Reasons for using: it is a
self-report instrument,
non-judgmental, way to sort
and not measure, well
researched and regarded,
used widely
Benefits
To the Organisation: logical explanation
of consistent human behaviour; reduces
personal and organisational conflict;
emphasizes the value of diversity;
identifies strengths and blind spots; helps
clarify fit between person and job; valid,
reliable, ethical
NOT a prediction of performance
To the Individual: straight forward, affirmative path to
understanding yourself better; provides a way to improve your
communication patterns; helps identify sources of conflict;
helps you to value yourself and your own unique contributions;
helps restore vitality and reduce stress; improves motivation
and communication
E-I "How are you energised?"
'E' - good at greeting
people; impatient with
slow jobs; prefer to
communicate by
talking
'I' - work alone contently; prefer
to learn by reading rather than
communicating; have trouble
remembering names/faces
S-N "How do you acquire information?
'S' - like an established way of doing things;
may not often be inspired; good at precise work
'N' - dislike doing the same thing
repeatedly; work in bursts of energy;
can over-complicate a task
T-F "How do you prefer to make decisions?
'T' - respond more to people's ideas than
feelings; need to be treated fairly; talent for
analysing solution; may hurt people's feelings
without knowing
'F' - need occasional praise; enjoy pleasing people; sympathetic; will work to make harmony happen
J-P "Which lifestyle do you prefer?"
'J' - work best when they can plan
their work; use lists as agendas for action; may decide
things too quickly
'P' - adapt well to changing situations; may start too many
projects; use lists as reminders of what to do that day; works
well under pressure
Teams: we need to respect each others types; a combination of types
is good for problem solving; the development of individuals should be
around skill enhancement rather than personality development;
tyranny of the "shoulds" (Horney)