List of Articles & Reviews by Jack Falt
Booklet Review by Jack Falt
The booklet begins by relating how each of the eight preferences relates to the world of work: what others might notice about the workers, work style, how they behave in groups, how they react to change, how they are during conflict, the kinds of contributions they are likely to give, and how other might experience them. Then the booklet gives a two-page description of each of the sixteen types using these same headings.
The last portion of the booklet discusses work and type theory in more general terms. The type table is used to show the general distribution of MBTI® instrument scores in the U.S. population and then gives some examples of several jobs from the CAPT Atlas of Type Tables. This is a “birds of a feather” idea that the distribution of types for a specific job tend to cluster within certain types. But there is also the caution that at least some from every type are in fact found in the job. There are no ‘perfect jobs’ for specific types. Any type can do any job. However, some types are more attuned to specific jobs, and people who are matched to the job by type preference are likely to experience more enjoyment and less stress than those whose type is at odds with the job.
Other material of value in the booklet looks in a more general way at such topics as conflict, work style, interaction, interruptions, work and play. There is a good summary on team processes using Bruce Tuckman’s forming, storming, norming and performing concepts. The author uses Gordon Lawrence’s zig-zag process to show how good decisions are made and how missing out on some preferences within a team can potentially have very negative results.
In considering how workers react to change, the author uses Earle Page’s Organizational Tendencies chart that suggests ISs say, “Let’s keep it,” ESs say, “Let’s get it done,” INs say, “Let’s look at it another way,” and ENs say, “Let’s change it.”
The author closes the booklet with a section on communication and how the eight preferences apply. Knowing your audience in terms of their preferences can greatly affect your ability to communicate effectively.
The booklet is a worthwhile handout and covers many of the basic ideas a presenter would likely include in a workshop. It would also be useful in individual counselling situations where it would be helpful for the client to understand how he or she typically is in the world of work, and how these behaviours are very much related to one’s type.