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A
personality system that I have found to be extremely useful is the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This is an instrument based on work
developed by Carl Jung that measures your "preferences" on
four scales. There is an excellent book on specific career choices
for the sixteen
possible
types called Do What You Are.
Determining
Your Preferences
By determining your preference on each scale, you will identify the
dominant letter for each of four traits. The combination of
the letters give you a resulting Character Type. Following
you will find a brief look at the four traits.
Where You Get Your Energy - The first trait is
focused on where you get your energy. Extroverts
(E) recharge their energy by being with others, socializing, and engaging
in outward directed activities. Extroverts also tend to speak
out loud to determine what it is they are trying to say. Introverts
(I) recharge their energy by being alone and engaging in quieter activities. Introverts
would generally prefer to think through what they want to say beforehand,
sometimes losing their chance to speak in group settings. Extroverts
tend to feel much more uncomfortable with silences than Introverts.
Where
do you fall on the scale?
Extroverted
(E) __________+_________ Introverted
(I)
How You Take in Information - The second trait is about how
you take in information, or how you prefer to receive information. For
example, Sensors (S) tend to be practical and detail-oriented, and
to focus on the physical and tangible aspects of the world around them. Therefore,
when they are learning about a new project, they'll want first to know
all
about the specifics. Intuitives (N), on the other hand, hone
in on the big picture, and tend to be more imaginative and focus on
implied meaning. Intuitives have trouble processing detailed
information without knowing how it fits into the big picture.
Sensing
(S) ___________+___________ Intuitive
(N)
How
You Make Decisions - Thinkers (T) tend to make decisions in
an objective, logical and analytical manner, while Feelers (F)
tend to be more subjective, personal and compassionate in their
decision making process. Women tend to be Feelers due to
the way they are socialized. In a job situation, Thinkers
will make personnel decisions based on the good of the company,
while Feelers might choose based on how their decision will impact
the people involved.
Thinking
(T) _____________+____________ Feeling
(F)
How
You Spend Your Time and Energy (what activities you engage
in) - Judgers (J), or Schedulers, prefer to organize and order
how their time and energy is spent. They like to know what
to expect, and prefer deadlines, order and tend to make up their
minds quickly. Perceivers (P), on the other hand, prefer
flexibility and like to keep their options open. Perceivers
are brilliant at generating alternatives, while Judgers are great
at making decisions. Perceivers are often surrounded by clutter
while they work, and love variety.
Judging
(J) _____________+____________ Perceiving
(P)
Temperament Type
A final
piece of the puzzle is indicated by combining key letters. For
example, an NF is considered to be an Idealist temperament, and tend
to be enthusiastic, intuitive, romantic, and spiritual; focused on
personal development and the potential of the human spirit. For more
information about temperaments, click here.
Here is a quick summary of each Temperament, based on
the Keirsey website and on the book Do What
You Are:
Idealists (NF) put personal integrity above all else.
They strive for self-discovery and put high value on authenticity.
Idealists must have work that they find personally meaningful. Idealists make
up approximately 12% of the American population.
Rationals (NT) pursue excellence in all their undertakings.
They can be visionary and are highly independent. They
feel dissatisfied unless they have challenging work. Rationals
make up approximately 12% of the American population.
Artisans (SP) love adventure! They value individual
creativity, being pragmatic, personal freedom, spontaneity, action
and variety, and are very focused in the NOW. Artisans like work
that brings immediate results. Artisans
make up approximately 38% of the American population.
Guardians (SJ) value security, stability and authority.
They tend to enjoy challenging work, and feel a strong need to
belong and be of service. Guardians prefer to work in a structured
and stable environment. Guardians make
up approximately 38% of the American population.
Putting It To Use
I have found that knowing your type can be very illuminating
when it comes to making career choices, particularly in the area of
making choices about an ideal working environment for yourself.
For example, I know an INFP who has created a combined
career in computer consulting, psychology and career counseling. Her
F is on the "low" side, meaning that although she has a preference/tendency
towards F, she also has fairly well-developed T side (thinker - analytical,
objective decision-making), which is satisfied by the technical aspects
of her work - using career assessment tests & doing the computer
work. Her P preference is satisfied by the variety and lack of deadlines,
and her NF preference combination by her counseling/helping work (NF
is also artistic, creative, human potential). Her I (introverted preference)
is satisfied through her counseling work which is typically 1-on-1
and quiet.
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