DEVELOPED IN 1942 by Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother Katharine Briggs, the Myers Briggs® Type Indicator (MBTI®) is a well known system for understanding and interpreting personality. It uses the three dimensions from Carl Jung's ‘Psychological Types’ ideas with an added, fourth dimension of Judging–Perceiving which explains how individuals handle the information they obtain. MBTI® identifies 16 personality types, each made up of four letters, called the Psychological Scales. To see how this works in practice and to learn more about the personality types follow the links in the Further Reading section below (p. 14).

The assessment is done by use of a questionnaire which is carried out by registered practitioners. This is usually undertaken through group sessions, though there is an online version which can be completed. Each of the 16 different types is developed from the side of the scale which is dominant and a certain set of characteristics is associated with each combination to describe what the individual is like. For example an ISTJ is dominant in Introversion, Sensing, Thinking and Feeling which translates as that individual usually being quite serious, practical, quiet and dependable. They will be responsible and determined and will provide accurate work, coping well with high-stress situations. However, they can be impatient and appear to be unappreciative of the efforts of others.

Whilst individuals tend to have a preference for one or the other side of the four scales we all contain both areas within our brains. The measurements show our more innate preference, but we can, and do, develop the opposite where and when we need it. Even if we are more dominantly focused on a particular side of a scale it does not stop us from using the opposite side – so, for instance, just because you rely on your feelings a lot does not mean that you cannot use objective data to make a decision. The same applies to all the individuals that make up your team.