TEAM EFFECTIVENESS & MBTI

Overview

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) tool provides a positive way of describing and understanding your individual personality.  After more than 50 years of research and development, the current MBTI is the most widely used instrument.

The MBTI framework describes everyday behavior by identifying a person's preference for one of two opposite ways of gaining and using energy (Extraversion — Introversion), gathering information (Sensing — Intuition), making decisions (Thinking — Feeling), and relating to the outside world (Judging — Perceiving).  Sixteen unique personality "types" result from the combinations of these four MBTI preference dichotomies.

The MBTI can then provide a framework for understanding differences in what each member brings to the team by exploring the various "types" within the team.  The MBTI Tool specifically aids team members by:

• Fostering openness and trust
• Providing a neutral and affirmative language with which to discuss differences
• Underscoring the value of different perspectives
• Teaching team members to value and work with the strengths of others
• Helping increase productivity by aligning an individual's MBTI preferences to particular team projects
• Identifying team assets and blind spots

Process for Team Development and Effectiveness

Prior to, or during the session, all participants complete the MBTI assessment.  Through discussions and exercises, participants will learn to understand their own preferences.  We then focus on team dynamics and the MBTI applications (i.e. Communication, Change, Stress, Leadership, Problem Solving, Coaching) utilizing "real-time" issues for the team.

A typical agenda includes:

• Overview of MBTI
• Team Effectiveness Applications (specific to the team's needs)
• Working Team Issues and Goals

Outcomes

Using the MBTI with teams provides a framework in which team members can better understand and manage communication, team culture, leadership, change, problem solving and conflict resolution.  It serves as a guide to understanding and enriching team relationships by helping each team member make the most of his or her distinctive style.

Recent Applications

• After a recent acquisition, the client — a U.S. based Commercial Airline Carrier — utilized the MBTI with their new operations team to integrate the two organizations' leadership teams
• Due to rapid global expansion, the new operations team at a Global Hospitality organization utilized the MBTI to quickly orient the senior team and begin collaborating on strategic issues
• The nation's largest chain of retail pharmacies, a leading PBM, and the fastest‑growing operator of retail health clinics utilized the MBTI as teams identified their new structure and processes.

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