Application Of MBTI Typology To Work In The Team Of Different People With Different Background

During the trimester I learnt a lot of things which are extremely important when you lead a group of different people. The main word here is “different”. Different person needs to have a different approach and have different role in a team. I decided to apply the MBTI typology to our Team of 8 work process and create recommendations how to work in the team of different people with different background.

History of the MBTI typology

The MBTI typology (Myers Briggs Type Indicator) was developed in the 1920s. XX century Isabel Myers and Katerina Briggs on the basis of the theory of Carl G. Young. Based on a thorough analysis and comprehensive approach to the evaluation of personal characteristics, she singles out 16 psychological personality types. And even if the theory can not be called exhaustive, since each person is unique and does not fit into any classification framework, one should recognize the rightness of its general direction and accept it as a guide to action in the process of self-knowledge and self-development, as well as in organizing the work of the collective.

What is the MBTI typology?

The theory is based on the allocation of four categories that determine the worldview and behavior of a person:source of energy;way of perception of the world;method of decision making;the nature of everyday life.In the first category, we can be extroverts or introverts: E (Extraversion) and I (Introversion).In the second - based on feelings or intuition: S (Sensing) and N (iNtuition).In the decision-making process, be guided by the mind or feelings: T (Thinking) and F (Feeling).

In everyday life we prefer to act on the basis of a built-up plan, rationally, or flexibly, according to circumstances, irrationally: J (Judging) and P (Perception).According to the theory, there are 16 variants of a combination of these preferences, and hence 16 personality types in the MBTI typology.For example, ENTJ (Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging) is the type of born leader. Loving communication, seeing many opportunities, having the ability to perceive and store a large amount of information, quickly making the right decisions.

How to test for MBTI?

A company testing its employees in the MBTI system is recommended to use two types of analysis: Questioning and Introspection.Questioning allows you to see a person the way his colleagues are used to seeing him. Throughout life, we adapt to the requirements of society, acquire and cultivate the features necessary for effective interaction.Introspection - to reveal not so obvious inclinations and preferences, which are usually noticeable only in the environment of family and close friends. These qualities reveal to a greater extent our natural propensities, which are most fully manifested in childhood.

Together, the two methods will give the most complete picture of the psychological type of personality.Unfortunately, we hadn’t had enough time for doing detail analysis of our group. It means that I could just deduct who is who.

What does MBTI provide?

Based on this classification, we can:

• to assess the behavior of the employee;
• choose a management style;
• create optimal working environment and mode of operation;
• identify strengths and weaknesses;
• outline development prospects form effective teams.

The ideal team - similar or different MBTI profiles?

And in that, and another approach to the formation of the team has its pros and cons.Plus teams with similar types of MBTI in that employees work together, decisions are made quickly, but the opinion of those who remain in the minority is not taken into account, it is possible to miss the creative decision and the development of new opportunities.Plus, teams with different profiles in a careful study of all existing opinions, but at the same time the decision-making and tasks can be delayed.

Therefore, it is recommended to apply a flexible approach that takes into account all the features of MBTI type interaction.The Team of 8 was team, where different profiles meet each other. We had 3 extroverts and 5 introverts.

How to establish interaction between extroverts and introverts?

Many believe that the extrovert is a sociable, active, energetic person who loves work in a team, easily converges with others, is the leader and soul of the company. While the introvert is a sullen person, trying to protect himself as much as possible from communicating with people, an initiativeless and listless person, immersed in his reflections.However, this opinion is erroneous. The difference between an introvert and an extrovert is not in the degree of communicability, but in the method of "recharging", in that, where we draw energy for interaction with the world.

An extrovert receives energy from external sources - communication with people, someone else's own experience. Whereas the worldview of the introvert is based on one's own feelings, thoughts and experiences.Because of this, the extrovert prefers to communicate with people in person orally, while the introvert - in absentia and in writing. An extrovert is better trained in practice, in a team, in the learning process, whereas an introvert should carefully consider the information received.

Seeking to get a quick reaction from others, the extrovert will first say, and then think about it. He likes to learn new ideas and solutions during the conversation.Then the introvert will think long before expressing his opinion to others. It is better to make a decision in solitude, not experiencing the direct influence of other people's opinions.Like a main instrument of communication, our team choose WhatsUp chat because:

Accessibility: WhatsUp it’s an application, which everyone have on their mobile phone

Speed: messages instant appear on the mobile phone/

As was mentioned before, introverts prefer writing method of communication, for them it was more comfortable environment for expression their ideas and thoughts. Opportunity to have an access to all chat history for next analysis and notes.

How to hold meeting?

Notification of employees

To inform about the upcoming meeting all team members in advance so that they have the opportunity to prepare for it. Moreover, extroverts are better in oral form, introverts in writing. An extrovert will have time to discuss the matter with colleagues before the meeting, come to the meeting with questions about the project and the options for answering them, willingly defend their opinion and immediately make a decision.

The introvert will prepare for the meeting in advance, having considered the issue on the agenda, having formed his opinion on this issue, which he will never hurry to express first without listening to and not considering the information.

Holding the meeting

First we had to give a word to extroverts. They were sufficiently outlined the range of problems, actualize pressing issues, and propose solutions. But we had to remember about the time management, because it was quite difficult to not give the meeting become to be a monologue. Then asked the introvert's opinion. Their questions were thought out, laconic, opinion balanced. He would point out the important aspects of the problem, which are not immediately evident.

End of the meeting

We had to be sure to thank all team members for their active participation.How about planning? One person prefers careful planning, scheduling the day, thus organizing and structuring their living space. Another is to act spontaneously and haphazardly, to be open at any time to the emergence of new opportunities.

These decision-making features formed the basis of the fourth category in the MBTI typology Judgment (J) / Perception (P).For a rational type (J) it is characteristic to build long-term and short-term plans, not to postpone the solution of problems and not to accumulate tasks. Perceiving type (P) prefers to act spontaneously, experiences a surge of strength and increased efficiency in time trouble; he is not burdened by open situations, on which he is not ready to make a decision at the moment, easily gets used to the changes.

The rational type (J) meets with enthusiasm tasks that require a clear algorithm of action and planning. While the perceiving type (P) strongly opposes them, trying to discern a loophole in the plan for spontaneous actions.

During the planning of our next meeting, we confronted with several issues, which are explained by different type of personalities in our team. Simply, we could not agree about the date and the time. It had been discussed during two weeks. Half of our team couldn’t change their plans so quick as it was needed. Here we could see the conflict between rational type (J) and perceiving type (P). Our rational part needs to have a strict planning from the beginning to the end and strict schedule. We tried to do it, but everything is changing all the time. So, we had to have time to find a compromise which was that half of work had been done online using WhatsUp and last part had been finished during the meeting before our last and final presentation.