What's My Type?
At the end of the day, there are only 3 ways to use Personality Type correctly. Sadly, the vast majority of people who encounter the topic will hit one of two snags:
- They end up with the wrong type because no one introduced the concepts and materials in a correct or ethical manner; and/or
- They have no idea how to use the information in their daily life.
As a result, we rarely encounter someone who remembers their type code even a few weeks after being introduced to the material.
When even the most well-known companies using personality type don’t ensure that their users have the right experience, it opens everyone up to critique from the Adam Grants of the world and erodes the perceived value and relevance of the topic. Instead of serving as a foundational element discussed by everyone in the context of relationships, parenting, careers, leadership development, and sales, the topic risks being seen as nothing more than a parlor trick.
Three Ways to Use Personality Type
Here are the 3 ways to do 性格类型 correctly.
1. Practical Communication Workshops
This is how most of our clients encounter personality type. A certified facilitator provides attendees with useful tips about how to apply the information in their interactions with others. If the purpose of the workshop is only to help the participants clarify their own type, we have not seen any positive effect after a few weeks have passed because no one knew what to do with the information. When a training session focuses on how participants can pro-actively use the information to inform how they communicate and collaborate with others, there is lasting impact and value.
We have devoted the last 20 years to ensuring that these facilitated programs fundamentally and positively alter how each participant interacts with all of the key people in their lives. When we do this correctly, the participants will be able to leverage the model of personality type for years. And, because participants need “training wheels” after the sessions, we’ve developed a suite of online tools so that graduates can continue to access practical advice after their training session.
2. Work with a professional coach
If the coach has been certified in the topic of personality type, it means they can help you confirm that you have found the best-fit type for yourself. Don’t let them skip this step! Years ago, Stephen Colbert (of TV fame) had someone administer his personality type on his show. The coach he brought on handed him his results and said “Here’s what you are!” which is, tragically, the wrong way to do it. The initial results from any program, even our Verifier, should be considered the starting point to a conversation where the participant learns more about the different aspects of their personality type, reviews different descriptions, and then makes an informed selection.
It is quite common for people to end up with a different 4 letter code through this exploration than what the original results may have shown. In the case of the traditional questionnaire process, that’s 30-50% of the time in our experience. In the case of our Verifier program, it happens with about 10% of users since we use videos and animations in lieu of a questionnaire. Once you’re sure you have the right type, your coach can provide insights that make this information relevant and practical to your daily activities. This might be career coaching where you end up finding a better professional path. Or, it might be helping to overcome common challenges your personality type often faces in the context of leadership development. It might even involve counseling with your romantic partner to identify differences and similarities between you and your partner and how best to navigate those.
3. Self-Discovery
This is definitely the longest path, as it typically requires the person who has been bitten by the personality type bug to turn to books, and podcasts, and interviews. Hopefully the content they encounter helps them to identify their own best-fit type. My main recommendation for those on this path is to be patient with that process. When I first encountered the topic back in college, it was by reading various books, etc. However, I incorrectly identified my type for a while. Like a lot of people, I confused my mature/compensatory behaviors for my natural preference. It’s somewhat hilarious to consider now since the ENTP probably should have been pretty evident back then. The self-discovery path often leads people to become certified and many of the coaches and facilitators I know started out this way before eventually making it a core part of their professional journey.
