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By Margaret Bailey
“What are you?” Upon hearing this question on my first day of employment with a new company, I answered, “I’m your new HR lady.” The person responded with a little laugh. “No, no. I mean your Myers-Briggs® type. Do you know what you are?”
I had never heard this question in a professional setting before. I was impressed and excited that someone had asked me. I responded, and the person told me, “We really need your type around here.” Over the next couple of days, the same question came up several times. Everyone wanted to know what my Myers-Briggs type was—and they were so excited to share their type with me.
This was the first time in my career that I had seen an organization fully integrate the MBTI framework into its culture. People used it as a tool to better communicate with others. When putting together a team, they would discuss their Myers-Briggs types to make sure they had a well-rounded team and discuss potential challenges they might have because of their types.
I had used MBTI® type in my personal life for years. It brought so much clarity to my self-awareness and gave me insight into why others behave the way they do. I knew that the Myers-Briggs assessment was used in organizations, but I had never experienced what a powerful tool it could be with teams.
Since that experience, I have been amazed at how many ways I have been able to use the MBTI assessment with teams. I would tell you all of them here, but I should save the good stuff for my presentation at the MBTI User’s Conference!
I think what I get most excited about is all the ways that the MBTI assessment will be used in the future. It is such a dynamic tool that my mind and heart get fully engaged thinking about all the possibilities. It can help shape the way an organization operates. It can influence communications, roles, and team performance. It can ease the stress of interpersonal communication by creating a shared language. It can influence the culture by accepting all the types and allowing creativity to flow from their authenticity. It can enhance business results by allowing people to energize work that is aligned with their preferences. This is powerful.
I’m happy to be a part of the MBTI community and to have the opportunity to think and strategize about all these possibilities. I invite you to be as excited as I am about influencing your company’s culture with the MBTI framework.
