The Introvert Advantage

An MBTI® qualification program participant who prefers introversion introduced me to a 300+ page book devoted entirely to the topic of introverts. I wondered what could one possibly say about one of Myers-Briggs® eight preferences (Extroversion, Introversion, Sensing, iNtuiting, Thinking, Feeling, Judging, Perceiving) that would take up that much space. I recommend you check this one out.

Dr. Marti Olsen Laney, who knows intimately the thrills and chills of being an introvert, writes clearly about complex scientific research on the communication pathways in the brain and how they are reflected in human behavior. What she says supports Dr. Carl Jung’s theory that our preferences are innate. We are born with the predilection to develop in certain ways. Hopefully life circumstances support us in doing so.

She also includes practical tips for “navigating the extroverted world” in relationships, at work, at social occasions, and as a parent. Here’s one I picked at random for those awkward party moments stuck in a conversation that isn’t working. Tip: Say “I think I’ll hit the buffet now—the line seems to be thinning out.” Another tip on blowing your own horn at work: “Write a short article for the company newsletter about an interest of yours.”

Dr. Laney has clues for extroverts, too, about ways to interact more effectively. A good one that’s always useful with a significant other is “Don’t interrupt, it takes energy for introverts to start talking again. Hear your partner out, then talk about your thoughts and feelings.”

You can’t miss on this one. It’s a handy resource for tips to share with your clients with introverted preferences.

Meg Ellis Books, Myers-Briggs Type Theory



2 Comments

  1. 1. Bruce Lewin wrote:

    Hi Meg,

    Nice post :-) I’ve just added something in response which looks briefly at the differences between MBTI and our own model, 4G. The post is online at;

    4G and Myers Briggs/MBTI

    Best wishes,

    Bruce

    July 12, 2005 @ 2:24 am (comment)

  2. 2. Meg Ellis wrote:

    To all,

    I replied to Bruce’s comments on the 4G website also.

    Thanks for taking the time to comment, Bruce. I truly enjoy this kind of dialogue.

    Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is just that…an indicator that points a client to the type that he/she has chosen. It may or may not be the best fit. That’s why ethically a practitioner only gives the client the MBTI results after walking through the theory and letting the client self-select their best fit type. Often it is the same as the reported type. Sometimes it is not due to the conditions under which the person answered the instrument or to current life situations.

    Myers-Briggs Type Codes do not predict behaviors. Unlike all other psychological instruments, it is not trait based, measuring how much or little of a trait the person possesses. MBTI measures preferences. You either prefer Sensing or Intuiting for taking in information though you may use both, for example. You cannot tell nor predict how well a person engages that preference. Like I prefer golf over tennis, but that does not translate into decent scores on the golf course. Trust me on that one.

    That’s why there is no telling which two types will do well together in relationship or not. So much more is involved in the pairing of two individuals like trust, cultural issues, age, life experience, psychological health, intelligence, interests, etc.

    Type is just one lens, a powerful one, that may explain what is happening in a relationship. If 4G can suggest better or worse pairings, the instrument must be trait based. Trait based instruments have valuable contributions. Myers-Briggs type Indicator does not fall in that category. It is a one of a kind instrument that has been administered over 40 million times.

    July 15, 2005 @ 2:51 pm (comment)

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