Monday
Feb232004
Monday, February 23, 2004 at 5:34AM The Personality Test That Changed My Life
I was 27 years old, living in Illinois and working in my first full time ministry position. After four years of college and three years of seminary, I had been recently married and took the job of "church planter apprentice" through the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The task was to try to start a new church. The method was meeting people, knocking on doors, trying to begin a Bible study and eventually growing it into a congregation.
There were several reasons why I was not best suited for such a job. Number one, I did not drive and depended on Barbara or other folks to get me to places. Number two, I did not believe the basic position of my denomination. I was led to believe there were places needing churches, places people had no opportunity to attend church. The reality, however, was nearly a church on every corner in Rock Island, IL. True, there were no "Southern Baptist" churches, but there were nearly every other kind available. Therefore, my mission lacked cause. I was not supplying a need the people of Rock Island lacked, I was part of a grand scheme to grow a denomination. Nothing wrong with that, but let's be honest about it.
I tried. I knocked on doors and talked to people, some people. Many folks were understandably suspicious and hesitant to talk to me. I wouldn't have talked to me. They would usually ask, "why are you trying to start a new church? Aren't there plenty of churches here already?" I believed the answer to be yes, so it was tough. There were other difficulties. I had very little money to do anything, like renting a building or printing brochures. Other churches had nice facilities and gyms, which made it hard to compete.
I spent a lot of my two years there working with the "sponsor church" helping them with their small congregation.
Anyway, I was somewhat disillusioned. I felt called to be a minister, but was not getting to minister. The way did not open up for me to be a pastor and this two year mission job was all I could find. It was not fulfilling my need to serve God and people. I felt out of place and awkward. I began to question myself.
Then one day, I signed up for a training seminar. The presenter was going to explain a couple of "tests" which could be used in counseling for individuals or couples. One was called PREPARE/ENRICH. This was for premarital and marital counseling. The other test was more of a straight personality test called the "Myers - Briggs Type Indicator."
Part of the seminar involved the students taking the tests. So we answered the questions and scored our own tests, then the instructor began to explain the results. I was spellbound. I found it very interesting for several reasons. I was learning about myself and how other people tick. I was learning something I could use when working with people, but as the teacher got around to describing my personality type, my life was about to change.
I was able to see how failure is sometimes more about mismatching people and tasks than it is about a flawed person or task. I was in the wrong slot. My skills, ideas, and attitudes were not best suited for what I was there to do. On the other hand, I was excited about the seminar. I wanted more and eventually returned to seminary where I entered the doctoral program in counseling and psychology. The test helped me find my niche.
The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is based on the psychology of Carl Jung. There are 16 possible personality types. None are preferred over another they are simply different. Each has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. There are four continuums on which an individual is scored.
The first continuum is "introversion - extroversion." This involves how one draws energy from the world and how one relates to the world. Some prefer quiet contemplation to figure things out while others want a group discussion. Some prefer a library while others go to book stores. This involves more than relating to others, but how one prefers to work and think.
The second continuum is "sensing - intuition." The sensing side of the continuum represents the person who obtains information from what is seen and heard. The intuitive end of the scale represents the person who reads between the lines. The scale goes from detail to vague. Someone who is intuitive may have a brilliant idea that seems to come from nowhere, but they can also make some bad decisions because they miss details. The sensing folks may miss things because they only believe what they see. They may lack imagination.
Third, "thinking - feeling." The thinkers depend on logic to make decisions while the feelers look to their heart. The feelers frustrate the thinkers for being indecisive and the feelers feel rushed by uncaring slobs of whom they deem the thinkers. I am speaking in the extreme here.
The last continuum is "judging - perceptive." This refers to how one orders and organizes their life. The judging person likes organization, schedules, and plans. The perceptive person is a free spirit. They are often unorganized and do not adhere to time schedules. They are spontaneous and open.
Things get interesting when you apply this to relationships and work settings. What I learned was to be proactive. Instead of expecting people to understand me, I try to understand them. I know what I am and what I prefer, but if I know what someone else is and what they prefer, I can speak in a way they will understand, while not getting angry or put off. This is not a method of manipulating or tricking people, it is a way to focus communication and get a point across.
Feeling is not better than thinking - we need both. Introverts are not better than extroverts - we need both. The better we are at handling all of these things, however, the better rounded we are and the fewer blind spots we have.
I have changed since I first took this test at age 27. I am now more extroverted and more of a feeler. They were extreme then. I guess that means I am more rounded.
Try the test yourself. There are quite a few books out based on this test. It changed my life and I have found its information practical. It aids in self-understanding and understanding others.
What type are you?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What are your blind spots?
Who are the people you get along with?
Who are the people you do not get along with?
This test will help you know more about these questions.
| ENTJ - "Field Marshall". The basic driving force and need is to lead. Tend to seek a position of responsibility and enjoys being an executive. 1.8% of total population. |
More info on your Myers Briggs test results here.
Scroll down the page and find your letters
Until the next time
John Strain
Take heart everyone, spring is on its way. The tulips are about to bloom here, soon the azaleas will explode in colors of pink, white, and purple. The buds are on the trees and with a few days of warm sun, they will open up, changing the horizon to a fresh color of green. I can feel it. Spring is at the door. Old man winter is slipping away and new life is on its way.