Personality Matters Blog

Posted 23 May 2018 by
Global Marketing

For an Authentic, Effective Job Interview, You Must First Understand Your Own Personality Type (Part II)

In my previous blog, I discussed how you can leverage your preferences for either introversion or extraversion – preferences based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) – to present an authentic version of yourself during a job interview. Today, I’ll dive a little deeper and talk about how to leverage the other aspects of your personality type to improve your odds of getting a job that is an excellent fit for you. Before I begin, it’s important to remember the conc...

Posted 13 December 2016 by
Global Marketing

MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / It’s Not Meant to Be Predictive

And finally, Patrick Kerwin shared the criticism that the MBTI® tool is not predictive of behavior. Guess, what? It’s not meant to predict behavior. Instead, the MBTI tool is about giving us some understanding around how we take in information (Perceiving processes of S-N) and make decisions (Judging processes of T-F). Isabel Briggs Myers called this “clearer perceptions” and “sounder judgments.” If you try to apply the MBTI tool beyond that, you are oversteppin...

Posted 06 December 2016 by
Global Marketing

MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / It Doesn’t Just Flatter You

Continuing my overview of Patrick Kerwin’s session at the MBTI® Users Conference, Patrick noted that the criticism that the MBTI® tool just flatters people was somewhat odd. Those of us who know what the MBTI tool is really about know that it’s not a diagnostic tool. It’s not even a test. “Test” implies results of good and bad, pass or fail. The MBTI descriptions may indeed seem flattering at times. All of us bring something to every situation we are in. All of us have gifts. That may seem flatt...

Posted 22 November 2016 by
Global Marketing

MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / Type Dynamics

Another criticism Patrick Kerwin addressed is that “Jung even said there is no such thing as a pure Introvert.” Patrick (and I) actually agree! We all live in both the extraverted and introverted worlds. And, if you understand type dynamics, we all use a mental process in the extraverted world and a mental process in the introverted world. For example, I have preferences for INFP. I am not an Introvert. Instead, I introvert (I use this word as a verb since I don’t believe in ...

Posted 13 September 2016 by
Global Marketing

Celebrating a 60th Wedding Anniversary—Perceiving Is Alive and Well

Shave ice is on our mind as we depart the boat and head to our SUV. Kevin, Terri, and I are still a little wet, but we don’t mind. It’s Hawaii after all. As we drive just across the street, we see a large crowd has surrounded the Original Hawaiian Shave Ice stand. On one side of the Blue Dragon Restaurant parking lot the small and colorful stand waits for us to join the crowd. Mom, Dad, and Cindy grab a place to sit. Kevin, Terri, and I get in line and immediately see the delicious looking froze...

Posted 28 July 2016 by
Global Marketing

Celebrating a 60th Wedding Anniversary—Father’s Day Too!

The temperature on this side of the island is much cooler, so Kevin sets about getting a fire started downstairs. I go online to look for restaurants having been assured by the owner in previous emails that it will be easy to get a reservation on a Sunday night. What we both forgot is that this Sunday is Father’s Day. Being the small town that it is, there aren’t many restaurants, and most of them are booked. What to do? Time to use my Perceiving preference (superpowers?) and come up...

Posted 21 July 2016 by
Global Marketing

Celebrating a 60th Wedding Anniversary—INFP Preferences in Overdrive

The drive over goes by quickly, though at one point the rain and wind at 4,000 feet up is a little scary. Our destination is thankfully much closer to sea level, and by the time we get to the town of Volcano the rain stops. All around us is nothing but green...wet green trees, bushes, and moss. This is my second time to Volcano, and I’m so happy to be back. The driveway to our Airbnb home welcomes us down a curved passageway to finally come to a stop next to the large house. It has been ...

Posted 14 July 2016 by
Global Marketing

Celebrating a 60th Wedding Anniversary—Extraverted Intuition Meets Introverted Sensing

Hawaii (the Big Island) is like no other Hawaiian island. It has so many different landscapes from one part to the next. As we drive along the newly renovated Senator Daniel Inouye Highway, patches of lava rock intermingle with plants and small trees. We pass a few small neighborhoods as well and dream as we see an occasional “For Sale” sign. As soon as we got on a straightaway, I was sure everyone in the back seat will be sound asleep. Instead, we are all wide awake, looking around and not want...

Posted 07 July 2016 by
Global Marketing

Celebrating a 60th Wedding Anniversary—Out-of-Preference Planful

Our state of bliss is then interrupted when Terri tells me that Cindy's flight has been delayed until tonight. Now, I've spent a lot of time planning this trip. In fact, I'm quite the planner. This surprises people when they learn I prefer Perceiving. My MBTI® Step I™ preferences are INFP. However, on the MBTI® Step IITM assessment, I report Expressive, out-of-preference. I also report out-of-preference on Planful, which is about leisure and long-term life events. Leisure is definitely a big p...

Posted 23 June 2016 by
Global Marketing

Summer Vacation Decision Making—Extraverted Feeling

We explored the Perceiving patterns of mental activity (Se, Si, Ne, Ni) and half of the Judging patterns (Te, Ti) in our search for that perfect summer vacation. It is now time to finish it off with Feeling, starting with extraverted Feeling (Fe), which is about making decisions taking into account how our decisions will affect others. As you decide where you might go for vacation this summer, consider the following Fe questions: What will I do to include the ideas of others who may join us...

Posted 16 June 2016 by
Global Marketing

Summer Vacation Decision Making—Extraverted Thinking

I have spent time in the past several posts highlighting the importance of different ways to take in information (Perceiving). Once that has happened, it’s time to evaluate that information. If this doesn’t happen, then usually nothing gets done, no vacation plans will be made. Evaluating information is about using Thinking and Feeling. Extraverted Thinking (Te) helps us evaluate that information in a logical and objective way. As you think about where you might go for vacation thi...

Posted 03 June 2016 by
Global Marketing

Summer Vacation Decision Making—Extraverted Sensing

When I think about the best decisions I have made in my life, it usually comes down to taking a more balanced approach to whatever I’m deciding. That balanced approach often comes easier when we consider using all four of our mental processes (Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, and Feeling) along with the attitudes of each (Extraversion and Introversion). Put that all together and you get the eight MBTI® patterns of mental activity (Se, Si, Ne, Ni, Te, Ti, Fe, Fi). If you want to read more ...

Posted 01 June 2016 by
Global Marketing

I’m Back and Summer Is Almost Here!

Hello, everyone. I’m back and writing again after my very busy travel schedule has finally slowed down just a little. Thanks so much to Mathew David Pauley for filling in on my blog duties with his very insightful writing. I loved reading his posts as I traveled from city to city. I’m going to continue Mathew’s emphasis on the mental processes in this next blog series. As I sit back and get ready to write once more, I’m a bit startled by how fast the year is going by. It ...

Posted 25 May 2016 by
Global Marketing

Type at the Family Conference Table: Introverted Intuition

Written by Mathew David Pauley, JD, MA, MDR INTJs and INFJs, Introverted Intuitive types, tend to be big-picture, well-organized individuals who can bring both qualities to bear as they work toward their goals. They are often known for their uncanny insight and ability to anticipate things before they happen. However, unlike individuals with a preference for Perceiving, who typically are ready to respond to the unexpected and flex to meet new challenges, INTJs and INFJs would rather dimini...

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