Why Every Leader and Their Teams Should Complete A Personality Profile

Aug 15, 2016

My wife has long since been a proponent of personality profiles and understanding how people are wired. This insight, applied personally, has positioned her to add value you to our family, friendships, and a number of organizations in myriad of ways; in addition to adding a peace in understanding herself and how she’s been uniquely gifted by God.

I recently asked one of my interns to go through this process, which produced an Aha! moment. Everyone on our team should do this! Here’s why:

You will understand where you fit. In his book, “From Good To Great”, Jim Collins explores the necessity of not only identifying the right people, but making sure they are on the right bus. Knowing your unique personality, natural temperament, specific gifting, and how you are wired in general, will undoubtedly help you in identifying which jobs and volunteer opportunities you want to pursue. Trust me, this will mitigate much frustration.

Communication is key. This information is not only insightful, but empowering. Share your findings with your team. This will not only help them understand you, it will give you a better understanding of each other and the unique vantage points each team member brings to the table.

Strategic placement. Depending upon the project, this information will let you know who should play what role.

Understanding and value. When we have a better understanding of someone, we oftentimes develop a better appreciation for them. Your team will begin to value the diversity that exists, through understanding one another better. Understanding and value are inexplicably intertwined.

The Holy Ghost changes everything. Remember! While our temperaments and personalities are gifted to us from God at birth and shaped as we grow; as we all mature to become more like our Master, our nature will inevitably change to reflect Him. You are not bound by your weaknesses, and your strengths will undoubtedly be enhanced as His glory is continually revealed in you!

Are you ready for the moment of truth? You can begin your journey and take the personality profile test here. #ItsFree

Hopefully, you’ll find the following infographics helpful and brief summary of each personality type helpful. You will find a much more detailed description at the conclusion of your test. So, make sure you bookmark or email yourself the results.

Once you complete it, I’d love to hear about your experience with your findings? Did you facilitate this exercise with your team? Has it helped with strategic efforts? Productivity? Let me know! #GoBeyondReason

Personality Summaries were obtained from Paul Sohn (giving credit where credit is due). Check out his blog here. 

PERSONALITY PROFILES 
INFP

• On personality trait measures, score as Artistic, Reflective, Careless, Sensitive, Flexible, and
• Appreciative
• Among lest likely of all types to suffer heart disease
• In men, among least likely to report chronic pain
• Second highest of all types to report marital dissatisfaction
• Among most likely to have suicidal thoughts in college
• Tend to be more successful than the average in learning a foreign language
• Among types most likely to be dissatisfied with their work
• Personal values include Autonomy and Creativity
• Overrepresented in occupations in counseling, writing, and the arts

INFJ

• Least common type in the population
• On personality trait scales, scored as Sincere, Sympathetic, Unassuming, Submissive,
• Easygoing, Reserved, and Patient
• Among highest of all types in college GPA
• Among most likely to stay in college
• Most likely of all types to cope with stress by seeing a therapist
• Highest of all types in marital dissatisfaction
• Personal values include Spirituality, Learning, and Community Servicer
• Commonly found in careers in religion, counseling, teaching and the arts

INTJ

• On personality trait measures, score as Discreet, Industrious, Logical, Deliberate, Self-confident, and Methodical
• Among types least likely to suffer heart disease and cardiac problems
• Least likely of all the types to believe in a higher spiritual power
• One of two types with the highest college GPA
• Among types with highest income
• Personal values include Achievement
• Of all types, least likely to state that they value Home/family, Financial security,
• Relationships & Friendships, and Community Service
• Overrepresented among MBA students and female small business owners
• Commonly found in scientific or technical fields, computer occupations, and legal professions

INTP

• On personality trait measures, score as Candid, Ingenious, Complicated, Independent and Rebellious
• More likely than other types to study a foreign language
• Most frequent type among college students committing alcohol and drug policy violations
• Have lowest level of coping resources of all the types (with ISTPs)
• One of types least likely to believe in a higher spiritual power
• Highest of all types in career dissatisfaction (with INFPs)
• In school, have lower grades than would be predicted from aptitude scores
• More likely than average complete engineering programs
• Personal values include Autonomy, Freedom, and Independence
• Overrepresented among working MBA students
• Commonly found in science and technical occupations

ISFJ

• On personality trait measures, score as Conservative, Conventional, Guarded, and Reserved
• Among types most likely to believe in a higher spiritual power
• More likely than average to experience chronic pain
• Among types most likely to suffer heart disease
• Second most common type among education majors in college
• More likely than other types to watch more than 3 hours of television per day
• Personal values include Happy family, Health, and Spirituality
• Overrepresented among MBA students and male small business owners
• Among three types with the lowest income
• Commonly found in education, health care, and religious occupations

ISFP

• On personality trait measures, score as Easygoing
• Among types most likely to report heart disease and hypertension
• In college, likely to report low levels of assertiveness
• In essays, projected themselves the fewest number of years into the future of all the types
• Among the types least likely to stay in college
• Most likely of all types to report stress associated with finances and children
• In a national sample, likely to value a work environment which provides security, clear and simple instructions, and no expectation of extra work hours
• Underrepresented among MBA students and small business owners
• Commonly found in occupations in health care, business, and law enforcement

ISTJ

• On personality trait measures, score as Calm, Stable, Steady, Cautious, and Conventional
• More likely than other types to experience cardiac problems and hypertension
• More likely than other types to experience chronic pain
• Among four highest types in college GPA
• More frequent among African Americans
• Personal values include Financial Security
• Most likely of all types to enjoy a work environment where everything is done by the book.
• Overrepresented among bank officers, financial managers, MBA students, and small business owners
• Often found careers in management, administration, law enforcement, and accounting

ISTP

• On personality trait measures, score as Critical, Detached, Guarded, Independent, and Resourceful
• Commonly found in populations of male college scholarship athletes
• More likely than other types to suffer cardiac
• Lowest ranked of all types in using social coping resources
• One of four types least satisfied with their marriage or intimate relationship
• Among types least likely to complete college
• Personal values include Autonomy; at work, value Stability, Security, Independence, and Achievement
• Commonly found in skilled trades, technical fields, agriculture, law enforcement, and military occupations

ENFJ

• On personality trait scales, scored as Active, Pleasant, Social, Demanding, Impatient, Appreciative, and Compromising
• Most likely of all types to cope with stress by exercising
• Most likely of all types to believe in a higher spiritual power
• Ranked by psychologists as among least likely to have trouble in school.
• Personal values include Friendships, Education & Learning, Creativity, and Community
• Service
• Among types highest in job satisfaction, but also among the most likely to report plans to leave their jobs
• Commonly found in careers in religion, teaching and the arts

ENFP

• On personality trait scales, scored as Enthusiastic, Outgoing, Spontaneous, Changeable, Impulsive, Energetic, and Understanding
• Scored among highest of all types in available resources for coping with stress
• ENFP women are less likely to suffer from heart disease
• ENFP men are less likely to suffer from chronic pain
• Rated by psychologists as among most likely of all types to have trouble in school
• Overrepresented among academically talented elementary school teachers
• Personal values include Home & family, Friendships, Creativity, Learning and Community Service
• Commonly found in careers in counseling, teaching, religion and the arts

ENTJ

• On personality trait measures, score as Ambitious, Forceful, Optimistic, Egotistical, Adaptable, and Energetic
• Least likely of all types to report stress resulting from work or finances
• More likely than average to suffer cardiac problems
• Among the least likely of all types to believe in a higher spiritual power
• Among top types in college GPA
• Among most likely to stay in college
• Personal values include Home/Family, Achievement, Creativity, and Learning
• Overrepresented among MBA students and small business owners
• One of two types most likely to be satisfied with their work

ENTP

• On personality trait scales, scored as Enterprising, Friendly, Resourceful, Heading, Self-centered, and Independent
• Least likely of all types to suffer heart disease and hypertension
• Least likely of all types to report stress associated with family and health
• Scored among highest of all types in available resources for coping with stress
• Overrepresented among those with Type A behavior
• Among highest of all types on measures of creativity
• One of two types most frequent among violators of college alcohol policy
• Among types most dissatisfied with their work, despite being among the types with the highest income
• Commonly found in careers in science, management, technology and the arts

ESFJ

• Underrepresented among people suffering from substance abuse
• Among types highest in resources for coping with stress
• Second most likely of all types to report believing in a higher spiritual power
• Highest of all types in reported satisfaction with their marriage or intimate relationship
• Among most likely of all types to stay in college
• Most likely of all types to be satisfied with their co-workers
• Values at work include clear structure, security, and the ability to be of service to others
• Among the types most satisfied with their work
• Commonly found in careers in education, health care, and religion

ESFP

• On personality trait measures, score as Changeable, Energetic, Forceful, Initiating, and
• Resourceful
• More likely to use emotional coping techniques over spiritual or physical resources
• Tend to look to authority in education rather than expressing intellectual curiosity; prefer hands-on learning
• Among most likely to stay in college
• More likely than other types to watch television for more than 3 hours a day
• Second highest of all types in marital satisfaction
• Among types with lowest income
• At work, tend to be satisfied with co-workers but dissatisfied with job security, stress, salary, and accomplishment
• Personal values include Home/Family, Health, Friendships, Financial Security, and Spirituality
• Overrepresented in health care, teaching, coaching, and child care occupations

ESTJ

• On personality trait measures, likely to score as Contented, Energetic, Prejudiced, Self-Satisfied, and Practical
• More likely than other types to exhibit Type A behavior
• Of all types, scored highest in coping resources (with ENFP)
• Ranked 3rd highest in marital satisfaction among all types
• Among top four types in college GPA
• Least likely of all types to think about suicide in college
• Among most likely to stay in college
• Among types most satisfied with their work
• High-ranking personal values include Health, Financial Security, Achievement, and Prestige
• Overrepresented among bank officers, financial managers, and business owners

ESTP

• On personality trait measures, score as Dominant, Flexible, Demanding, and Sociable
• More frequent among patients suffering from chronic pain
• One of four types reporting highest levels of assertiveness in college
• One of two types with lowest college GPA
• Among most likely of all types to stay in college
• Values at work include autonomy, variety, independence, and structure
• Overrepresented among MBA students
• Commonly found in careers in marketing, skilled trades, business, and law enforcement