[Ailist] Efficacy of the MBTI

Wed Mar 14 12:22:25 MST 2007

Cheri, Bill and all:

A number of years ago I sponsored a workshop on the eneagram. As we worked 
on the different points and became familiar with the behaviors and 
preferences the connection to Myers Briggs and other typing models was 
evident.

We then watched alot of videos of interviews with "classic 2's" and classic 
9's etc. Because we entered the "model" with the understanding that this is 
just, lets say, "the car you have chosen to drive", or the current way you 
have decided to "shine" out into the world, the videos became hilarious as 
this realization deepened and the understanding that we are so much more 
than our "frame" as Cheri puts it. The humor was an interesting development 
and a nice surprise. I think this came too from "stepping back" and becoming 
unattached my "number".

So I too enjoy all the different ways we have created to help us understand 
each other and improve our relationships. I find it helpful for me to work 
(internally via meditation etc) on acceptance especially during the times I 
am playing around with new models that define people in some way shape or 
form. This "offsets" in a way, the feelings that come up for me that warm me 
to be careful when categorizing people with these labels or models.

Thanks for all of your comments and ideas in this area.

Ron Smith
Director, CELULA
Centro Experiencial de Liderazgo
Universididad Latinoamericana
011 52 558 500 8100 ext. 8316
Gabriel Mancera 1402 Col. Del Valle
Mexico DF, Mexico CP 03100
Gabriel Mancera 1402
D.F. Mexico

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cheri Torres" <cheri at mobileteamchallenge.com>
To: "'Bill Scott'" <wjs.consulting at shaw.ca>; 
<ailist at lists.business.utah.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 9:39 AM
Subject: RE: [Ailist] Efficacy of the MBTI

> Bill,
>
> What a great post, thanks for offering all of us the chance to step back. 
> I
> am continuously marveling these days at how easy it is to get caught up in
> living through my frame.  That joyful statement or question that invites 
> me
> to step back just long enough to see my frame and perhaps a larger picture
> is such an opportunity for learning.  As you suggest, it doesn't mean we
> have to change our frame, but realize that it is one and take a look.
>
> Please say more about self-efficacy and the work you are doing.  This is 
> an
> area we are beginning to focus on as well.
>
> Cheri
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu
> [mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu] On Behalf Of Bill Scott
> Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 10:49 AM
> To: ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
> Subject: [Ailist] Efficacy of the MBTI
>
> Hello all,
>
> At the expense of starting a firestorm of controversy on an appreciative
> list ...
>
> I have found the recent posts with respect to the MBTI and its interaction
> with AI to
> be very interesting. I have a lot of interest in self-awareness tools and
> the MBTI is
> certainly one of those. I also teach organizational behaviour periodically
> and the
> most recent research on the efficacy on the MBTI is, at best, mixed. In
> fact, more
> recent work suggests that the Big Five Inventory is a better predictor of
> personality
> types. I think all self-awareness tools are useful when they are used in
> combination
> so that the many aspects of personality are covered and re-covered so that
> the
> individual can make their own choices about where to go rather than have 
> the
> test or
> indicator map their direction for her/him.
>
> Like everything in life, as we progress through our history we learn more.
> The MBTI
> is now more than a half century old and its formulation has changed little
> since its
> original development. If one were to draw a parallel with AI, at this 
> point
> in our
> history, we would be using revamped, revised and improved problem solving
> methodologies rather than an appreciative exploration of the good, the
> life-giving,
> the positive. So ... I personally take the results of the MBTI as one 
> piece
> of
> information to use in my personal and professional development.
>
> It is not my intent to trash any individual's particular preferences or
> professional
> attachments -- after all, I know how I'd feel if someone wanted to trash 
> AI.
> I just
> wanted to offer another perspective on the subject and perhaps, offer food
> for
> thought and discussion.
>
> (BTW, I'm an INTJ, at least when I last took the test.)  :-)
>
> Regards,
> Bill
>
> WJS Consulting Inc
> Vancouver, B.C., Canada
> wjs.consulting at shaw.ca
> 604-574-1856
>
> Engaging human potential
>
>
>
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