Myers Briggs : My personality type

Your interest

The Myers Briggs personality test is something I bring up every so often in my blog. The post about the brain character quiz peaked the interest to know my Myers Briggs type. In the spirit of embracing my personality, I am sharing my type in this blog. In addition, I share my history with this specific test, and my thoughts on my current personality type.

What is the myers briggs?

Myers Briggs “Type Indicator” (MBTI) is one of the well known personality type tests. Corporations, universities and other groups commonly use this test. This test is helpful when seeking a new career, deciding on a college major or getting to know yourself better. Similar to what I mentioned in the previous personality post: these tests are not to be judgmental. Many are also not founded in science. Therefore, it is important to use the results and determine for yourself their accuracy.

The test takes into consideration 4 areas. Within those 4 years, each has two contrasting groups, which make up the letters in the resulting personality test. There are 16 potential results, and it is common for people to change through the years.

• Energy with the world: Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I)
• Information Processing: Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)
• Decision Making: Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
• Structure: Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

My history with the test

It so happens that I have taken it at least 4 times if my memory serves me correctly. Twice in my current day job, once when doing a career assessment before deciding on a career and once in my early career. Now that I know my actual type, the history of my constant desire for new things makes sense. When I took this test during a career assessment, I was well into my years of experience. At the time, I had gone back to school to explore doing something in the medical field. The career guidance counselor had me take it to get a better idea of what might be suitable; and therefore more satisfying to me.

• The first few times I took the test, I came up as Introverted. Through purposeful personality evaluation and improvement, I directed myself on how to be comfortable as an extrovert.
• Each time I’ve taken the test I’ve come up with Intuition for information processing category.
• Within the realm for decision making, all four tests have showed me as ‘thinking’.
• Lastly, the structure category has changed only once, which leads us to the next section. My shocking results.

My recent shocking results

When I last took the Myers Briggs, the ‘type’ it told me I was was new to me and shocking. Well, it was shocking until I did more research and talked it over. And then, I embraced it. Now, about a year after learning this about myself, I can say that it has freed me in a sense. Now, more than ever, I feel like I can be myself and that I understand myself more. My quirks make more sense.

The most recent test results showed I was an ENTP

• Extrovert
• Intuitive
• Thinking
• Perceiving

The Myers-Briggs Company describes an ENTP so sweetly and optimistically:

Quick, ingenious, stimulating, and alert. Resourceful in solving new and challenging problems. Adept at generating conceptual possibilities and then analyzing them strategically. Good at reading other people. Bored by routine, will seldom do the same thing the same way. Apt to turn to one new interest after another.

Introduction to Type^® by Isabel Briggs Myers published by The Myers-Briggs Company. https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/the-16-mbti-types.htm

 

 

Original worry

When I got the letters back and did a quick internet search for “ENTP memes”, I worried and shocked! One particular meme compared my type to a wasp while comparing an ENFP to a honey bee. If you go look, you are sure to find many negative connotations to an ENTP. Many of them I’d say are true of me, and many not. For example, I stay away from debating people. Especially after the last two years, it just isn’t something I want to do at all. In addition, I try hard not to hurt anyone in anyway, including their feelings or perceptions. A fellow ENTP in my life will debate someone on their personal choices; I find this to be wrong, hurtful and useless.

Seeing the positive side

After going down a meme spiral, I snapped out of it. After sharing my concerns with fellow test takers, I started to look at the positive side to things.

One if the characteristics that stood out to me was always trying to figure out a better way. This has never and will never be an attempt to prove someone else wrong. However, it is something that I am good at naturally.

A second one was the feeling of monotony of doing something twice in the same way. There is something to be said for process at work, but in my personal life variety is so important.

Lastly, it is natural for me to think up something completely new; and within minutes know if it would be a good long term solution. Again, this isn’t to come across a certain way or think ‘faster’ than another. It is just natural. One day I recognized this skill set me apart, and I purposely adapted my communication style. Basically, I still let my brain do it’s thing. But I slowed down the communication of those ideas and strategies to those around me.

Before you go

This youtube video from Personality Theory channel came up on my feed. It is one prompt for writing this post today. It brings out the softer side of the ENTP personality.