3. Personality
Personality can be
defined as “the complex of
characteristics that
distinguishes an individual
or a nation or group;
especially : the totality of
an individual’s behavioral
and emotional
characteristics”.
The Myers-Briggs
personality test is a
tool that a manager
can use to define the
personality of
individuals in the
organization.
4. People are different and that’s a fact
and to better understand how to interact
and engage with them it is important to
understand what type of personality
your dealing with.
Having an understanding of personality
and learning styles of individuals in your
organization can generate a productive
pleasant place to work.
5. Four quadrants
In simple terms , the left hemisphere specializes
in logical, analytical, sequential processes while
the right hemisphere does the intuitive,
emotional, visual thinking. This is further
subdivided into the cerebral and limbic centers.
This is not new and basically every personality
system since the early Greeks (first written
record) has used four basic temperaments or
personalities.
You have one temperament or a combination of
two (not three).
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6. Acadia Institute for Teaching and Technology 6
Phlegmatic
Sanguine
Melancholic
Choleric
For quadrants
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Phlegmatic
Sanguine
Melancholic
Choleric
And another
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Choleric (Right Cerebral): These people are
usually quite good at idea generation and in
making "quantum leaps" necessary to brainstorm
and solve difficult problems. They usually see
things others don't and in a team situation often
say, "Let's look at this problem in a different way."
Sanguine (Right Limbic): People with a strong
dominance in this quadrant maybe excellent
facilitators in the group process. They regard
interpersonal skills as their strongest and they
supply the "glue" that keeps the group working
harmoniously together. In a team situation they
often ask, "What do you think of the idea?"
Four main types
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Melancholic (Left Limbic): These individuals
may be excellent in defining the problem and
in assisting with implementation. They may
also pursue the problem with a vengeance
once it is set into motion. In a team situation
they often ask, "How does this idea apply to
our situation?"
Phlegmatic (Left Cerebral): People with a
strong dominance in this quadrant can be very
good at helping to define and analyze the
problem. In a team situation they often say,
"Let's check this out to see if it's feasible to
implement."
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How different personalities act
• Choleric says work
• Melancholic says organize
• Phlegmatic says rest
• Sanguine says talk
• You are either a combination of two personalities or just
one.
• No single personality is any better or worse than any
other.
• Each personality has its own advantages and
disadvantages.
• Strengths and weaknesses (deep, cute, easygoing,
strong)
• Stories (Photocopier, unpacking a box, meeting)
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If life was a movie then
P - The Audience C - The Director
M - The Producer S - The Star
Personality goals
P - Have Peace C - Have Control
M - Have Perfection S - Have Fun
Approach to life
P - The easy way C - My way
M - The right way S - The happy way
Personality needs
P - Respect and self-worth C - Achievement and appreciation
M - Order and sensitivity S - Attention and approval
Personality roles and goals
13. Myers-Briggs
The Myers-Briggs test was developed by a
mother/daughter team in the 40’s based of off the
lifelong work of Carl Jung.
The test was intended to bring a everyday applications
of Jung’s work to the public in order to provide
personality matches for social and work environments.
The test was a new interpretation of Jung’s theory and
added to it by including how people deal with the
outside world.
There have been over 600 dissertations written about
the study and 1000’s of articles and books.
14. The Test
The test is broken down into four categories.
1. Favorite World: Do you prefer to focus on the outer world or your own inner world?
This is called Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I)
2. Information: Do you prefer to focus on the basic information you take in or do you
prefer to interrupt and add meaning? This is called Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)
3. Decisions: When making decisions, do you prefer to first look at logic and
consistency or first look at the people and special circumstances? This is called
Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
4. Structure: In dealing with the outside world, do you prefer to get things decided or
do you prefer to stay open to new information and options? This is called Judging (J)
or Perceiving (P)
16. What is your personality
type?
Personality tests like the Myers-Briggs
test can be useful in helping you
understand yourself and others better.
Do you know your personality type?
Just remember- no type is “better”.
And don’t let a personality test define
you or “box you in”. You are a unique
individual!
17. What is your most natural energy orientation?
Extrovert
• Act first, think/reflect
later
• Feel deprived when
cutoff from interaction
with the outside world
• Usually open to and
motivated by outside
world of people and
things
• Enjoy wide variety and
change in people and
relationships
Introvert
• Think/reflect first,
then Act
• Regularly require an
amount of “private time”
to recharge batteries
• Motivated internally,
mind is sometimes so
active it is “closed” to
the outside world
• Prefer one-to-one
communication and
relationships
18. Which way of perceiving or understanding is
most automatic or natural?
Sensing
• Mentally live in the Now,
attending to present
opportunities
• Use common sense and
creating practical
solutions is automatic-
instinctual
• Best improvise from
past experience
• Like clear and concrete
information; dislike
guessing when facts are
“fuzzy”
iNtuitive
• Mentally live in the
Future; attending to
future possibilities
• Using imagination and
creating/inventing new
possibilities is
automatic-instinctual
• Best improvise from
theoretical
understanding
• Comfortable with
ambiguous, fuzzy data
and with guessing its
meaning
19. Which way of forming judgments and making
choices is most natural?
Thinking
• Instinctively search for
facts and logic in a
decision situation
• Naturally notices tasks
and work to be
accomplished
• Easily able to provide an
objective and critical
analysis
• Accept conflict as a
natural, normal part of
relationships with
people
Feeling
• Instinctively employ
personal feelings and
impact on people in
decision situations
• Naturally sensitive to
people needs and
reactions
• Naturally seek
consensus and popular
opinions
• Unsettled by conflict;
have almost a toxic
reaction to disharmony
20. What is your “action orientation” towards the
outside world?
Judging
• Plan many of the details
in advance before
moving into action
• Focus on task-related
action; complete
meaningful segments
before moving on
• Work best and avoid
stress when able to
keep ahead of deadlines
• Naturally use targets,
dates, and standard
routines to manage life
Perceiving
• Comfortable moving into
action without a plan;
plan on-the-go
• Like to multitask, have a
variety, mix work and
play
• Naturally tolerant of
time pressure; work
best close to deadlines
• Instinctively avoid
commitments which
interfere with
flexibility, freedom, and
variety
