Working with People with different Myers-Briggs^® Type Preferences

By Shawn Bakker

In some work situations you might find that your type preferences place you in the minority. It can be challenging when the way that you gather or analyze information, communicate your ideas, or organize your work is different from your colleagues. The tips below should help ease the way a little. They involve knowing yourself and your limits, but also being willing to stretch yourself to meet your colleagues on their terms.

E-I
If you have a preference for Introversion and your teammates are Extroverted:

1. Arrive early at work to take advantage of quiet time.
2. Intentionally seek out private reflective time – take the long way home.
3. In meetings, voice even partially thought-through perspectives.
4. Plan private breaks during the day to collect your thoughts.

If you have a preference for Extraversion and your teammates are Introverted:

1. Network with others outside your work time.
2. Ask others to voice their ideas.
3. Pay attention to the written word.
4. Allow others to think about your idea before they provide feedback.

S-N
If you have a preference for Intuition and your teammates have a preference for Sensing:

1. Practice giving information in a step-by-step fashion.
2. Provide specific examples.
3. Read the fine print, and make sure you have the facts straight.
4. Honor values tied to experience and tradition.

If you have a preference for Sensing and your teammates have a preference for Intuition:

1. Get involved in projects that require long-range planning.
2. Practice brainstorming.
3. Prepare yourself for roundabout discussions.
4. Go beyond specifics and examine patterns, meanings, and themes.

T-F
If you have a preference for Thinking and your teammates have a preference for Feeling:

1. Remind yourself that considering the impact on people is a logical thing to do.
2. Soften your critical remarks, and find the positive in situations.
3. Look for points of agreement before criticizing.
4. Work on projects in which alternative causes and solutions are evaluated.

If you have a preference for Feeling and your teammates have a preference for Thinking:

1. Practice laying out arguments by discussing the causes and effects.
2. Understand that critical feedback is given in the spirit of improving your professionalism
3. Use brief and concise language to express people’s wants and needs.
4. Bring attention to stakeholders’ concerns regarding the projects or work.

J-P
If you have a preference for Perceiving and your teammates have a preference for Judging:

1. Consider explaining the need to collect information in order to make sound decisions.
2. Recognize that deadlines may not be negotiable.
3. Keep your surprises to the team to a minimum, and reduce the options you consider.

If you have a preference for Judging and your teammates have a preference for Perceiving:

1. Try to wait on a decision for a few days and pay attention to other ideas that come up.
2. Seek out projects that have a definite milestone and final deadline.
3. Understand that work is progressing despite the style differences.
4. Make your own deadlines along the way.

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