Appreciating Differences - Jack Falt - Ottawa area, Ontario, Canada

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Booklet Review by Jack Falt

Carr, Sally, Finding the Fit: Helping Clients Clarify MBTI® Type, Palo Alto, CA: CPP, Inc., 1997, 2003, ISBN - none, 22 pp, cartoons, bibliography.

As facilitators we have all faced the problems of helping clients find their “True Type.” Some clients look at their four letters, read the description and say, “That’s me!” However, there are a significant number who aren’t quite sure. When they hear about the meaning of the preferences, they find it hard to relate to one or more letters in their code.

The author has written a gem of a booklet for facilitators to use. With its cartoons and ideas it would make a great PowerPoint Presentation to use as part of the explanation of the meaning of the results of the MBTI® instrument. Including it in the presentation would make it more “normal” that often people might have a problem pinning down their Best Fit Type.

The booklet starts off with basic assumptions such as: each of person has a true type that is inborn and unchanging. There are some general tips on presenting feedback about type to clients. Then there are cautions for the facilitator: it’s OK for clients to go away from a session without having a definitive answer to their type; type is only one answer and doesn’t answer all of life’s problems; and be aware of the client’s needs and not follow one’s own agenda about what the client should leave the session with.

There are a number of strategies given. Help the client think through the process with questions such as: “What do you see in yourself that leads you to say you could be either?” As the client explains, the facilitator has a better idea of where the client is coming from and can tailor the answer to help clarify the situation for the client.

The author gives several case examples showing how a facilitator would work through the process with a client. While this won’t answer all the problems that come up, this booklet does provide ways of approaching these problems for the facilitator.

Unfortunately, as yet there is no 100% foolproof way of helping a client determine his or her type. However, this booklet is very helpful in that process, and well worth reading and having in one’s library.

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