About Type Preferences
The MBTI framework describes four pairs of opposites that characterize our preferred ways of directing and receiving energy, taking in information, making decisions and coming to conclusions based on that information, and approaching the outside world.
We use all eight of these opposites, which we refer to as preferences, at least some of the time. However, we are naturally inclined to favor one preference in each pair and use it more than the other one. Your four preferences—your choice from each pair of opposites—make up your four-letter Myers-Briggs type. Here are some characteristics of each of the eight MBTI preferences.
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- Directing and Receiving Energy
- Taking In Information
- Deciding and Coming to Conclusions
- Approaching the Outside World
The E–I Preference Pair How do you direct and receive energy?
Extraversion
People who prefer Extraversion tend to direct their energy toward the outside world and get energized by interacting with people and taking action.
They are more likely to
- Prefer action to reflection
- Talk things over in order to understand them
- Prefer spoken communication
- Share their thoughts freely
- Act and respond quickly
- Extend themselves into the environment
- Enjoy working in groups
- Put themselves in the foreground
At work, people who prefer Extraversion are more likely to
- Speak–think–speak
- Favor an energetic atmosphere
- Desire an action-oriented leader
- Have an enthusiastic approach to change
- Prefer to start the problem-solving process as a group
- Find too little interaction stressful
Introversion
People who prefer Introversion tend to direct their energy toward their inner world and get energized by reflecting on their ideas, memories, and experiences.
They are more likely to
- Prefer reflection to action
- Think things through in order to understand them
- Prefer written communication
- Guard their thoughts until they are (almost) perfect
- Consider and think deeply
- Defend against external demands and intrusions
- Enjoy working alone or with one or two others
- Stay in the background
At work, people who prefer Introversion are more likely to
- Think–speak–think
- Favor a calm atmosphere
- Desire a contemplative leader
- Have a measured approach to change
- Prefer to start the problem-solving process individually
- Find too much interaction stressful
The S–N Preference Pair The way you take in information
Sensing
People who prefer Sensing tend to take in information that is real and tangible. They focus mainly on what they perceive using the five senses.
They are more likely to
- Like hearing facts and details first
- Prefer the tried and true
- Emphasize the pragmatic
- Desire predictability
- See problems as needing specific solutions based on past experience
- Focus on the practical applications of a situation
- Want to know what is
- Value realism
At work, people who prefer Sensing are more likely to
- Talk in specific terms
- Value being surrounded by realistic people
- Want pragmatic leadership
- Proceed step-by-step during change
- Prefer to employ established problem-solving methods
- Feel stressed when overloaded with abstract theories
Intuition
People who prefer Intuition tend to take in information by seeing the big picture. They focus mainly on the patterns and interrelationships they perceive.
They are more likely to
- Like hearing general concepts first
- Prefer the new and untried
- Emphasize the theoretical
- Desire change
- See problems as opportunities to innovate based on inspiration
- Focus on the future possibilities of a situation
- Want to know what could be
- Value imagination
At work, people who prefer Intuition are more likely to
- Talk in general terms
- Value being surrounded by imaginative people
- Want visionary leadership
- Jump from step to step during change
- Prefer to create new problem-solving methods
- Feel stressed when overloaded with specific details
The T–F Preference Pair The way you decide and come to conclusions
Thinking
People who prefer Thinking typically base their decisions and conclusions on logic, with accuracy and objective truth the primary goals.
They are more likely to
- Seek logical clarity
- Question first
- Have an interest in data
- Know when logic is required
- Prefer things to be objective
- Remain detached when making a decision, weighing the pros and cons
- Search for the flaws in an argument
- Strive to be fair
At work, people who prefer Thinking are more likely to
- Offer objective advice
- Want standards that are fair to people
- Desire just leadership
- Prefer change to be logical
- Look at problems in terms of cause and effect
- Find incompetence stressful
Feeling
People who prefer Feeling typically base their decisions and conclusions on personal and social values, with understanding and harmony the primary goals.
They are more likely to
- Seek emotional clarity
- Accept first
- Have an interest in people
- Know when support is required
- Prefer things to be personal
- Remain personally involved when making a decision, weighing values
- Search for points of agreement in an argument
- Strive to be compassionate
At work, people who prefer Feeling are more likely to
- Offer supportive advice
- Want standards that are sympathetic to people
- Desire compassionate leadership
- Prefer change to be harmonious
- Look at problems in terms of their impact on people
- Find lack of cooperation stressful
The J–P Preference Pair The way you approach the outside world
Judging
People who prefer Judging typically approach the world with decisiveness and tend to like planning and closure.
They are more likely to
- Want things to be settled and ordered
- Finish tasks before the deadline
- Like goals and results
- Limit surprises
- Draw conclusions
- Quickly commit to plans or decisions
- See routines as effective
- Trust the plan
At work, people who prefer Judging are more likely to
- Want communication to be systematic
- Prefer their environment to be scheduled
- Like a leader to be planful
- Take an outcome-oriented approach to change
- Be comfortable moving toward a fixed solution
- Find indecisiveness stressful
Perceiving
People who prefer Perceiving typically approach the world with flexibility and tend to like spontaneity and openness.
They are more likely to
- Want things to be flexible and open
- Finish tasks at the deadline
- Like to see what turns up
- Enjoy surprises
- Stay tentative
- Reserve the right to change plans or decisions
- See routines as limiting
- Trust the process
At work, people who prefer Perceiving are more likely to
- Want communication to be spontaneous
- Prefer their environment to be flexible
- Like a leader to be adaptable
- Take a process-oriented approach to change
- Be comfortable keeping options open
- Find premature closure stressful