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Understanding Personalities Can Lead to Better Performance

By Michelle Collins |

We interact with people - clients, suppliers, staff and even competitors - every day and success in business often hinges on our ability to communicate.

One of the biggest challenges we face when communicating is that individuals often have very different approaches to life. A highly organized person may become frustrated with a co-worker who is creative but disorganized. An abstract thinker may be dismissive of a task-oriented person who cannot see the big picture. These differences can lead to conflict and communication problems.

Personality types provide one way to gain a general understanding of how people make decisions and why they sometimes clash. They help us understand what situations are likely to stress particular people. And they can help us communicate more effectively based on a better understanding of ourselves and how we relate to others.

This month we look at two personality assessment systems, the Myers Briggs Indicator and Keirsey Temperament Sorter, to learn about personality types and what these types can tell us about a person's nature.

What is personality, anyway?

Personality can be defined as the sum total of a person's qualities and traits that makes them a unique individual.

Personality theories date as far back as ancient Greece when Hippocrates tried to relate personalities or temperaments to the four bodily humours: blood (sanguine), phlegm (phlegmatic), yellow bile (choleric), and black bile (melancholy).

Modern personality theories can provide us with useful models of how people approach life. The Myers Briggs Indicator and Keirsey Temperament Sorter are currently two of the most popular systems.

The Myers Briggs Indicator vs. Keirsey Temperament Sorter

The Myers Briggs Indicator and Keirsey Temperament Sorter have a lot in common. Both tests will determine your personality type based on a combination of four elements:

  • what energizes or stimulates a person
  • how a person processes information and the world around them
  • how they make decisions, and
  • how they tend to live their lives.

Both tests also ask the participant to rate how accurately a series of statement apply to them. For example, on one instance of the Myers-Briggs test participants are asked to say how accurate the statement “I tend to be organized.” is for them. The tests ask similar questions, and both will place you in one of 16 possible categories based on your answers.

However, the two tests have different interpretations on key points.

The differences lie in interpretation. While the tests use the same personality characteristics – introverted and extroverted for example – they do not always apply the same meaning to these characteristics.

More importantly, the Keirsey's assessment looks at how personality characteristics relate to one another, while the Myers-Briggs test tends to view them independently. In the Keirsey system personalities are grouped according to how they view the world while the Myers-Briggs places more importance on how a person relates to others and whether they were introverted or extroverted.

With that in mind, here is a look at how each test groups people within these categories.


I. What energizes a person / How the person interacts with others
Extroverted (E) Introverted (I)
Myers-Briggs Interpretation Keirsey Interpretation Myers-Briggs Interpretation Keirsey Interpretation
Prefer to spend their time working with other people where they can share ideas. Expressive people who are energized around groups of people and in contact with people. These are people who prefer to spend their time working alone drawing on their own thoughts or ideas. Reserved people who are energized by solitary activities. Contrary to common thought they do enjoy socializing, but prefer interaction with one or two people and will feel drained when they are asked to be outwardly expressive.

II. How we process information and the world around us
Sensing (S) Intuition (N)
Myers-Briggs Interpretation Keirsey Interpretation Myers-Briggs Interpretation Keirsey Interpretation
These are people who prefer to rely on their senses (sight, taste, touch, and smell) when gathering and evaluating information. Observers. Pay attention to the outer world. They want facts and are interested in what is happening now or what has happened already. These are people who prefer to rely on their instincts by using abstract thinking and past experiences for gathering and evaluating information. Introspectors. Enjoy introspection, thinking about abstract things and daydreaming. They may miss a lot of what is going on around them.

III. What governs our decision making
Thinking (T) Feeling (F)
Myers-Briggs Interpretation Keirsey Interpretation Myers-Briggs Interpretation Keirsey Interpretation
These are people who prefer to make decisions carefully, weighing all of their options before making a choice. Decisions are driven by logic and careful thought. Tend to hide their emotions because they are embarrassed by displays of intense feelings and don't want to lose control. These are people who prefer to make decisions immediately, relying on their feelings and emotions at that point. Values the importance of feelings over logic when making decisions and are thought to follow their hearts. Tend to show their wishes and emotions.

IV. How we organize our life
Judgement (J) Perception (P)
Myers-Briggs Interpretation Keirsey Interpretation Myers-Briggs Interpretation Keirsey Interpretation
These are people who prefer to have control over their surroundings so that they know what to expect and can organize themselves for these events. Schedulers. Desire structure in their lives. Will rely on agendas, timetables, etc. to follow in order to stay organized. Tend to be neat and orderly. These are people who prefer to have flexibility to explore new options so that they can learn and experience the world around them. Probers. Are reluctant to tie themselves to a strict schedule and are always open to alternative options. Prefers instrumental work rather than ongoing or maintenance oriented work.

The Keirsey Quadrants: Putting the World View First

For practical purposes, the Keirsey groupings provide an excellent way to understand people, as the 16 personalities are sorted into four main temperament groupings.

The first sort is based on the way that a person views the world – whether they are an observer or an introspector. The Observers (S) are then further divided based on whether the person is a Scheduler (J) or Prober (P) while the Introspectors are divided based on whether the person uses thoughts (T) or feelings (F) to make decisions.

Observers (S) Introspectors (N)
Guardians - Schedulers (J) Artisans - Probers (P) Rationals - Thinking (T) Idealists - Feeling (F)
Inspectors (IT)

Protectors (IF)

Supervisors (ET)

Providers (EF)
Promoter (ET)

Crafter (IT)

Performer (EF)

Composer (IF)
Fieldmarshal (EJ)

Mastermind (IJ)

Inventor (EP)

Architect (IP)
Teacher (EJ)

Counselor (IJ)

Champion (EP)

Healer (IP)

Temperaments are not distributed equally across the four groups. The Keirsey website estimates that approximately 80% of the population are either guardians and artisans:

Estimated population by temperament

Guardians: 40 - 45 %
Artisans: 35 – 40%
Rationals: 5 - 7%
Idealists: 8 - 10%

Here is a closer look at each of the 16 temperaments.

The Guardians
Inspectors (ISTJ): Protectors (ISFJ):
These are people who keep a close eye on their surroundings, ensuring that everything is running efficiently. While they are good at making decisions, they are considered quiet rulers. Queen Elizabeth II is a famous Inspector Guardian. These are people who like to provide support to others and protect them from failures. They have a keen work ethic, willing to see a task through from beginning to end. Famous Protectors include Mother Teresa.
Supervisors (ESTJ) Providers (ESFJ)
These level-headed people set out and follow rules. They expect the same from everyone else as well. They are quick to praise or criticize where necessary. Colin Powell is a well-known Supervisor Guardian. These warm and friendly people are often found in sales positions. Their attention to detail and genuine concern for people allow them to thrive in environments where they provide service and care. Martha Stewart is a famous example of this group.

The Artisans
Composers (ISFP) Crafters (ISTP)
These are people who take great care in their interactions with others. They are keenly in touch with the world around them and prefer to express themselves through the creation of fine arts. Steven Spielberg is one of the famous Composers. These are people who excel when they are able to work with physical tools. They are not likely to seek out a leadership role, but when others ask for direction they are quick and influential in giving it. A famous example of a Crafter is Michael Jordan.
Performers (ESFP) Promoters (ESTP)
These are people who seek out opportunities to interact with others. In fact they are unhappy when left alone. While they enjoy dealing with people they aren't comfortable giving them direction. Artist Pablo Picasso was a famous Performer. These are people who excel at influencing others to see things their way. They are comfortable asking strangers for what they want and are used to getting it. One of the best known Promoters is Madonna.

The Idealists
Healers (INFP) Counselors (INFJ)
These are people who work quietly and tirelessly for the greater good. They are willing to devote their time and passion to social causes and are not often found in the business world. Princess Diana was one of the worlds best known Healers. These are quiet people who enjoy working in a supporting role where they can exercise their creativity. A famous example of a Counselor is Dr. Jane Goodall.
Champions (ENFP) Teachers (ENFJ)
These are outgoing people who seek out new opportunities in their quest to understand the world around them. Champions are good at influencing others. Phil Donahue is a famous Champion. These are people who take a leadership role and excel at bringing out the best in those around them. Oprah Winfrey is among this group.

The Rationals
Architects (INTP) Masterminds (INTJ)
These are people who are driven by a need to understand structures and processes. They are eager to share their knowledge with others and work towards their overall goal of manipulating these processes into something unique. Albert Einstein is among the worlds best known Architects. These are people who possess the self-confidence and drive to direct the actions of others. They are also creative and willing to hear new ideas as long as there is a purpose to them. Isaac Newton is a famous example of a Mastermind.
Inventors (ENTP) Fieldmarshal (ENTJ)
These are people who were born with a need to create new tools, new ideas, and new ways of doing things. While they are eager to share their knowledge with others they aren't comfortable in a leadership role. Perhaps the most famous example of an Inventor is Thomas Edison. These are people who are your born leaders. They seek out positions of authority and excel at motivating others to work towards their vision, allowing them to use their highly developed organizational skills. Bill Gates is among the best known Fieldmarshals.

Employer's Take Note
If you plan to use a personality assessment tool to screen prospective hires or evaluate employees, it is important to make sure that an accredited person conducts the test so that the results are not biased or inaccurate. You should also confirm that your intended use of the test is legal under provincial and territorial employment laws.

Further Reading & Resources

Learn more about the Keirsey Temperaments or take the Keirsey test:
http://keirsey.com

Take the Myers-Briggs test:
http://similarminds.com/myers-briggs.html

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