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Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

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Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#161

Post by themodelplumber »

Aeolun wrote: post #148
themodelplumber wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That depends. For example I was trained and tested to meet with a person and determine not only their MBTI type, but also their preferred cognitive processes, without ever talking about personality type with them. The testing was extremely difficult. But the skill is extremely valuable in knowing which questions to ask people as they try to navigate career and life change. You might be surprised to find how easy it i…

It does help that like 50% of people fits one of 4 types in the first place :)

Depends on the workplace for sure

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#162

Post by analog31 »

themodelplumber wrote: post #145
analog31 wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given that beliefs about personality types are so widespread, it shouldn't be too hard to guess which traits have positive and negative connotations, and learn to project the positive ones. This is not radically different than just making an effort to get along with people.

Context is king though. Traits or expressions have different good/bad connotations according to different types/type-informed contexts, that's the basic idea of how type works, how wars are started, etc. Personality type theory shines exactly in those kinds of situations, where it works better to zoom in and look at group composition, isolating for specific perspectives and integrations, rather than zooming out to br…

I'm assuming that folk beliefs about personality typing are more widespread than actual constructive uses for it, so that if I ever encounter the latter, I can deal with it as an exception.

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#163

Post by themodelplumber »

A4ET8a8uTh0 wrote: post #156
themodelplumber wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah, that's interesting. I checked out their history page. https://realcolors.org/what_is_realcolors/history/ Anytime they start by rewinding to millennia ago, that's temperament theory. Keirsey's temperament theory that they mention is fundamentally different from typical MBTI in lots of ways. In fact they can both be used to complement each other. So it's different, or not, depending on whether you want to be accura…

Thank you for sharing this. That is so weird. Having been part of an MBA program meant that my profile was reviewed through multiple similar tests, but I have not heard of that one. The thing that jumped at me is that it is not some small companies that are using these. US Banks apparently used it with its private capital customers[1] ( I am almost curious as to how it was applied ). [1] https://realcolors.org/wp-con…

yw. There is a general shortage of this kind of exploratory activity-theory, so there are common usage patterns.

I'd imagine that in capital markets it's used to help keep things more objective, to lower the personal stakes for all parties, and demonstrate an interest in constructive partnership. One of the best relationship techniques is helping the other feel understood, and that is also where tools like this one will always stand out. If you can't connect with someone via the normal methods, it's usually worth trying to connect through their self-identified objective preferences.

Anyway, just some thoughts...

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#165

Post by q7xvh97o2pDhNrh »

gfaster wrote: post #159
Aeolun wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just come out and say it? There’s nothing wrong with knowing you are a certain type. At least it’s helpful for me to point at the ‘challenges’ section and tell people ‘I do this, please keep poking me until I give you attention’. In the same way it’s helpful to have a literal definition of how other people think, because the idea that someone might deliberately go with a suboptimal idea because they value peace is…

Personally, I dislike having labels on myself that describe behavior whether it be pseudo-science or science-science because I find myself "role-playing" those labels and semi-consciously using them to guide actions. Even for medically diagnosed disorders I'll end up unconsciously thinking "Well of course, I'm going to do X because I have disorder Y/personality type Z".

Well, of course you'd say that! You're a Label-Rejecter!

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#166

Post by jwilliams »

Despite some important criticism, I think this article misses an important factor.

The benefit with the MBTI is showing employees that people think differently from them.

Yes, we all know that, but we still need prompting and practice on it.

It's best as an exercise to highlight "I need to consider this person's perspective and take that into account". Flexing that muscle is incredibly useful, even if it's a somewhat arbitrary exercise in itself.

However, I think approaches such as "User Manuals" do that better.

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#167

Post by tibbon »

I’ve always been an ENFP. I also find MB to be nearly useless in life.

In fact all personality systems have seemed of limited use, until I was shown the Enneagram. It has helped me think not about my strengths, but my weaknesses. It has been useful for understanding how I relate to others as well; and have better sympathy for their struggles

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#169

Post by IncRnd »

themodelplumber wrote: post #16
IncRnd wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that really what you would do when a prospective employer asks such a question? I'd never ask about this, the number of bumps on someone's head, or if the candidate still beats their spouse. However, the best response would be a candidate who would laugh and say, "I think you know enough of my capabilities and personality from this interview process, already"

If they just ask you to spit it out during an interview? I'd move on to the next interview unless desperate. I wouldn't presume about what they know about me, I'd just say, look, my understanding is that personality type factors are not considered appropriate as hiring criteria, and so it wouldn't feel right to answer that. I know some would give the type that they feel best matches the position, which, I guess they…

I get what you're saying. I do.

It's true that interviews aren't always easy to maneuver, but the interview process of today reflects the manager, teammates, and workplace of tomorrow.

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#170

Post by sacrosancty »

What always seemed an obvious problem with Myers-Briggs is that there's no way to be "normal". Somebody who's at the mean of all 4 axes is going to get a random score and look just the same as someone who's extreme in some way. Surely many or even most people are going to be close enough to the mean on some axes that error in the test can't place them on the correct side.
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