Several recent articles and commentary have stoked the debate on the use of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) by organizations. The popular personality assessment is used by career professionals in recruitment, selection, and personnel training decisions. It is very likely you have encountered the MBTI in your career.
"Have we all been duped by the Myers-Briggs test?" author Roman Krznaric identifies the "sustained criticism" the tool has received from psychologists over the years, contesting MBTI reliability. Also questioned is the mutually exclusive categories of the personality profile: one is either an introvert or an extrovert, not allowing a mix. Lastly, Krznaric cites the fallibility of MBTI in matching type and satisfying career choice.
Rich Thompson, PhD, Director of Research, CPP counters Krznaric's criticisms and questioned reliability. (Note: CPP is the exclusive publisher of the world's most trusted and widely used personality assessment...MBTI). Thompson addresses reliability and validity of the MBTI stating well publicized research establishes the instrument meets psychological test requirements. Characterization as mutually exclusive categories is a misrepresentation by Krznaric of the theory and instrument. Behavior of a person is pre-disposed and not exclusively limited to being either an introvert or extrovert in a given circumstance. Read Thompson's explanation on type and career choice in "No, we haven’t been “duped” by the world’s most popular personality assessment."
Lillian Cunningham, in "Does it pay to know your type?" provides an excellent historical and balanced perspective of the MBTI. According to Cunningham,
- Roughly 2 million people a year take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
- MBTI is used by more than 10,000 companies, 2,500 colleges and universities and 200 government agencies in the United States.
- 50 million people are estimated to have taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator since 1962.
Offered are two opposing views to inform consideration and encourage discussion of your MBTI experience and its role in your career. Findings from the 2012 Global Career Brainstorming Day published by the Career Thought Leaders Consortium report Myers-Briggs Type Indicator remains one of the most popular assessment tools, though its use is declining in favor of DiSC and Strengths Finder.
PersonalityPathways offers a quick assessment if you're interested in identifying your type and additional resources to explore Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Looking forward to thoughts and discussion!
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