1. I’m Christina Cecil and after reading about the Myers-Briggs test I got curious about it
and what type of personality I have. Not only that but I figure if I know more about my
personality type then I would know about why I do things the way I do them.
Leadership styles vary based on personality of the individual. The first thing to get a good
idea of personality is to use the Myers-Briggs test on this test I came up as Extroverted, Sensing,
Feeling, and Judging. According to Quinn et al, “Individuals who are extroverted tend to like a
variety of action, and are energized by being with people.” I have to agree with this since I do
enjoy being with people that I know not a huge fan of making new friends but will if I have at
least one person I know with me. For sensing Quinn et al. describe it as, “individuals who…tend
to focus on facts and details; they absorb information in a concrete, literal fashion.” I love all the
little details this is related to all specs of my life. For feeling people fall under this category they
tend to make decisions based “on more subjective criteria, taking into account individual
differences” (Quinn et al. pg. 41). Judging types are more tasks oriented and tend to prefer
closure. This is true for me I like to have a task planned out in parts.
According to the test results on 16personalities.com ESFJ’s are described as “Practical,
Altruistic, and Sociable…ESFJs want to be of service to others and take their commitments very
seriously.” This personality type is also described as being a “great team player…and always
trying to seek harmony in all possible areas, [but] are easily offended by others’ disinterest or
reluctance to participate in activities the ESFJ finds important”
(http://www.16personalities.com/esfj).
The strengths include looking for win-win solutions and avoiding conflict. Which can
lead to and avoiding approach because ESFJ’s hate conflict so individuals who are like this tend
to ignore the problem in hopes that it will go away. If they have to they will work on a
compromise or collaboration but trying to avoid the issue is usually their first option. While
ESFJ’s have an easy time connecting with people a down side is they may be seen as being
inflexible. As a leader this can lead to issues. Leaders with this personality type need to learn to
be more flexible and more willing to improvise when it is needed.
(http://www.16personalities.com/esfj-strengths-and-weaknesses)
How I relate to this wow my test results we spot on this is so me. Not only do I love to be
sociable but I do hate it when there is conflict. I also hate it when there isn’t a basis guideline for
thing. I’m not good dealing with crisis situations or conflicts and tend to try to use avoidance
techniques in hopes that the conflict will just disappear.
The best example of this that I can come up with was when I did my last group project it
was at California State University, Bakersfield in Senior seminar class Fall 2013. We had been
assigned groups as well as the topic of coming up with a research proposal. Not a big deal we
had got into the group and divided up the work. The problem occurred the week before the
project was due and the teacher had already assigned me as the group leader and I was supposed

2. to do the report on who did what work in the group. The two guys in my group contacted me
after I had stated that if they didn’t give me something to add from their sections I would just do
the whole project myself. The problem that occurred was the other girl in my group Elyse. I had
tried to contact her many times about getting me her section of the work which she never did so
we as a group continued the work without as if she had dropped from the group. We the day
before it was due she calls my cell phone screaming at me we as a group came to a collaboration
that she would present the research proposal since she did none of the other work on it. The day
it was due to be turned in and presented she verbally attacked me in front of the whole class this
made me go into avoidance mode and it ended up with security removing her from the class. I
had one of the guys in the group Jason type up the work division so that it would not seem like I
was being bias. But this is the worst group project I have ever dealt with and after avoidance and
attempted collaboration it did not end well for my group member who caused the issue. The rest
of us in the group got an A on the project but this incident has made me unsure of group work.
As ESFJ it relates to transformational leadership in the way of learning to better deal with
conflict and learning to be more flexible I can learn how to be a better manager. I also need to
learn to not take criticism so hard and be more willing to improvise if the situation calls for it. As
a team player and taking commitment seriously these are the strengths are great to have but
having a hard time dealing with conflict is something that I will continue to need to work on.
Overall it is good to know what type of personality you have. It not only allows you to
share your strengths and weaknesses but it allows you to evaluate what areas in your life you can
improve upon.