The Myers-Briggs personality test for employees can provide compelling insights into the inner workings of you — how you perceive the world and how you make decisions.
From these key insights, you can also determine what style of work is best for you and when you’re most productive.
How you score on the Myers-Briggs test is also telling of the kind of workspace that you thrive in. Individuals with different personality traits and mindsets require different daily interactions and activities to be their happiest and most effective. Whether you’re The Architect (INTJ) or The Helper (ISFJ), the tips listed below will help you to improve your normal workday and create a work environment that compliments your personality traits.
What is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Assessment?
The Myers-Briggs Assessment is one of the world’s most popular personality tools, assigning you one of 16 different possible combinations. Your type is presented in four letters representing the interaction of four mental functions, and which you prefer to use first:
● Extraversion or Introversion (directing and receiving energy)
● Sensing or Intuition (taking in information)
● Thinking or Feeling (making decisions)
● Judging or Perceiving (approaching the outside world).
It’s designed to help you understand what inspires you, how you relate to others, and how you can apply yourself in the workplace.
ISTJ – The Logistician
Who are you?
If you scored ISTJ, you’re likely to have a workspace embellished with company awards and nominations and your tireless dedication to your company has you staying late until the job is done right. Those with an ISTJ personality type tend to become impatient with others who don’t have the same work ethic and standards.
How should you improve your workday?
Take some time for yourself by enjoying a solo lunch break to help you decompress. Your introversion means you enjoy taking moments to recharge before entering back into a social setting with colleagues. Listening to a podcast or a Spotify playlist will help you to settle into the moment. Remember that you’re not obligated to partake in group lunch outings. If you’re not feeling up to it, it could potentially be an energy-draining scenario that could set you back.
INFJ – The Guidance Counselor
Who are you?
You’re a visionary with creative ideas bursting at the seams. You have an eccentric and round-about way of doing things, and the way you view the world is deep and analytical. Although you have a systematic approach to taking on projects, you always rely on your intuition to guide you when making decisions.
How should you improve your workday?
Two words: fidget spinners. As the hot giveaway item at conferences this year, there are bound to be some lying around your office, ready for you to claim as your own. When you find yourself losing focus, reach for your fidget spinner to help you focus.
INTJ – The Architect
Who are you?
You’re a rare breed — only 0.8% of the population is in the INTJ category. You are commonly characterized as an analytical problem-solver. You are eager to innovate and enjoy improving old and mundane systems and processes. You often find yourself on the sidelines, removed from office buzz.
How should you improve your workday?
Uninstall the Apps you no longer use and delete your browser bookmarks to help clear your devices and your mind of outdated ideas and solutions. Keeping a mood flipchart on your desk to communicate your daily emotional state is a great way to spark conversation with the other employees in your office.
ISFJ – The Helper
Who are you?
As the perfectionist of the office, you’re meticulous in the way you operate. You’re never late, and you fully embrace the responsibilities of your position. You tend to go above and beyond to please others, and you exude an unmatched level of kindness. You’re supportive of your colleagues, and others feel comfortable going to you for advice and guidance.
How should you improve your workday?
Jotting down daily positive mantras on a bright sticky note and placing them on your monitor will help set your morning in motion. Investing in a fun, colorful planner will also address your need to be on time to meetings and submit deliverables when they are due.
ISTP- The Genius
Who are you?
The explorer of the office, you’re driven by curiosity and desire for new stimuli. Feeding off of the energy of your environment, you’re always looking to improve. You choose to explore relationships through action rather than emotion.
How should you improve your workday?
Who says adults are too old for icebreakers? If you’re having a brain block, gather the coworkers in your department and set up a short exercise to shake up the energy and help generate new ideas. Walking meetings and plenty of remote working days will satisfy your need for new experiences.
ISFP – The Picasso
Who are you?
As a visual learner, you thrive in an environment that is aesthetically pleasing. You enjoy bright, bold colors — and you define yourself by experiences rather than things.
How should you improve your workday?
Adult coloring books are your jam. To give your eyes a break from the screen, having a coloring book on hand will help you to decompress and let your creativity surface for a brief moment during your workday. Colorful tape dispensers and a stash of colored pencils can only help to feed your inner artist.
INFP – The Balancer
Who are you?
Diplomatic in nature, you seek harmony in the workplace. You’re incentivized by honor and good intentions, and not necessarily rewards. You thrive when devoting energy to a select few rather than a larger crowd and contemplate hypotheticals. Quiet time is important to you, as you are often introspective in the way you go about your work.
How should you improve your workday?
An Aromatherapy Essential Oil diffuser will help you tap into your inner calm and focus on finishing the work at hand. Investing in a salt lamp for your desk will also help satisfy your desire for workplace harmony.
INTP – The Architect
Who are you?
Mix creativity and logic and you’ve got an INTP. The most logical of the 16 personality types, you often learn through debate and discussion. With creative reasoning, you often reassess thoughts and theories out of fear that they’ll fail.
How should you improve your workday?
Download logic game apps to your phone and play trivia or word and number games to exercise your logic abilities. T-pins will change your life — use them to hang up your favorite pens and supplies on your office cork board.
ESTP – The Risk Taker
Who are you?
You’re a natural born leader in need of an energetic workspace. You have a preference for constant change from routine to sensory stimuli. You have a lot of energy and don’t like sitting idle. Often known as the ‘leap before you look’ type, you get over excited with new ideas and dive right into them.
How should you improve your workday?
Bring your own French press and coffee beans or a personal Keurig to keep the energy flowing. You can also use an active footrest, or foot hammock if you get antsy sitting in one place for too long.
ESFP – The Frontman
Who are you?
As an ESFP, you’re comfortable reaching out to coworkers for advice and generous with time and energy. However, you may not be the best planner. You can chat up a storm all day, and are naturally curious, exploring new styles and meeting new people. You tend to get bored easily.
How should you improve your workday?
Use a color coordinating system in your calendar to keep track of important meetings and projects — mini whiteboards and markers work well too. Don’t be afraid to hang up a sign that says ‘I’m focusing’ or ‘Busy’ to deter people from stopping by your desk to chat. This will get to the source of the problem, and in time, you won’t have to worry about self-control.
ENFP – The Campaign Leader
Who are you?
You’re the free spirit of the office, and you seek pleasure through social connections. You need your freedom and space, and because you’re reliable, you’re often given an overload of administrative tasks.
How should you improve your workday?
Use over the ear headphones with a noise rejection microphone system to drown out the conversations between colleagues and help you get in the zone. Investing in a door basketball hoop will allow you to have some fun on your own in between projects without getting overly distracted.
ENTP – The Devil’s Advocate
Who are you?
You’re a big picture thinker and often overlook the finer details. You thrive on facilitating discussion and debating issues. A complex and intellectual challenge will always be rewarding to you. Beating around the bush isn’t your style, and when others coddle you, it can cause you irritation.
How should you improve your workday?
Try out a scanner pen – it’s like a magic wand that can digitize hard copies into files with accessibility on a USB. This will help you tend to the smaller details of your organization. If you’re looking for a mental challenge, Lumosity is a problem-solving game that challenges your flexibility of thinking on the clock and compares your performance with others. This will allow you to be a lowkey devil’s advocate and exercise your mental facilities, without drawing any attention.
ESTJ – The Simpleton
Who are you?
You thrive in a traditional office work environment. Often known as the community organizer, you like to bring people together in celebration of shared interests. You are often described as an office role model.
How should you improve your workday?
Strive to live outside of your comfort zone every once in a while — switching out your traditional office chair for an inflatable Pilates ball may be a simple, yet transformative start. If you haven’t utilized metal pegboards before, it’s a great way for you to organize your materials and supplies in a way that’s both visually appealing and saves space. Add a few shelves and hooks and the opportunities for organization are endless.
ESFJ – The Social Butterfly
Who are you?
You often do your best to make sure everyone is happy, and you’re the supportive coworker that everyone can count on. Cooperative and outgoing, you enjoy being present during weekly company meetings and catching up with co-workers in the breakroom.
How should you improve your workday?
Use social apps where other company employees can have discussions, post events, and praise one another. Consider keeping a mug warmer at your desk to heat up your coffee and become the designated coffee guru of the office.
ENFJ – The Giver
Who are you?
You’re a passionate altruist that enjoys hospitable, warm, and inviting spaces. Unafraid of taking the reins, you stand up for what you believe in. With ENFJs on the job, it’s always a hard-fought victory.
How should you improve your workday?
Use a virtual whiteboard to brainstorm with coworkers and give them the chance to have the floor. Invest in a fun poster with a motivational saying that will spark fun conversations with coworkers.
ENTJ – The Head Control
Who are you?
Often competitive, you enjoy a challenge and receiving validation from others. A dominant force in the office, ENTJs know what they want, and go for it. You have no problem holding onto long-term goals and depend on your teammates to help you reach them.
How should you improve your workday?
Praise coworkers for their accomplishments and engage in team building activities to take off the competitive edge. Bonding with your coworkers is a great way to break down walls and focus on working together to successfully finish projects.
Guest Author Bio: Kelsey Taylor is a creative writer and lover of all things digital media. She’s a poet, educator, and regular contributor to TrustRadius where she continues to write about software and tips for B2B companies.
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