Improve Communication with Myers-Briggs

The Myers-Briggs personality types are 16 combinations of 8 categories:

• Extraversion or Introversion – how you gain energy (from people -or- time alone)
• Judging or Perceiving – how you organize (with order -or- flexibility)
• Thinking or Feeling – how you decide (with reason -or- values)
• Sensing or Intution – how you view information (see details -or- possibilities)

Identifying personality types can help in finding a compelling career. It can also improve communication. An illustration from the Myers Briggs Company shows that each category has preferences for different kinds of communication. The article has a link to an interesting study on Myers-Briggs personality types and email too.

Communication and Myers-Briggs Personality Types

• Extrovert – prefer lively group discussions
• Introvert – prefer one-one discussions and time to think
• Judging – be organized, give definite decisions
• Perceiving – be open, give options
• Thinking – be logical, explain reasons
• Feeling – show empathy, describe effect on people & values
• Sensing – be clear & direct, give facts, details, examples
• Intuition – be imaginative, describe the vision

For example, as an INFJ I prefer one to one communication with time to think. I like organized information and definite decisions, imaginative language that describes the big picture and the effect on people and values. In each category there is a range with some stronger preferences along a spectrum, and there can be crossover among categories. I also enjoy lively group discussions, especially about ideas, and have an interest in details. It can always be helpful to ask. A key distinction is that extroverts tend to talk to think, and introverts think to talk.

Social Styles

Another way to look at how personality affects communication include Social Styles and Interaction Styles. Different models have various names for types, but they tend to be similar to the categories of Myers-Briggs types.

Learn more about communication with the Social Styles Model at bitesizelearning.co.uk . The names they use are: Driver | Analytical | Expressive | Amiable.

Interaction Styles

There are various names for categories in different Interaction Styles models. Explore these at the links below.

• Linda Berens, author of the book “Understanding Yourself and Others” https://www.interactionstyles.com/
  In charge | Chart the course | Get things going | Behind the scenes
  https://www.bestfittype.com/Models/InteractionStyles.cfm
• ISAT (Interaction Style Assessment Test):
  Commanders | Contemplators | Energizers | Empathizers
• Catherine Stothart, author of the book “How to Get On With Anyone” https://essenwood.co.uk/
  Mobilizer | Navigator | Energizer | Synthesizer

Head over to the Daily PlanIt Facebook page to comment!

About dailyplanit

I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.