Team Management - The Power of MBTI Testing

Why MBTI is important ?

Several months ago, I successfully obtained a Human Psychology and Counselling Diploma from a multi-specialty hospital in Kerala. This learning experience was heavily focused on practical application. Starting from the second week, we engaged into a multitude of hands-on aspects of psychology and counseling. Numerous insights gained during this period hold substantial value for both people managers and project managers. In this particular blog post, I will dive deeply into the significance of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) for IT managers, highlighting its role and importance.

What is MBTI test and why is this test important in Team management?

Understanding your personality type is crucial for personal growth and improvement. The MBTI test is a powerful tool for enhancing self-awareness, which is its primary purpose. It also helps you understand your individual personality traits. Whether you're a project manager or a team leader, this information is valuable for effectively managing your team and communication. This ultimately leads to better resource management strategies.

In the final part of this blog, I will share a couple of real assessments we conducted with individuals and explain how these results helped them gain a deeper understanding of themselves.

How to take the MBTI test?

To begin, the test takes just 10 minutes to complete. You will be presented with 20 questions to answer. You can access these 20 questions from the last part of this blog in a presentation format. The answers should be noted down in a specific format, which is included in the attached answer sheet along with this blog. Feel free to start by downloading both the presentation with the questions and the answer sheet.

Once you finish the test, you will receive a four-letter type code that highlights your preferences. This code acts like an X-ray, revealing insights into various sides

of your personality. It covers communication style, leadership approach, problem-solving method, decision-making process, and how you interact with others. Numerous websites offer this test for free; you can visit those websites to take the test and discover your personality type.

As an optional step, you're welcome to connect with me on LinkedIn for a type analysis. While I can't guarantee a specific timeframe for everyone, I will do my best to analyze your four-letter code and provide you with insights into your personality type.

What do MBTI Measure? What is that Four Letter Word Indicate?

1. Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I): This explores how individuals derive their energy – either from external interactions and activities (extraversion) or from within themselves and their inner thoughts (introversion).

2. Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N): This focuses on how individuals gather information – either through concrete facts and details (sensing) or through patterns and possibilities (intuition).

3. Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F): This relates to how individuals make decisions – whether they rely on logic and objective analysis (thinking) or consider personal values and emotions (feeling).

4. Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P): This reflects how individuals approach the external world – either in an organized and structured manner (judging) or in a flexible and adaptable way (perceiving).

Download a copy of MBTI questioners & presentation here.

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Download the score card from here

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Things to remember

There are various personality tests available, and MBTI is one of them. The accuracy of the results depends on how truthful you are while taking the test. Sometimes, people get confused and give wrong answers. So, it's important to make sure your answers are correct right from the beginning. Some questions might seem similar on purpose.

Also, don't spend too much time thinking about the answers. Write down your responses as soon as you read the questions. If you overthink, your answers might be influenced by other things and end up being incorrect.

A sample Analysis.

Final Words.

For precise and almost true results about your personality, it's crucial that the analysis is conducted by someone skilled in MBTI.

One important point to consider is that, even if all the conditions are met, you might interpret the results differently due to your personal biases. So, it's advisable to undertake this testing with someone who has expertise in this field.

It's equally important to take action once you identify your personality type. With your strengths and weaknesses clearly laid out, it becomes easier to act and improve in those specific areas.