What is your concept of a successful team? Have you ever worked on a great team and had that feeling of synergy? Have you worked on a lousy team and had your energy drained on a regular basis? Do some of your current team members drive you crazy because you simply cannot understand why they do things the way they do them? As a manager, do you notice that productivity goes way down when the team is in conflict or simply not communicating? And how rewarding it is to everyone when the team works well together? And what about including the "F" word - Fun! Yes, it's possible!
There are a number of predictions about teams:
(1) When team members are similar in personality types, the team generally is low in conflict, and makes decisions quickly and rather easily, but they are more likely to make errors because of inadequate representation of all viewpoints.
(2) When the team members are very different in personality, there tends to be slower understanding and rather slow and painful decision making, although when a decision is made it is often a better decision because more viewpoints are covered.
(3) Team members may choose or be selected for tasks that best reflect the best gifts of their personality type.
(4) Leadership roles may change as the tasks to be done require the skills of different types on the team.
(5) Teams who come to appreciate and use different types may have less conflict to manage.
Okay, so what does this mean? Simply that by knowing and understanding personality types, strengths and needs of the team are identified and skills can be developed to provide maximum team effectiveness. So how does that relate to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and what is it, anyway?
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a self-report instrument that establishes individual preferences. Based on the theory of C.S. Jung, a well- known Swiss psychiatrist, the MBTI was researched for 40 years before it was accepted by the Educational Testing Services in the 1970's. The idea behind the MBTI is that human behavior is actually logical and orderly, and this assessment tool establishes a framework for individual differences between people. Because it is objective and non-judgemental, the instrument verifies that each individual has a preferred path to excellence, and that all preferences are equally valuable.
Within an organization, the Myers-Briggs is used to identify the individual profiles for each team member. Each individual has an opportunity to meet one-to-one for 'validation'- a most important step in the process, and one that provides an understanding of personal profile and how that type fits with other personality styles. Using the MBTI again, the "team modal type" is identified, with its assets and limitations, and then strategies are developed to tap the strengths of the team and address solutions for the liabilities.
The benefits of using the MBTI for team building within an organization include:
- Identifies strengths and needs of work teams
- Describes differences in management style
- Reduces potential for conflict
- Builds an objective framework for dealing with future differences
- Offers a logical and orderly model of human behavior
- Supports career choice and professional development
- Strengthens communications
- Develops awareness of the organization's culture
- Clarifies the leadership role
- Strengthens team effectiveness
While team building seminars are tailored to fit the needs of the client, they generally involve: (1) Meeting with management team to determine desired outcomes; (2) Individual assessment using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator; (3) One-to-one sessions with individual team members; (4) Group team building session to identify strengths and needs; (5) Individual profiles for each team member, including: Unique contributions to the group, management style, and focus areas for growth; (6) Action Plans; One for each individual and one for the team with concrete ideas for implementing changes.
Several million MBTI's are administered annually for self-development, career choice and development, learning styles, individual and couples counseling, academic counseling, management and leadership training, education and curriculum development, diversity and multicultural training, and problem solving. The instrument has been translated into many languages, including Japanese, French, Spanish, Korean, German, Danish, and Chinese.
And the best part of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is that it's fun! There are exercises and role- playing scenarios that make the learning process and the team implementation process a delightful experience. Combine that with the fact that the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is one of the most valid and reliable assessments of its kind, and it has been used effectively in organizations worldwide.
About the author: With a Master's Degree in Organization Development, Rebecca has over 20 years experience providing services in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator team building, Career transition, coaching and development, training, and branding. She has worked with major corporate clients including Frito Lay, Microsoft, Accenture, British Midland Airlines, Mattel, IBM, as well as with a variety of medium size and small companies, and with non profit organizations. She is based in Paris and can be reached at rebeccacastleton@wanadoo.fr
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