MYERS-BRIGGS

Herb uses The Myers-Briggs System as a tool to improve communication and personal development. He is available for workshops and trainings for organizations and corporations in the greater Boston area and periodically teaches public workshops on the Myers-Briggs.

The Myers-Briggs is an excellent tool to:

1. Evaluate team dynamics
2. Coach individuals effectively according to their type differences
3. Understand one's own individual strengths and weaknesses
4. Manage others by supporting their strengths and developing areas that are weak

The Myers-Briggs theory include a set of four categories, each of which have a pair of differences. Every human being, according to the Myers-Briggs theory, has a stronger preference for one of those pairs of differences.

The first category is extraversion-introversion. Extroverts are energized mostly with their major focus of attention out on the environment, that is, people and objects outside themselves. Introverts gain energy more from their own inner world of concepts and ideas.

The second category is sensing and intuition. Sensing types are down to earth, reality based and rely primarily on the five senses. Intuitors want the big picture first before they deal with details and they get their information through hunches, insights, impressions, images, through a sixth sense.

The third category is thinking/feeling. Thinkers are rational, logical, objective, detached, fair and analytical, tend to be impersonal and "cool" and can be perceived as critical. Feelers are subjective in their decisions and are very concerned about people's reactions. They try to create peace and harmony, tend to take things personally and are personal in their interactions—that is they are relationship-oriented.

The fourth category is judging/perceiving. Judgers are decisive and don't like to wait - let's finish this now. Perceivers on the other hand like to keep their options open while collecting more data and are disorganized and spontaneous in their lives. Judgers appear to be "more mature", more adultlike, while perceivers appear to be more childlike and freer. Judgers tend to be organized and like structure in their lives.

As you can see in business, potential conflicts are rampant between the type differences. A business that has only one perspective might "get along" with co-workers but they will not be addressing the different preferences of many of their clients. If too much of one perspective is dominant, there might be an atmosphere of fear and control of those who have a different perspective, thereby causing a lack of creativity in the dominated type. Therefore it is essential to:

1. Understand and value all the preferences as strengths
2. Listen to your "opposite" preference as a missing link for yourself
3. Realize coworkers and clients are often your "opposite" and it is necessary to relate well to all preferences to create great working relationships and be able to "sell" your clients.
4. Develop traits that add more dimension, strength and enjoyment to your type.