New Exercise from the CPP and AMA Webinar
posted by agammy
Last week I attended an AMA and CPP joint Webinar, “Practical Tips and Techniques for Using the MBTI® Assessment” - hosted by Linda Kirby, Ph.D. from BargerKirby|Consulting, and Nancy J. Barger, M.A. from BargerKirby|Consulting. This was a great refresher of the correct way to use the Myers-Briggs assessment in your practice. I am still pulling together a document with some of my favorite pieces of insight, but I did want to take a minute to share a new exercise with you that I think you’ll enjoy.
Exercise: 4-Square
How it Works:
After administering the MBTI assessment and determining results, put participants into type-alike groups and have them draw a 4-square that looks like this:
Part I.
Spend 15 minutes having the groups complete all 4 sections of the box. Depending on the type groups, some boxes will be easier to populate than others, and that’s perfectly ok. (Nancy and Linda said that ENTP/ENFP groups tend to fill up the “Contributions We Make” section within the first minute and have a hard time moving on to some of the other boxes. Yeah, I guess that sounds like me. After all, ENTPs are so inventive, and energetic, and connected, and enthusiastic . . . . .)
After giving the groups enough time to complete the exercise, it’s time to meet back up for discussion. Allow the type groups to share their 4-square with the group at large and let the “aha” moments begin.
Ultimately, the “Contributions We Make” section will typically relate to a type’s dominant and auxiliary functions, so it’s a great way to have the group reveal type strengths without even realizing it. The “Overdoing” traits usually are hyperbolic expressions of the dominant function. For example, ENTP’s can be “too” inventive, or “too excited to let others participate” etc. The things we “Tend to Overlook” are usually aspects of the type’s out of preference function. “Things that annoy us” might be qualities of opposite typed individuals.
I like this exercise because it allows people to express the pro’s and con’s of their type and what they know they overlook and over do in the organization without taking it personally. It also can help them realize that while they’re not alone in their type, other groups of people are very different, and that’s ok too.
Part II.
After the discussion, have each group split back up to come up with a motto for their type - have them hang it up on the wall for the rest of the workshop.
Ex: ESTJ - Just do it.
This is an important step of the exercise, because once all the different mottos are up and visible, it becomes apparent to the group that “We need all of this.” While we need the ESTJ “Just Do It” attitude to act quickly in crisis, the ISFJ’s “Don’t Rock the Boat Baby” attitude keeps the peace when it is needed as well.
lorna sedor
August 31st, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I intend to use this for my next team session- I too like the idea of types having opportunity to express selves in balanced way. Will keep you posted after I use it!
Bsandifer
September 7th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I think this exercise is a great way to learn type dynamics in a very practical way by seeing it unfold before you. I recently attended the APTIi Conference in August in Dallas. I also came away with some good insights listening to Hile Rutledge and his conference session on Making Type Dynamics Work. He uses a great visual of placing people on four stools with the dominant and auxiliary either facing forward or backward on the front two stools to exemplify the introverted or extraverted function. It is interesting to see, for example, that an INFJ or INTJ is really showing their auxiliary function and as Isabel Myers would have said the “general is in the tent” which as she points out, “leads to an underestimation of the introvert’s abilities but also also to an incomplete understanding of his wishes, plans, and point of view.”
As I continue to explore type dynamics, it is helpful in understanding miscommunication and to resolve potential conflict. It is a great way of helping others learn how to communicate in a more meaningful way.
I would be interested in knowing how others use type dynamics in their work either individually or in group workshops. I often hear that it is too complicated for people to understand. Exercises like the one talked about above seem to help simplify the process.