4 Personality Types: Who is the Most Effective?

A friend of mine recently bought a fitness center franchise and she is miserable. She learned that when the center is empty she goes stir-crazy. She likes to have people around her all of the time and can't stand the quiet of the afternoon. On the other hand, my best friend is an engineer and he happily works at home alone. Some people are outgoing, some enjoy keeping to themselves and others prefer a little of both. In fact, you can classify people into four basic personality types or behavioral styles.

Look around your office and see if you see any of these people. We'll call the first person Dave. Dave likes immediate results and tends not to listen to details before making decisions. He acts quickly and often cuts people off mid-sentence. Or how about Ingrid? Ingrid is optimistic and looks for the best in everyone. She enjoys conversations, networking events and spreads her influence using her charismatic style. Then there is Stan. Stan is very predictable and patient. He is very loyal to the organization and listens attentively. And finally, we have Catherine. Catherine is interested in accuracy and details. She enjoys working alone and prefers to use diplomacy to solve problems rather than direct confrontation.

Each of these people demonstrates one of the four primary behavioral styles:

Dominance: Direct and Decisive. D's are strong-willed, strong-minded people who like accepting challenges, taking action, and getting immediate results.

Influence: Optimistic and Outgoing. I's are "people people" who like participating on teams, sharing ideas, and energizing and entertaining others.

Steadiness: Sympathetic and Cooperative. S's are helpful people who like working behind the scenes, performing in consistent and predictable ways, and being good listeners.

Conscientiousness: Concerned and Correct. C's are sticklers for quality and like planning ahead, employing systematic approaches, and checking and re-checking for accuracy.

Let's look at Dave first. He fits into the Dominance behavioral style. Dave likes to question the status quo, make quick decisions and solve problems. He is comfortable in an environment that includes power and authority, freedom from supervision and working with a variety of activities. He does have trouble understanding that people need people and sometimes has trouble identifying with the group. We need people like Dave because he moves things forward. To be most effective, Dave needs people who can handle the details he often overlooks.

Now on to Ingrid. She's interested in making a favorable impression and enjoys entertaining friends, coworkers and clients - she easily fits into the Influence style. She is articulate and prefers to talk about her ideas rather than present them in writing. Ingrid enjoys group activities on and off the job and is comfortable talking with just about anyone.

Since she always sees the best in people, Ingrid can have trouble making objective evaluations of people and situations. She doesn't like a lot of details and can appear a little disorganized. But we all benefit from people like Ingrid who encourage us to open up and communicate. She contributes to a creative, outgoing and positive working environment. Ingrid needs people who enjoy every-day routines and tasks because these things make her uncomfortable.

Stan is more of a steady person. He is extremely patient, likes to help other people and finishes everything he starts. Stan's daily routine rarely changes; in fact, he doesn't handle sudden changes well at all. Stan is part of the glue that keeps an organization together. Without people like Stan the office or household can be chaotic. Yet Stan's love of routine can slow things down in a fast-paced environment that requires quick decisions and action.

Catherine is our conscientious person. She's similar to Stan but even more detailed oriented. She thinks analytically, is diplomatic with people and uses a critical approach to analyzing performance. She enjoys working in an environment where she knows what is expected and why. She enjoys mentoring others and using her expertise.

Sometimes Catherine can slow projects down by paying too much attention to detail and may seem negative at times. She has a knack for pointing out everything that can go wrong with a project, product or venture. It's important to have people like Catherine because they can see potential problems. Catherine needs to work with people who can help her see the big picture and get her to move when she gets stuck.

So what's the answer? Who is most effective? The answer is that each of us is effective with different people, problems, situations and careers; we each have our own style. So how do you find out what your style is? Behavioral styles are determined using a 28 question survey called the DiSC® Profile. Individuals complete the survey using the self-scored paper booklet or the online version. Online profile results can be used to generate group reports used by organizations to get a better understanding of the organizational culture.

There are several uses for this type of profile. Organizations use DiSC to improve communication, build effective teams and help people reach their full capabilities. Some also find it valuable in helping sales and customer service people understand different customer types. DiSC was developed to offer a practical, self-directed approach with a lot of flexibility. Whether you want to promote more effective communication, build successful teams or just find out what your personality type is the DiSC profile is one of the most effective tools available.

DiSC® is a copyright of Inscape Publishing

What is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) is a self-report questionnaire designed to help people determine their personality type and is the most widely used psychological inventory in the world. The MBTI® is not a test - there are no right or wrong answers. It does not measure skill, intelligence, or mental health. The emphasis is on your preferences!

Why take the MBTI®?

Knowing about your personality type can help you understand your motivations, natural strengths, and potential areas for growth, and enhance your appreciation of people who are different from yourself. Understanding your personality type makes it easier to determine why you do things the way you do, and to look at ways you can become more effective and less overwhelmed by life's challenges. Increased self-awareness can bring many benefits to your personal life as well as your professional life.

Although there are many online questionnaires designed to tell you your personality type, the most reliable way to learn about your personality type is to complete the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® under the guidance of a qualified professional. MBTI® practitioners work in many areas, including time management, career development, communication, and team building.

How does the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® work?

Your responses to the questions indicate your preferences in the following four areas:

1. Where do you prefer to focus your attention? Where do you get your energy?

People who prefer Extraversion direct their energy and attention outward. They receive energy from interacting with people and from taking action. People who prefer Introversion like to focus on their own inner world of ideas and experiences. They receive energy from reflecting on their thoughts.

2. How do you prefer to take in information?

People who prefer Sensing like to take in information that is real and tangible - what is actually happening. They are observant about the specifics of what is going on around them and are especially tuned into practical realities. People who prefer Intuition like to take in information by seeing the big picture, focusing on the relationships and connections between facts. They want to grasp patterns and are especially tuned into seeing new possibilities.

3. How do you prefer to make decisions?

People who prefer Thinking like to look at the pros and cons of a situation and base their decisions on logical reasons and consequences. Their goal is to find a standard or principle that will apply in all similar situations. People who prefer Feeling like to base their decisions on personal values. Their goal is to create harmony and to treat each person as unique.

4. How do you deal with the outer world?

People who prefer Judging like to live in a planned, orderly way, seeking to regulate and manage their lives. Sticking to a plan and schedule is important to them, and they are energized by getting things done. People who prefer Perceiving like to live in a flexible, spontaneous way, seeking to experience life rather than control it. Detailed plans and final decisions feel confining to them - they prefer to stay open to new information and last-minute options.

Your preferences in these four areas combine to form YOUR personality type!

Janet Barclay, Organized Assistant, offers a variety of professional quality services to support entrepreneurs and other individuals who are overwhelmed by the demands and technology of the 21st century. For further information or to request a subscription to her monthly ezine, The Organized Assistant Resource, please visit her website at http://www.organizedassistant.com/

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