Dana Attebery’s class, business practices for the photographer, was abuzz. The conversations rumbled through the room with enthusiasm of the interactive lecture given by guest speaker Esther Attebery, life coach and business professor at Azusa Pacific University.
Esther Attebery and her husband Dana Attebery taught the class the importance of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, MBTI, and how it promotes successful relationships in life and in business.
MBTI indicates psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions.
Fun activities were assigned such as signing names with left and right hands. This was described as a metaphor for working outside of one’s comfort zone.
The class started to think about how they can be mindful and practice incorporating new habits that over time can become more natural.
Esther Attebery said practice makes perfect when it comes to new habits.
“It may not start out as a strength of yours, but it can become one over time,” Esther Attebery said.
The class learned there were 16 different possible combinations of a personality category one can end up in. Esther Attebery discussed characteristics that are frequently associated with each type.
The four opposite personality preferences are extrovert or introvert, thinking or feeling, sensing or intuition and judging or perceiving.
She taught the division of the four opposite characteristics known as dichotomies. A dichotomy is a division or contrast between two things that are represented as being opposites.
Esther Attebery told the whole class to categorize themselves between the distinct groupings. Extroverts on one side of the room and introverts on the other side. This continued with each opposite.
The class made lists of characteristics their opposites possess and in what way they thought their business could benefit from each of the opposites group’s qualities and shared it with the room.
Esther Attebery said the exercise is aimed to make people aware of their differences, and help to acknowledge the value of other’s views and qualities they can bring to the working environment; multiple personalities in a group setting lend different vantage points when approaching solutions to problems.
Gordon Lawrence and Charles Martin, authors of “Building People, Building Program’s”, said in their book that each dichotomy is important in its own way.
“The most important aspect of the Myers-Briggs type theory is that every type has value,” Lawrence and Martin said.“Although each type approaches situations differently, and another person’s approach may not be what you would choose, each way can be effective.”
For example, people who prefer judging are organized and good planners. However, people who prefer its opposite characteristic, perceiving, are quick and flexible in response to the needs of the moment and possess qualities contributing well to a team.
Professors Dana and Esther Attebery were sure to remind the class that no matter what category they end up in, one is not better than the other; the big takeaway is knowing one’s strengths and weaknesses to give insight into which situations allow one to perform one’s best.
Jason DeMers, founder and CEO of AudienceBloom, said in a 2015 article titled “Can your personality dictate how successful you’ll be?” that all the dichotomies can do things that are not particularly associated with their personality.
“You don’t have to be an extrovert to network with other professionals in your area,” DeMers said. “You don’t have to be a naturally logical person to seek logical solutions to your problems.”
DeMers said being a certain personality type does not limit anyone from growing and changing.
“Look for ways to incorporate positive traits and helpful habits and behaviors into your daily life,” DeMers said. “ Regardless of what personality type dictates your feelings and instincts, it’s entirely within your power to shape your life however you want.”
Esther Attebery said knowing your MBTI can help to select a career path and improve existing work, friends and family relationships.
