Background: Can personality predict performance at work? While skills and qualifications may indicate suitability for a job, personality goes a long way in determining interest, aptitude and happiness at work. There are certain psychological tools to assess personality, one of the most popular being the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Suresh Babu examines, how this tool can be used effectively to enhance work performance.

Businesses invest vast resources in boosting their employees’ productivity. Professionals also try to enhance their performance through different ways (strategy, consulting, promotions, road shows etc). However, what most people don’t realise is the importance of considering people management and personality while working on performance enhancement.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or MBTI is a great psychological and personality preference tool. Many businesses and individual professionals use the MBTI framework to enhance their performance and productivity. 

Personality drastically affects performance. Besides personality, discovering strengths and profiling works wonders for enhancing performance multifold—easily, effortlessly and efficiently. 

The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or MBTI is a great psychological and personality preference tool. The MBTI shows 16 different personality types. Each personality type has certain sub elements based on multiple questions.  It is known to be one of the most authentic and successful personality preference tools. Many businesses and individual professionals use the MBTI framework to enhance their performance and productivity. Interestingly, majority of fortune 100 companies leverage this and it’s affordable for all businesses.

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How do personalities work with each other and how does MBTI work?

MBTI can help people understand themselves in a better way. The first step in the MBTI framework is to complete a questionnaire. Once you are done with the questionnaire you get a set of four different letters. These four letters determine your personality type. MBTI framework shows 16 different personalities and each personality type is made up from different combinations of four letters.  Lets a look at some of the ways MBTI helps in improving performance.

• More productive teamwork

Businesses should ask all their employees to complete the MBTI questionnaire. This will help in creating more effective teams in the workplace. People who have resonating personalities can be grouped together to get positive results and to avoid any conflict that are likely to rise due to difference in personalities. Contrary to the common belief, research shows that people with matching personalities can bring a lot of diversification to the table and can be great as a team.

• Self-awareness

Completing the MBTI questionnaire can help you learn about yourself. It can tell you about your strengths and weaknesses and when you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses then nothing can stop you from reaching your full potential. You can boost your strengths and try to work on your weaknesses. This can remarkably boost your performance. You might be performing well at your current position, but MBTI will help you find other positions at your workplace where you can perform even better.

• Align jobs with personality

No matter where you are in the world, you will always find businesses that have the wrong person in the wrong seat. It is one of the worst dilemmas faced by the global corporate world. People are given jobs on the basis of their academic results instead of their personality traits. An introvert, shy or nervous person might score good in a written marketing exam, but s/he would definitely have a problem in promoting or selling a product.  This is why it is crucial to assign the right job to the right person. MBTI helps you assign your employees to a position that resonates with their personality.

Also read: Career value curves

Source: www.mouth.com

Conclusion

MBTI is one of the best personality preference tools in the corporate world. Its effectiveness can be judged by the fact that this tool was first introduced in the 1940s and is still considered very effective in the current times. It is very important for companies to implement the MBTI framework in their organisation as improved employee performance can eventually lead to overall business success.

Here is the MBTI test link. However, individuals who take the MBTI assessment in this way may want to have a follow-up discussion with an MBTI professional. This can help them gain a better understanding of their best-fit type, while providing them with greater insight into the meaning of their preferences. Suresh S Babu is a Certified MBTI Practitioner and Performance Coach.

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