Myers Briggs Personality Test

As part of my personal development, I was recommended by one of my consultants to undertake the Myers Briggs Personality Test. The aim was to find out about how I think and how this can be helpful and not so helpful in certain situations. The results were frighteningly accurate, and I thought I would document it here as to what it says about me.

According to this test I am an ISFJ – this stands for Introversion, Sensing, Feeling, Judging. (introverted sensing with extraverted feeling)

The following is copied from a sheet my consultant gave me on this personality type.

ISFJ – The Nurturer

As an ISFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in via your five senses in a literal, concrete fashion. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit into your personal value system.

ISFJs live in a world that is concrete and kind. They are truly warm and kind-hearted, and want to believe the best of people. They value harmony and cooperation, and are likely to be very sensitive to other people’s feelings. People value the ISFJ for their consideration and awareness, and their ability to bring out the best in others by their firm desire to believe the best.

ISFJs have a rich inner world that is not usually obvious to observers. They constantly take in information about people and situations that is personally important to them, and store it away. This tremendous store of information is usually startlingly accurate, because the ISFJ has an exceptional memory about things that are important to their value systems. It would not be uncommon for the ISFJ to remember a particular facial expression or conversation in precise detail years after the event occurred, if the situation made an impression on the ISFJ.

ISFJs have a very clear idea of the way things should be, which they strive to attain. They value security and kindness, and respect traditions and laws. They tend to believe that existing systems are there because they work. Therefore, they’re not likely to buy into doing things in a new way, unless they’re shown in a concrete way why it’s better than the established method.

ISFJs learn best by doing, rather than by reading about something in a book, or applying theory. For this reason, they are not likely to be found in fields which require a lot of conceptual analysis or theory. They value practical application. Traditional methods of higher education, which require a lot of theorizing and abstraction, are likely to be a chore for the ISFJ. The ISFJ learns a task best by being shown its practical application. Once the task is learned, and its practical importance is understood, the ISFJ will faithfully and tirelessly carry through the task to completion. The ISFJ is extremely dependable.

The ISFJ has an extremely well developed sense of space, function, and aesthetic appeal. For that reason, they’re likely to have beautifully furnished, functional homes. They make extremely good interior decorators. This special ability, combined with their sensitivity to other’s feelings and desires, makes them very likely to be great gift-givers – finding the right gift which will be truly appreciated by the recipient.

More so than other types, ISFJs are extremely aware of their own internal feelings, as well as other people’s feelings. They do not usually express their own feelings, keeping things inside. If they are negative feelings, they may build up inside the ISFJ until they turn into firm judgments against individuals which are difficult to unseed, once set. Many ISFJs learn to express themselves, and find outlets for their powerful emotions.

Just as the ISFJ is not likely to express their feelings, they are also not likely to let on that they know how others are feeling. However, they will speak up when they feel another individual really needs help, and in such cases they can truly help others become aware of their feelings.

The ISFJ feels a strong sense of responsibility and duty. They take their responsibilities very seriously, and can be counted on to follow through. For this reason, people naturally tend to rely on them. The ISFJ has a difficult time saying “no” when asked to do something, and may become over-burdened. In such cases, the ISFJ does not usually express their difficulties to others, because they intensely dislike conflict, and because they tend to place other people’s needs over their own. The ISFJ needs to learn to identify, value, and express their own needs, if they wish to avoid becoming over-worked and taken for granted.

ISFJs need positive feedback from others. In the absence of positive feedback, or in the face of criticism, the ISFJ gets discouraged, and may even become depressed. When down on themselves or under great stress, the ISFJ begins to imagine all of the things that might go critically wrong in their life. They have strong feelings of inadequacy, and become convinced that “everything is all wrong”, or “I can’t do anything right”.

The ISFJ is warm, generous, and dependable. They have many special gifts to offer, in their sensitivity to others, and their strong ability to keep things running smoothly. They need to remember to not be overly critical of themselves, and to give themselves some of the warmth and love which they freely dispense to others

Contributions to the team of an ISFJ
In a team environment, the ISFJ can contribute by:

• working hard and efficiently to complete tasks by the deadlines set
• building team spirit through maintaining good relationships with each team member, being accepting of their contributions, and promoting harmony and co-operation
• contributing practical skills in organising people
• ensuring that everyone in the team feels valued, and that their needs are met
• asking for contributions from all team members, and seeking to arrive at consensus decisions
• maintaining respect for established hierarchies and traditions
• striving to ensure that people are happy with the service provided

The potential ways in which an ISFJ can irritate others include:

• avoiding conflict, and not giving criticism when it is needed
• not articulating his/her understanding of the situation
• not seeing the wood for the trees
• failing to state his/her own needs
• being too serious
• not promoting his/her own ideas or achievements

Personal Growth
As with all types, the ISFJ can achieve personal growth by developing all functions that are not fully developed, through actions such as:

• articulating more of the ISFJs own views
• developing a long term vision, that avoids focusing on details
• assertiveness training
• being more forthright, and offering direct criticism
• learning to promote the ISFJs ideas and achievements to others, recognising that others may well find them valuable
• undertaking a formal process of evaluation against criteria, including a cost benefit analysis

Recognising Stress
As stress increases, ‘learned behaviour’ tends to give way to the natural style, so the ISFJ will behave more according to type when under greater stress. For example, in a crisis, the ISFJ might:

• find a place of solitude in which to think and work
• value the efforts of others and appreciate their encouragement
• use tried and trusted means of solving problems, possibly failing to recognise the need for change
• use pragmatic solutions at the expense of the long term

Under extreme stress, fatigue or illness, the ISFJs shadow may appear – a negative form of ENTP. Example characteristics are:

• being very intolerant of others who do not act competently
• suggesting impractical ideas
• being critical of others, and finding fault with almost everything
• having a gloomy view of the future
• being argumentative

The shadow is part of the unconscious that is often visible to others, onto whom the shadow is projected. The ISFJ may therefore readily see these faults in others without recognising it in him/her self.

ISFJ Learning Style

ISFJs learn best by experiencing, practising and memorising. For them, theory and the links that can be made to their existing knowledge and skills, comes later.

They prefer to learn in an orderly and self-paced manner, and thus benefit from structured, well thought-out training programmes, self-teaching courses and practical workshops. Demonstrations and practical examples are of more use to the ISFJs than theory or discussion, though they do enjoy reading and quiet reflection. Being set (and achieving) regular targets ensures that they maintain interest and gives them the feedback they need to assure themselves of steady progress.

They enjoy acquiring facts and many have a good memory for facts. They learn equally well on their own or with others, though to learn best they need to have a positive relationship with their teacher and to have factual information presented in such a way that they can link it either to their personal experience or their values. Loose, unstructured teaching with unclear outcomes or with high degree of experimentation, personal interaction, theory or ‘play’ does not work well for them.

As learners, ISFJs:

• Are less interested in abstract theories than in factual or practical information
• Learn best in a systematic, linear fashion
• Prefer to work towards a clear goal or end-product
• Benefit from hand-on training
• Prefer ‘traditional’ forms of teaching
• Are good at focusing and concentrating
• Are unlikely to explore untried ideas or methods
• May need to develop judgement, criticism and objectivity

ISFJs learn best when:

• there is focused and structured learning environment
• listening and observing e.g. watching how other people do things, listening to a lecture or presentation, taking notes
• can link what they are learning to ‘real-world’ problems
• when thoroughness, dedication and attention to detail are rewarded
• emotionally engaged by a subject, or can relate it to their personal interests, values and goals
• there is plenty of ‘hands-on’ training or examples, and that they can put it into practice what they have learnt
• expectations, goals and standards are clearly laid out
• responsibility, hard work and skill are rewarded
• praised, rewarded or appreciated for work well done

ISFJs learn least well and may be demotivated when:

• not allowed to absorb ideas at their own pace nor digest them thoroughly before acting on them or making decisions
• the focus is on analysis, detail or facts and figures, or when having to collate large amounts of data
  there is too much theory, generalisation or ambiguity
• not given time to prepare thoroughly in advance, or forced to make short cuts and do a superficial job
• having to take centre stage or being put ‘under the spotlight’
• presented with too many distractions or alternatives
• involved in situations which require spur-of-the-moment action and decision-making
• ingenuity, initiative and risk-taking are valued above dedication, quality of work and reliability