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How to leverage your MBTI results to be a better leader

I walked into my new workplace and noticed something different right away. There were letters everywhere. Four-letter combinations next to all the name placards posted outside of individual offices. INTJ, ISTJ, ESFP, ENTJ directly above the person’s name. It was my first day supporting a new client, and I could tell it would be a challenging assignment. From what I witnessed, this office required all leaders to share their MBTI results publically with everyone in the office. Weird – really weird. I asked one of my colleagues about the letter combinations. She confirmed my suspicion and let me know that I was in for quite an adventure. She was right.

No one wants to work at a circus, except the clowns.

Tactical tips for leveraging your MBTI results as a leader

All The Way Leadership! believes that identifying your MBTI can help you as a leader. It is important to understand who you are. At the end of last year, I described how to ponder the results of your personality type test. In this blog, I am going to share some tactical tips (TTs) for ways to leverage your MBTI results to be a better leader. After all, what good are the results if you don’t use them to your advantage.

Tactical tips are worth jotting down for future use.

TT#1 – Don’t “Game the Test” to get the MBTI results that you want

Some leaders question their MBTI results right away. They don’t believe the test is accurate and refuse to accept their results. They say things like, “I read my personality description and I am nothing like the person it describes”. What do they do next? Take the test over. Of course, they get a different result the next time. Why? Because they know more about how the MBTI works, and they “game the test”. They answer questions in a way that gives them the results they want. It is not difficult to determine what aspects of your personality some of the questions are assessing. Don’t fall into this trap. It is a silly mistake to make. Be honest to get accurate results.

TT#2 – Accept your results as accurate

Some leaders wonder if the test is accurate. My answer is simple. The test is as accurate as you are honest when answering the questions. If you did your best to answer each question honestly, then the results will be accurate. If you gamed the test, your results will be flakey. All The Way Leadership! trusts that you are an honest leader who is willing to look in the mirror to learn the truth about who you are. With that thought in mind – accept your results as accurate. If there are parts of your personality that are not appealing, don’t fret. We all have things we need to improve. At least you know what they are and can work on them rather than guessing.

Take your time analyzing your MBTI results.

TT#3 – Confirm your results with feedback from others

The last tactical tip is to confirm your results with feedback from others. If you are not sure if something in your MBTI results is accurate, ask for feedback about that aspect from someone who knows you well. For example, let’s say that your results indicate that you are in introvert, but you feel like you are actually a “capital E” extrovert. Ask someone else what they think. Simply say that you took the MBTI test and want to make sure the results are meaningful. I do not recommend sending the details out to your team for feedback from everyone. That approach is more transparent than you need to be as a leader and may come across the wrong way. Rather – seek feedback from people who know you well about specific parts of your MBTI results.

Colleagues are an excellent source of feedback.

Never forget – you are who you are, so deal with it

Your MBTI results are one piece of data that will help you understand who you are…really. All The Way Leadership! believes that you must possess a good grasp of who you are in order to be an effective leader. The bottom line is that you are who you are, so deal with it. You have strengths and weaknesses just like everyone else. Your personality type is not really that important. Knowing your MBTI results and factoring them into your leadership style is what matters. Next, I am going to share a few lessons learned (LLs) about leveraging your MBTI results as a leader.

LL#1 – Don’t stare into the mirror for too long

The MBTI test is one of many that a leader can use to learn more about themselves. It is a great starting point of self-discovery for young or new leaders. Other related tools include DISC, Hogan, and Enneagram. Each tool provides leaders a different personal perspective. I am not going to declare that one is better than another. Instead, it is worth mentioning that you can overdo it when it comes to these tools. Don’t take all of them at the same time and sift through a pile of data to try and figure out who you are as a leader. In other words, don’t spend too much time staring in the mirror. Leverage these various tools as you learn and grow as a person, and a leader. Take your time.

LL#2- Let others know your MBTI results, but don’t share too much

It is perfectly okay to let others know your MBTI results. They may be interested to learn that you are a “T”, not an “F” when it comes to making decisions. Also, it will help the members of your team better understand you. As discussed in previous posts – it is important that your team know who you are in order to build trust with them. Having said that, don’t overshare. I worked with leaders who provided way too many details about their personality, and why they are the way they are. Don’t cross the line when it comes to the number of personal details you share with others, especially your team, and your boss.

No one at work needs to know intimate details.

LL#3 – Ask your boss for his/her MBTI results

It is always helpful to know how your boss is wired. Knowing her or his MBTI results will give you a data point worth knowing, and pondering. In particular, I would spend some time reading from the 16 personalities web site about what your boss is like. Trust me, it will help you avoid potential pitfalls. One time I went from working for a commander (ENTJ) to a logistician (ISTJ). As you might imagine, my interactions with these two bosses were radically different. I really struggled to connect in a meaningful way with the ISTJ, even though that is my personality type. Eventually, I made adjustments and we were fine.

Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.
Bruce Lee

Bottom line – be the best version of you that you can be

I love the quote from Bruce Lee. It is a great reminder that each of us is different. There is no one exactly like you in the universe. It is okay to learn from other leaders and emulate them. But, it is important to have faith in yourself. Make the most of your unique personality. Bruce Lee did not achieve greatness by trying to be someone else. Neither should you. Simply be the best version of yourself that you can be. That alone is a success.

ATW! is designed to make you a better leader

I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!

All The Way Leadership!

How to ponder the results of your MBTI personality test

The team sat around the table. It was an off-site to complete strategic planning for the next year. They were making almost no progress at all. I joined the group to brief my portion of the event. You could feel the tension in the air. Simply put, this team was not getting along, and that needed to change. I asked all the participants to complete the MBTI assessment before the event. I recommended that each of them ponder their results. My role was to share the overall team profile and address common questions about the MBTI personality test.

Monitor team tension when you are the leader.

I am not an MBTI expert and do not pretend to be one

All The Way Leadership! believes that the MBTI is one tool of several available that anyone can use to learn about who you are. The 16 personalities web site provides a survey to help you determine your MBTI. It also includes a detailed report regarding your results. I recommend this site as an easy way to identify your MBTI. I am not an MBTI expert and do not pretend to be one. If you want to go deep into your MBTI find someone who is. Instead, I recommend that everyone complete the MBTI for self-awareness. All The Way Leadership! also views the MBTI as a filter for analyzing team dynamics. In the case I described above, their results made it clear that the team was experiencing several strong personality clashes.

Most teams include different personalities which may create conflict

I showed the team their combined results using a graphic similar to the one shown below. It arrays the overall results of the team. I did not identify anyone by name. Instead, I simply used a smiley face icon to represent each member. We discussed the fact that the team included several divergent personality types. It is rare that you will see a team where all the team members have the same personality type. The most interesting fact for this team was that several of them were on different ends of the spectrum. The graphic makes that point clear. It is not unusual for a team like this one to experience tension across the group.

Notice the wide range of MBTI results of this one team.

It is important that leaders ponder their team’s overall results

I shared the good news first – groupthink was not going to be an issue. Next came the tough love – the team was not getting along because of who they were as people. The hard part is that you cannot change your personality. You are who you are. Instead, the team would need to deal with the tension directly. That sounds easy – it’s not. The team leader knew challenges lay ahead for the team. I finished the talk by answering questions that come up about the MBTI. The three most common are found below.

MBTI question #1- Is there a preferred personality type for strong leaders?

Really good news – no. All The Way Leadership! belives that anyone can become a strong leader. There is no single personality type that is the right one for leaders. Also, the idea of natural-born leaders is flawed. Some people may have more of a propensity to lead, but no one is born with the innate ability to lead better than others. Leadership is learned. If you look at the best leaders you will notice many different personality types, so don’t worry about your MBTI. You are who you are, and you can become an effective leader.

MBTI question #2 – What do I do if I am an introvert?

Even better news – don’t panic if you are an introvert. All The Way Leadership! believes that introverts can become strong leaders. Some people say that the most effective leaders are extroverts. They are wrong. Many of the best leaders are introverts. Sure – you need to work with people to be an effective leader. But, introversion does not mean that you do not like people. Instead, you get your energy in a different way than extroverts. The excellent TED talk by Susan Cain below goes into much more detail about introverts. BTW – I am an introvert.

Susan Cain’s TED talk has over 10 million views.

MBTI question #3 – What if I am dominant and overly task-focused?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is tough. Some people can be intensely dominant and overly task-focused. In other words – they focus solely on getting the work done…at all costs. People’s feelings and team morale are always secondary to the task at hand. They may achieve amazing results but tend to burn out their teams in the process. If that is you – be careful! Some situations require leaders who possess a driven personality type (e.g., ENTJ, aka the commander). The leader must drive the team hard. However, over the long-term, people matter. You better take care of your team if you want to be an effective leader. Otherwise, they will leave you, and find a leader who does care about them as much as the mission.

No one enjoys working for a drill sergeant.

What if I retook the test and have different results than before?

Several people I know received a different MBTI result when taking the test again. What should you do if this happens? I recommend going with the latest test result. I worked with summer interns for several years. After they joined the workforce and retook the test their results varied. It makes sense that you may see some changes when you are young. For more seasoned leaders, your results may change because you are right on the edge in one of the categories. For example, I was an extrovert the first time. More recently I scored as an introvert. I completed the Step II MBTI test. It provides more details for each facet. I recommend this version for veteran leaders. The reality is that I score in the middle between introvert and extrovert.

Your MBTI scores are comprised of multiple facets.

Take the time to ponder your MBTI results

It is vitally important that leaders understand themselves. The MBTI is a useful tool for gaining insight into who you are. All The Way Leadership! also recommends the MBTI as a way to analyze team member personalities and diagnose dynamics. In the next post, I will discuss some tactical tips and lessons learned about this topic.

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
Aristotle

ATW! is designed to make you a better leader

All The Way Leadership!

Who do you see when you look into the mirror?

Have you ever worked for a leader who was in the wrong role? In some situations, a leader lacks the skills and experience for the role. At other times it a personality mismatch. The leader is the wrong person for the job because of who he is. For example, I worked for one leader who was not a people person, at all. He knew it, I knew it, everyone knew it. The organization put this leader in charge of people-related activities. He floundered, and the organization suffered while this leader struggled. As you might imagine – it was painful for everyone involved.

Low morale is a direct result of poor leadership - it will infect the organization — Team morale will suffer if the leader is the wrong person.

It is tough working for a leader with the wrong personality

Another time I worked for a leader who was a complete disaster. My army unit was deployed and our commander was fired for a lack of judgment in personal matters. That is a nice way of saying he was sleeping with one of his subordinates. A horrific mistake for any leader to make. The unit went into complete turmoil as a result of the poor personal decisions this commander made. His wife did not deal well with the news.

Lance Armstrong confesses to Oprah that he cheated to win. — It is hard for a leader to recover from serious personal problems.

The leader who replaced him was well suited for the job

Shortly after a new commander was sent to lead our unit. This commander arrived and immediately went about the task of restoring morale to the organization. She was a people person. She visited everyone in our unit and let them know everything was going to be okay. Troops listened to her and trusted her. Morale improved rapidly. I watched in wonder as she turned around a bad situation in less than 90 days. It was a pleasure working for a leader with the perfect personality type for the situation.

Real leadership is being the person others will gladly and confidently follow.
John Maxwell

A novel framework for new leaders

All The Way Leadership! created a novel framework for new leaders. Fundamentally this framework communicates that it is vital for you to possess integrated integrity as a new leader. Having individual integrated integrity means that ‘who you are’ aligns with ‘what you say’ and ‘what you do’. If you do not demonstrate individual integrated integrity your team will not trust you, and your impact as a leader will be limited. We will start by discussing the all-important topic of knowing ‘who you are’.

All The Way Leadership! Individual Integrated Integrity Framework. ©2019

Three key components comprise ‘who you are’

All The Way Leadership! believes it is important for every leader to know ‘who you are’…really. Who you are as a leader is comprised mainly of three key components – your personality, your strengths/weaknesses, and your expertise. Figuring out your personality is the topic of this blog. It is not difficult to do. Your strengths/weaknesses and expertise as a leader will be addressed in future posts. For now, let’s focus on who do you see when you look in the mirror. What type of person are you?

Who do you see when you look into the mirror?

A tool to discover your personality

It is important that you truly understand ‘who you are’ as a leader. Not who others think you are, but who you really are. What is your personality? How are you wired? I am a big fan of diagnostic tools. They are a great source of data for personal growth. When it comes to personality tests the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is an excellent starting point. There are other tools available, but I recommend the MBTI first. This website (https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test) allows you to identify your MBTI for free. The site also provides a detailed description of each personality type. It is well worth reading through your results.

There are 16 MBTI personality types. This chart shows them all.

Why All The Way Leadership! recommends this personality test

All The Way Leadership! recommends that all leaders take the MBTI test so that you know your personality type. Some people do not know their MBTI. I did not know mine until much later in life. The earlier you identify your MBTI the better. This data point provides insight into your personality. It helps you understand what makes you tick. How you respond to certain situations. Now that you know your MBTI, spend some time reading about it. Learn more about yourself. It will help you in many ways as a leader.

Some personality types are rare like ENTJ.

Why knowing your MBTI matters

Understanding your personality can help make you more successful in many situations. Make the most of these insights. Just so it is clear – I am not saying that your MBTI is 100% accurate. After all, we are all unique. The entire human population cannot be placed into 16 specific categories. Rather All The Way Leadership! believes the MBTI helps provide you a fundamental understanding of your personality. If you want to be an effective leader, you must first know who you are.

The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.
Thales

What about you?

Do you know ‘who you are’ as a leader? Have you taken the MBTI personality test and reviewed the results. If not, then take the test and leverage the findings. If so, you will enjoy the next few blogs. We are going to explore how to leverage the MBTI as a leader to include points to ponder, tactical tips and lessons learned about this topic.

ATW! is designed to make you a better leader

All The Way Leadership!