Workplace Personality Types According To MBTI – What Are You?

Looking to better understand and manage your team’s unique personalities? The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) offers a practical and fascinating way to do just that! Widely embraced in the business world, including by 89 of the Fortune 100 companies, MBTI has proven to be an invaluable tool for fostering collaboration and productivity.

MBTI at Work

“The MBTI is deceptively simple but incredibly useful for understanding how team members differ and how to work together more effectively,” says John Hackston, Head of Thought Leadership at the Myers-Briggs Company. “It helps boost productivity, enhance engagement, and create a happier work environment.”

In other words, the MBTI could be your secret weapon for transforming a remote team into a seamless, high-performing unit.

What Are the 16 Myers-Briggs Personality Types?

The MBTI is a self-reported personality survey grounded in Carl Jung’s Theory of Psychological Types. By answering straightforward questions about your preferences and tendencies, you’re matched with one of 16 personality types, each identified by four letters (e.g., ESTJ). These represent traits like:

• E/I: Extroversion or Introversion
• S/N: Sensing or Intuition
• T/F: Thinking or Feeling
• J/P: Judging or Perceiving

Each type also comes with a descriptive nickname, such as “The Analyst” or “The Advocate,” to give a deeper insight into how this personality functions in action.

Knowing your team’s personality types helps you assign tasks that align with their strengths and communicate more effectively. Let’s take a look at a few types and how to bring out their best:

1. ISTJ: The Responsible Realist

• Who they are: Organized, reliable, and value-driven. ISTJs thrive on routines and clear expectations.
• How to work with them: Provide structured tasks and trust them to execute independently. They’re great at organizing shared resources, like Google Docs or Dropbox.

2. INFJ: The Insightful Visionary

• Who they are: Creative and principled, with a talent for understanding people’s emotions.
• How to work with them: INFJs excel in behind-the-scenes roles and virtual interviews. Avoid putting them on the spot in Zoom meetings—they shine in quiet but impactful ways.

3. INTJ: The Conceptual Planner

• Who they are: Problem-solvers with a knack for big-picture thinking and a focus on results.
• How to work with them: Encourage thoughtful planning and collaboration. They may need reminders to slow down and fully develop their ideas before acting.

4. ISFJ: The Practical Helper

• Who they are: Caring, detail-oriented, and conscientious. ISFJs are natural team-builders.
• How to work with them: They’re fantastic at quality control and following protocols. Assign them tasks requiring precision, like editing or compliance checks.

5. ESTP: The Energetic Problem Solver

• Who they are: Bold, adaptable, and quick-thinking. ESTPs thrive on fast-paced, high-stakes projects.
• How to work with them: Keep tasks dynamic and engaging. They’re your go-to for troubleshooting and brainstorming innovative solutions.

6. ENFP: The Imaginative Motivator

• Who they are: Enthusiastic and full of ideas, with a love for collaboration and experimentation.
• How to work with them: Tap into their creativity in brainstorming sessions. Gently remind them of deadlines to ensure their ideas translate into results.

7. ENTP: The Enterprising Explorer

• Who they are: Innovative and charismatic, ENTPs love tackling challenges and thinking outside the box. They excel in roles that demand strategic foresight and creativity.
• How to work with them: Include them in brainstorming sessions and high-stakes client pitches. They thrive on mental stimulation but may need gentle reminders to stay focused on actionable outcomes.

8. ESFP: The Enthusiastic Improviser

• Who they are: Fun-loving and energetic, ESFPs bring joy and warmth to the workplace. They’re natural performers and thrive on interaction.
• How to work with them: Give them opportunities to shine in creative tasks like video presentations or pitches. Virtual working can drain their energy, so involve them in projects where their charisma can flourish.

9. ENTJ: The Decisive Strategist

• Who they are: Confident and goal-oriented, ENTJs are natural leaders who excel at setting plans into motion.
• How to work with them: Leverage their big-picture thinking for strategic planning but encourage them to consult others on finer details. They thrive when balancing leadership with collaboration.

10. ISFP: The Versatile Supporter

• Who they are: Gentle and adaptable, ISFPs excel in creative roles and have a strong desire to help others.
• How to work with them: They’re happiest when their work aligns with their values. Be mindful of their emotional well-being, reminding them to take breaks and prioritize self-care to avoid burnout.

11. INFP: The Thoughtful Idealist

• Who they are: Dreamers with deep-seated values, INFPs are passionate about meaningful projects but may struggle to sustain momentum.
• How to work with them: Assign them tasks that align with their values to keep them motivated. Create a safe space for open dialogue to address any concerns, especially in remote setups where frustrations can linger.

12. ESTJ: The Efficient Organizer

• Who they are: Pragmatic and methodical, ESTJs excel at keeping teams on track and ensuring goals are met.
• How to work with them: Trust them to manage timelines and logistics but encourage tact when communicating, particularly in text-based environments where tone can be misunderstood.

13. ESFJ: The Supportive Contributor

• Who they are: Compassionate and sociable, ESFJs are the glue that holds teams together, always looking out for their colleagues’ well-being.
• How to work with them: Utilize their organizational skills in project management and onboarding. Their nurturing nature makes them ideal for fostering team morale and cohesion.

14. ENFJ: The Compassionate Facilitator

• Who they are: Visionary leaders with a strong sense of empathy, ENFJs inspire and motivate others to succeed.
• How to work with them: Put them at the center of team discussions and brainstorming sessions. They’re excellent at building consensus and bringing diverse ideas together into actionable plans.

15. ISTP: The Logical Pragmatist

• Who they are: Analytical and adaptable, ISTPs are natural problem-solvers who love to experiment and innovate.
• How to work with them: Provide them with hands-on, practical tasks and trust their ability to troubleshoot. They work best with autonomy but may need occasional reminders to stay on task in remote settings.

16. INTP: The Objective Analyst

• Who they are: Independent thinkers who thrive on logic and innovation, INTPs are brilliant at identifying patterns and solving complex problems.
• How to work with them: Give them freedom to explore creative solutions, but encourage them to share their insights with the team. Tools like shared documents or project platforms can help bridge communication gaps.

Why MBTI In The Workplace Matters for Your Team

By understanding the personalities within your team, you can create an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to do their best work. Whether it’s assigning tasks that play to individual strengths or fostering better communication, MBTI offers actionable insights for building a cohesive and high-performing team.

So why not give it a try? Understanding your team’s unique traits might just be the key to unlocking their full potential—no matter where or how you work together!