Several customers have asked us to share more insights on the practical aspects of our psychometric tools. This three-part series on ‘psychometrics in action’ highlights some of the key areas where we see immediate effects in the workplace from using psychometrics.

Following feedback from a client’s employee opinion survey, OPP was asked to work with a senior leadership team within a consultancy company to improve the way they operate. The team’s specific objectives were to enhance trust and communication between team members, facilitate understanding of behavioural differences, address any competitive tension and ensure the consistency in the messages shared with the rest of the organisation.

A kick-off event with the team helped each member expand their or her knowledge of the MBTI instrument, increasing awareness of both personal preferences and those of fellow team members. In addition, they looked at their MBTI team type and, in particular, how this related to the opinion survey data they had received.

Following this introductory session, the team was keen to run another event. However, for the next event, the team members wanted to put the MBTI theory into practice and use it in a real-life, work-related experience. Focusing back on their original objectives derived from the employee survey, the team felt that addressing competitive tension had not been explored during the first event. Following further examination, the team agreed that the reason for this tension was due to a lack of clear, transparent and consistent decision-making principles.

OPP proposed a team event focused on MBTI and decision-making, with a specific emphasis on each team member’s application of their newly acquired MBTI knowledge to resolve the team’s issues. Utilising decision-making tools such as the zig-zag model of problem-solving, participants were given frameworks within which to solve problems and make decisions ensuring that all MBTI preferences were taken into consideration. By taking a structured approach using MBTI theory, the team was able to solve issues that they had previously been unable to address because they didn’t have a shared language or a mutual understanding of one another’s values or approach to decision-making.

Are you and your team facing any key decisions? Make sure you keep these top MBTI tips in mind as you approach your issues:

Ensure all MBTI preferences are considered: The zig-zag model in its simplest form encourages team members to look at the problem to be solved from the perspectives of Sensing, Intuition, Thinking and Feeling. When working with a team, encourage them to consider the problem they are looking to solve from each of these four perspectives in turn. It is important that the team spends equal time on each to ensure well-rounded decision-making.

It is also important for the team to take into account the impact of Extraversion, Introversion, Judging and Perceiving preferences within the process of decision-making. These preferences play distinct roles within the process, affecting the extent to which others are included in decision-making (Extraversion-Introversion) and the level of desire to reach closure and make a decision (Judging-Perceiving).

Practice: Before tackling a real-life, and potentially emotive, issue, encourage the team to have a practice run to explore their typical decision-making style. This could focus on resolving a topical issue (for example, how can we encourage more recycling within the community?) making it a relatively light-hearted session. By taking this approach, the team is allowed to initially concentrate on the process of using MBTI rather than the outputs.

Agree principles for the future: To ensure long-term learning and behavioural change, it is important to provide an opportunity for the team to agree principles and guidelines to apply to future decision-making situations.

Observe and challenge: When using the zig-zag model, the role of the facilitator should be to observe the team process and challenge the team to examine their approach. This is particularly important if team members who are overlooking one or more of the MBTI preferences.

Interested in learning more about the MBTI tool and other psychology-based solutions offered by OPP?
Learn more now > >