My relationship with personality tests in the past had been similar to how we took quizzes in Seventeen as teenagers - results were interesting, but I approached them as pretty much worthless. My entire professional career before taking the Myers Briggs assessment, I was self-aware of a few things: I enjoyed conferences for the lectures, but my stomach fell when it came time to make small talk or do small group exercises. I was firm in my beliefs and would argue my point relentlessly. If I didn’t understand or believe in the premise behind a policy or procedure, well, I made it known. Finally, I didn’t take criticism well. Constructive feedback I could deal with, but I was often convinced I was always right and being blamed for anything, especially when I felt blameless, made me furious. I don’t think I ever worried something was necessarily wrong with me - I knew I wasn’t antisocial or hated people. I knew my organizing mania was something that people teased, but I also knew it was necessary for me and brought me professional success. I knew I was strong in what I believed and enjoyed healthy debates on the issues. But when it came to relating to and working with others, I found myself trying to adapt myself to fit into others’ expectations. I accepted friends’ guilt trips when I declined invitations to go out after tough days at work (or worse, went anyway to avoid the guilt trip, and had a miserable time). I powered through exhaustion after events or conferences, wondering why I was so tired. I limited my time doing research on topics and other interests and ignored my desires to learn more if I didn’t have time. Midway through 2014, for some random reason I forget, I took a Myers-Briggs assessment at 16Personalities.com and discovered I was “INTJ.” I’m going to stop here for a minute and provide some quick background on Myers-Briggs Personality Types (info provided by The Myers & Briggs Foundation). First, there are 16 different personality types we all fit into, and the types are all identified by “four digit codes”. It’s based on four different categories:
You could compare Myers-Briggs to horoscopes; some people believe them, some don’t, and there are countless resources out there that discuss the types in great detail and analyze how they relate to other types. Back to my own results, I found myself feeling as though the results were written with me, specifically, in mind. I actually texted a friend of mine and commented how I was finally understood. More research followed, and in short, I learned that I have a big-time “thirst for knowledge,” am hard-working and determined, am heavily rooted in logic, approach many social conventions as "downright stupid," and prefer to work alone. PREACH.Armed with this and other information, it wasn’t long before understanding my own personality led to using what I had learned and applying it to how I worked. I forgave myself when I ended up in a tailspin of research, wanting to become an expert on some recent interest. I accepted small talk, knowing that while I may not love it, it was necessary for others. I realized that adapting was, at times, yes, necessary, but that I also didn’t have to fit into some mold. I recognized my strengths, and of course, my weaknesses. In short, I stopped forcing myself to try and enjoy the parts of life I clearly didn't, and instead, own what makes me ME. I’m not well versed in other personality assessments, so I can’t speak to those. Myers Briggs works for me, and I suspect it could work for you. I prefer Myers Briggs because it speaks to how we operate and how we deal with others both professionally and personally, so I find it fairly all-inclusive. When you know what makes you tick, how you work with others, how you make decisions, and so on, you’re able to better understand yourself, others, and most importantly, arm yourself with three choices to make the most of your time... Plan, Adapt, or Stand UpHow does this relate to productivity?
*Some of this is related to Myer Briggs, some is related to just being a woman, but that’s a topic for another day. Want more? Check out my INTJ Pinterest board to read other articles and posts on the Myers-Briggs types, some serious and many funny (don’t worry, it’s not limited to my own type). Or, find your own personality type over at 16 Personalities (not an endorsement, I just like the site. You can find others at the Myers Briggs Foundation). Assessment or not, know what makes you tick and take care of yourself. You can subscribe to my mailing list here. You can also follow me on Twitter or Pinterest. If you’re in need of a virtual operations manager, check out my FAQs or available services, then head over to my consultation page so we can connect.
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