Myers Briggs Decoded - A Quick Translation of the Letters

Your Co-workers just came back from a business retreat and they are speaking in Myers Briggs letter code. You have no idea what they are talking about and have just been accused of being 'such a T'. You don't need to take the long test or be in a retreat to understand the basics of this really helpful personality model. Here's the brief summary of what they are all talking about.

Myers Briggs uses letters as short cuts to represent word concepts. Since all words have the possibility of having baggage related to them, Myers Briggs uses just the letters to describe certain preferences that each person develops within their personalities. There are 4 basic questions that are asked in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Each question is answered with one of two preference choices. As we go through the letter combinations, circle the letter that most closely represents your preferences within each category. Your 4 letter preferences are your Myers Briggs Type.

How do you get recharged?E/I: Extravert/Introvert

E's get their energy from other people. E's tend to like to socialize, have many acquaintances and friends. They tend to be more comfortable in large groups and can be louder in voice. E's often speak first and think later. They tend to be very interested in things going on around them.

I's get their energy from themselves. I's tend to like quiet places, are territorial, have a few very close friends. They tend to think before they speak in a much quieter tone of voice. They tend to be more interested in their internal reaction to what is going on around them.

How do you gain trust from information? S/N: Sensing/INtuition

S' trust in the past and what they know to be true from their five senses. So, if they have seen it, tasted it, touched it and smelled it already, then they will believe it. S' call themselves realists and trust the way things have worked in the past. They see things literally are practical and sensible.

N's trust their hunches, see future possibilities and are very imaginative. N's are sometimes accused of having their 'heads in the clouds' or being impractical. They are inspired by new ideas and are very creative.

How do you gather information? T/F: Thinking/Feeling

T's gather information logically, based upon facts. They define justice as following the laws and rules. T's tend to be impersonal when it comes to gathering information, and respect standards, policies and principles.

F's factor in values and emotion when gathering information for decision making. They can be seen as more sympathetic and persuadable. F's see things as 'good' or 'bad', seek harmony and appreciate subjectivity.

How quickly do I like to make decisions? J/P: Judging/Perceiving

J's make decisions as quickly as possible. They would rather make a decision now and then make a new one if necessary later, than to wait on making a decision. J's make and respect deadlines, are decisive, like to plan ahead and have a sense of urgency.

P's like to take their time in decision making. They are seek more options, are flexible and resist deadlines. They like to 'wait and see' if more choices will arise. P's don't like to be rushed and like to gather more data before being tied down to a decision.

It is important to note that there are no 'good' or 'bad' preferences here. All of these preferences have worked for you in your life. There are strengths and weaknesses associated with each of these choices. This model helps people to see their own preferences, and hopefully understand where other people may be coming from.

For more information about the Myers Briggs Model and how it may be useful in your life, I recommend reading Please Understand Me by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates. It can be found at any bookstore. This book further explains the character temperaments and what each of the 16 personality combinations means in everyday life.