity:
- It is very clear: Use a 'summary-detail-conclusion' approach to presentation to ensure logical clarity.
- Be specific: For example, change "Please complete as soon as possible" to "Please complete by 12 noon on Wednesday."
- Keep it simple and concise: Avoid lengthy descriptions, get to the point, and get to the heart of the matter.
- Moderate pause: Pause when you speak to give the other person room to think.
In teamwork, clear expression can greatly reduce communication blind spots and enhance work efficiency.
3. Empathic Communication: Attending to Emotions and Needs
Empathic communication means understanding the other person's feelings and thinking from the other person's point of view in communication. This skill is especially useful when you need to resolve conflicts, deal with negative emotions, or work with members of different personalities.
- Practicing empathy skills:
- Observe emotions: Pay attention to your partner's tone of voice and facial expressions to detect potential emotional fluctuations.
- Switching places: Think "How would I feel if I were the other person?"
- Expressing Understanding: Respond in a timely manner with language such as, "I understand your concern, let's see how we can work this out together".
Empathy promotes mutual trust, reduces conflict, and makes team members more willing to work together, creating a harmonious working atmosphere.
4. Constructive feedback: asking questions, helping to make improvements
Giving feedback is essential in teamwork, but if it's not done in the right way, it's easy for the other person to feel blamed or criticized. Therefore, learn to provideConstructive FeedbackInstead of triggering negative emotions, let the feedback be an opportunity for growth.
- The principle of constructive feedback:
- Specific rather than general: For example, "Your report lacks data to support it" rather than "Your report is not good enough".
- Balance positive and negative feedback: Offer suggestions for improvement while recognizing each other's efforts and achievements.
- Solution-focused: Feedback should include specific suggestions to help the other party improve, such as "maybe you could include more data from market analysis".
- Avoid a scolding tone: Use a collaborative tone, e.g., "We can look together and see how we can adjust better."
Constructive feedback helps team members progress while protecting each other's self-esteem and creating a positive work culture.
5. Open-ended questioning: facilitating reflection and dialogue
Effective questioning techniques can guide team members to think deeply and facilitate two-way communication. Especially when discussing strategies and solving problems, open-ended questioning can stimulate more creativity and insights.
- Examples of open-ended questions:
- "What do you think could be done to improve this program?"
- "What do you think differently about this challenge?"
- "What can we do to achieve better results?"
Compared to closed questions (e.g., "Do you agree with this?"), open-ended questions can stimulate more ideas and increase team interaction and engagement. Open-ended questions stimulate more ideas and increase team interaction and engagement.
How can you increase the amount of time your team spends with different personality types and observing and understanding each other? Try using the resources of team building activities to get to know your partners better. Team building activities are a great way to see the different sides of your partners. For example, when an activity requires a team brainstorming session, S-types will make sure that the strategy works, while N-types will focus on creating new ways to achieve the same goal.
The key to building a team is understanding and collaboration between members, and communication skills are the bridge between them. ThroughActive listening, clear expression, empathetic communication, constructive feedbackWith these skills, teams can effectively minimize misunderstandings, increase trust, and achieve common goals. Whether it is to solve problems, stimulate creativity, or enhance team harmony, effective communication is an indispensable core competency.
Bringing people closer together through team building
It is a relaxing and enjoyable process that relieves work pressure and enhances emotional connection. Team members will experience a sense of achievement and cohesion in supporting each other to achieve their goals, and will discover their potentials that are not easily recognized, thus building a stronger foundation for future teamwork.
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