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Putting Career Tools to Work
Last month, TSA Career Coach Nancy Wallace described the insights career assessments like the the Myers-Briggs personality Type Indicator (MBTI) can provide. This month she reveals how you can apply those insights to interpersonal relationships, communicate your ideas more successfully and boost your professional effectiveness.
Career assessments are valuable tools, and TSA Career Coaches are well equipped to help you make practical use of the information they reveal.
Remember, as a TSA employee you can take four major assessments online at TSACareerCoaching.com, at no charge. A TSA Career Coach will help you choose which assessments to take, provide the password for online assessment access, review the results with you and discuss practical success strategies.
Visit the TSA Career Coaching Service website for more information, and when you're ready go to the "Contact Us" page to get started!
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How to Boost Your Professional Effectiveness (Part II)
By Nancy Wallace, TSA Career Coach
In Part 1, we discussed the value of knowing our personality type preferences and how they influence our behavior. Part 2 explores behaviors that can boost your professional effectiveness, and how knowing your MBTI preferences can help.
Why do smart people fail? Research shows that the number one cause of personal and professional breakdown isn't lack of intelligence or skills, but ineffectiveness in interpersonal relationships. Without the capacity to understand ourselves and others, our ability to successfully communicate, influence, motivate, collaborate, develop, and achieve positive results is seriously hindered.
You can use knowledge of your personality type to boost your professional effectiveness by:
- Communicating productively so that all parties feel respected and heard, regardless of their preferred communication style.
- Appreciating different perspectives and opinions, whether you agree with them or not. The best solution to a problem usually results from examining the problem from various perspectives.
- Viewing an opposite way of thinking as a complement to yours, not the "wrong" way. Everyone has biases or "blind spots" that limit their thoughts – recognize when yours are standing in the way of your own success.
- Expanding your interpersonal skills "toolbox" so you can adapt your behaviors to different situations.
- Increasing your self-awareness and contributions by understanding your strengths and weaknesses.
- Recognizing that your preferences aren't an excuse for not performing required tasks or treating people inappropriately.
- Being aware of your type biases to avoid negative stereotyping. For example, Extraverts aren't always talkative and energetic, and Introverts aren't always quiet and reserved.
- Negotiating for what you need to work at your best. When you present your case to others in a way that they best understand, you'll have the best chance of getting what you need.
Extraverts are energized by people and activity, action-oriented and enjoy variety. They're generally expressive and think through problems by talking. To work more effectively with Extraverts: - relate to them with energy and enthusiasm
- share information about your thoughts and feelings
- focus discussions on people and things rather than abstract concepts.
Introverts are energized by thoughts and reflection, like to focus intently on tasks and tend to reflect carefully before speaking. To work more effectively with Introverts:
- give them adequate time to think before expecting them to respond
- don't overwhelm them with chatter
- engage them one-on-one when possible.
Sensors are factual and concrete, focusing on present realities. They observe and remember data and details, and trust experience over intuition. To work effectively with Sensors: - show evidence for your ideas
- take a sequential, step-by-step approach
- focus on practical, short-term strategies.
Intuitives trust their inspirations and think about future possibilities following their hunches about what could be better. Their ideas are usually imaginative and creative, and they focus on patterns and the meaning of data. To work effectively with Intuitives: - present the big picture first
- avoid describing facts and details until asked
- respect their need to brainstorm, use imagination, and focus on future possibilities over current realities.
Thinkers apply objective logic in decision making. They examine pros and cons, strive to be reasonable and fair, treat everyone equally, and base decisions on objective standards of truth. To work effectively with Thinkers: - present ideas logically and systematically.
- be brief and to the point; don't ramble
- describe the pros and cons of each option
- remain consistently calm and reasonable
- don't take seemingly critical comments personally.
Feelers are guided by personal values in decision making. They assess the impact of a decision on the people involved, strive for harmony and positive interactions and value fairness, with everyone treated as an individual. To work effectively with Feelers: - focus first on points of agreement and describe how people will benefit from the outcome
- be pleasant, affirming and genuine, avoiding direct confrontation when possible
- respect their need for personal connection.
Judgers interact with the world in a planned, orderly, scheduled manner. They are systematic and methodical, prefer closure on decisions, like to get things done and avoid last-minute stress. To work effectively with Judgers: - present a timetable – and stick to it
- be on time for meetings and don't surprise them
- be aware of their discomfort with change
- focus on achievable goals.
Perceivers approach the world in a flexible, easy-going, spontaneous manner. They tend to be casual and adaptable, like to keep things loose and are open to change. They work with bursts of energy and are motivated by last-minute pressure. To work effectively with Perceivers: - allow events to flow where possible and try not to be overly rigid about time
- offer new information and ideas
- recognize their ability to move from task to task
- avoid rushing them to closure.
Are you interested in learning more about your preferences? Contact the TSA Career Coaching Service and request a Career Coach to administer and interpret the MBTI for you. There are two ways to contact the TSA Career Coaching Service:
- Visit www.tsacareercoaching.com/contact.cfm to e-mail us, or
- Call the answering service anytime (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) Toll Free: 1-866-619-3697 (TTY callers: 1-800-877-8339 and request 1-866-542-9096)
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