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Marc Prager

16 Personality Types Test

Organisations across the world use the 16 personality test to map out employees' strengths and blind spots. It sheds light on your own psychological preferences and other people's, giving you a sharper read on personality type — so you can make better choices in life and career.

What the 16 Personality Test Reveals

Taking the 16 Personality Test offers a window into your mind, revealing what drives your decisions and shapes your outlook on the world. It isn't a measure of intellect; rather, it helps you understand the people around you, at home and at work. That insight is essential for making sound decisions, communicating well, and building strong relationships.

Who Discovered the 16 Personality Test?

The test now known as the MBTI was developed in the United States by the mother-daughter duo Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers. Katharine's interest began after meeting Clarence Myers, Isabel's future husband, whose strikingly different worldview pushed her to study personality types and how they shape daily life. The first MBTI questionnaire appeared in 1943 and is still used by organisations worldwide.

The Pros and Cons of Personality Tests

Personality indicators such as Myers-Briggs, or MBTI, rank among the best tools for understanding how someone thinks. They can reveal untapped potential, cut through bias, and sharpen collaboration between teammates, though results aren't always perfectly accurate. Hiring managers, career counsellors, and psychologists all rely on tests like these.

These personality tests are ideal for team-building workshops and executive coaching. Running an MBTI team-building session gives colleagues a genuine opportunity to discover each other's working styles. Through hands-on activities, team members learn why some collaborations click effortlessly while others take more work.

What Shapes a Personality Type?

Your answers to the questionnaire determine your result in the 16 Personality Assessment. This model sheds light on our natural instincts, along with our best qualities, energy, motivations, and driving forces. Personalities are categorised along the following factors:

  • Introversion vs. Extraversion
  • Intuition vs. Sensing
  • Thinking vs. Feeling
  • Judging vs. Perceiving

The 16 Personality Types

Each MBTI personality type blends four cognitive functions, with the primary and secondary functions dominating a person's character. Myers-Briggs sorted personalities into 16 distinct types, listed below:

ISTJ: ISTJs pay close attention to detail. They think logically and base their communication on facts.

INTP: Highly focused, they make decisions through logic and analysis.

ISFJ: Disciplined and deadline-driven, ISFJs come across as friendly, collaborative, and reliable.

INFJ: Compassionate and hardworking, they listen closely and stay attuned to others' needs.

ISTP: Quick to land on the best solution, they enjoy experimenting with new ideas and taking risks.

INFP: They hold their values and traditions in high regard. Though sociable, they prefer to keep a small, close circle.

INTJ: Often called perfectionists, they stand out for creativity, analytical thinking, and independence.

ISFP: Creative minds who form deep connections and stay refreshingly down to earth.

ENTP: Highly interactive, they thrive on healthy debate and tend to perform better in teams than alone.

ENFP: They love a free-flowing environment and dislike routine, channelling creativity and imagination into innovative results.

ESFJ: Warm and polite, they're considerate of others' feelings and emotions.

ESTJ: Result-oriented, they plan ahead and work to hit targets within a set time.

ENTJ: Natural commanders, they take charge and thrive in organised, structured environments.

ENFJ: They carry strong influence over the emotions of those around them, forming loyal, lasting relationships.

ESFP: Friendly and outgoing, ESFPs enjoy the spotlight at social gatherings.

ESTP: Practical over abstract, they favour a hands-on approach and plan carefully to get results.

All in all, understanding people's psychology and personality preferences pays off in both personal and professional life. It can help you choose the right career, strengthen relationships, and communicate more effectively.

This article was written by Marc Prager.