The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
One of the most widely used personality
frameworks is called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).11 It is essen-
tially a 100-question personality test that asks people how they usually feel or act
in particular situations.
On the basis of the answers individuals give to the test, they are classified as
extroverted or introverted (E or I), sensing or intuitive (S or N), thinking or feel-
ing (T or F), and perceiving or judging (P or J). These classifications are then com-
bined into 16 personality types. (These types are different from the 16 primary
traits in Exhibit 4-2.) To illustrate, let's take several examples. INTJs are visionar-
ies. They usually have original minds and great drive for their own ideas and pur-
poses. They are characterized as skeptical, critical, independent, determined, and
often stubborn. ESTJs are organizers. They are realistic, logical, analytical, deci-
sive, and have a natural head for business or mechanics. They like to organize
and run activities. The ENTP type is a conceptualizer. He or she is innovative, in-
dividualistic, versatile, and attracted to entrepreneurial ideas. This person tends
to be resourceful in solving challenging problems but may neglect routine assign-
ments. A recent book that profiled 13 contemporary businesspeople who created
supersuccessful firms including Apple Computer, Federal Express, Honda Motors,
Microsoft, Price Club, and Sony found that all 13 are intuitive thinkers (NTs).12
This result is particularly interesting because intuitive thinkers represent only
about 5 percent of the population.
More than 2 million people a year take the MBTI in the United States alone.
Organizations using the MBTI include Apple Computer, AT&T, Citicorp, Exxon,
GE, 3M Co., plus many hospitals, educational institutions, and even the U.S.
Armed Forces.
Ironically, there is no hard evidence that the MBTI is a valid measure of per-
sonality. But lack of evidence doesn't seem to deter its use in a wide range of or-
ganizations.
The Big Five Model
MBTI may lack valid supporting evidence, but that can't
be said for the five-factor model of personality-more typically called the Big
Five.13 In recent years, an impressive body of research supports that five basic di-
mensions underlie all others and encompass most of the significant variation in
human personality. The Big Five factors are:
-
Extraversion. This dimension captures one's comfort level with relation-
ships. Extraverts tend to be gregarious, assertive, and sociable. Introverts tend
to be reserved, timid, and quiet.
-
Agreeableness. This dimension refers to an individual's propensity to defer
to others. Highly agreeable people are cooperative, warm, and trusting. People
who score low on agreeableness are cold, disagreeable, and antagonistic.
-
Conscientiousness. This dimension is a measure of reliability. A highly consci-
entious person is responsible, organized, dependable, and persistent. Those who
score low on this dimension are easily distracted, disorganized, and unreliable.
-
Emotional stability. This dimension taps a person's ability to withstand
stress. People with positive emotional stability tend to be calm, self-confident,
and secure. Those with highly negative scores tend to be nervous, anxious,
depressed, and insecure.
-
Openness to experience. The final dimension addresses an individual's
range of interests and fascination with novelty. Extremely open people are
creative, curious, and artistically sensitive. Those at the other end of the open-
ness category are conventional and find comfort in the familiar.
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Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator (MBTI)
A personality test that taps
four characteristics and
classifies people into one of
16 personality types.
extraversion
A personality dimension
describing someone who is
sociable, talkative, and
assertive.
agreeableness
A personality dimension that
describes someone who is
good-natured, cooperative,
and trusting.
conscientiousness
A personality dimension that
describes someone who is
responsible, dependable,
persistent, and achievement
oriented.
emotional stability
A personality dimension that
characterizes someone as
calm, enthusiastic, secure
(positive) versus tense,
nervous, depressed, and
insecure (negative).
openness to experience
A personality dimension that
characterizes someone in
terms of imaginativeness,
artistic sensitivity, and
intellectualism.
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