Too Much Fun?

Is there such a thing as too much fun? I almost feel guilty calling this "work." Yesterday was the third lesson of my four-week MBTI workshop at my church. (Group #2)

I have to say... it is absolutely true what they say. The more you do it, the more comfortable you become, and the better presentation you will end up with. Including the two at my church, I have now done four group presentations.

Staying true to my ENTP preference, I changed up my lesson plan again. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: "Same" is a four-letter word in my book. :-)

I tried a different exercise with the group than what I normally do. It was a gamble, as many of them prefer Introversion. I split the group into teams of two to three and asked them to come up with something, anything, that they can teach to the rest of the group. They were panicked and confused about what was expected at first. Most of them were reluctant and hesitant to get started. But as I gave them some examples and lots (LOTS) of encouragement, they dove into their projects.

The first group, two ISFJs (reading tutors), taught us how to use the Wilson Language Program. It was fun and very interesting.

The next group, INFJ and INFP/J (Introverts, mind you), taught us how to flare our nostrils and the many practical uses for such a skill. They had all of us in stitches.

The third group, ENFP and INFP, got up and said they had so many ideas that they could not decide. They still had not made a decision and left it up to us to choose from four different options. Of course, we chose the "Robot Dance." Along with some techno music playing from a cell phone, we learned how to move like a robot... Hilarious!

The next group, three ENFJs (one of them a landscaper), taught us how to plant a tree the correct way. It was very informative with a nice illustration on the presentation board.

The last group, ENTP, ISTP, and ES/NTJ (assigned together just because they were the oddball types of the group), taught us how to fold a paper airplane. Surprisingly, the only Introvert of the group did most of the talking. Hmmm....

(That reminds me of an awesome TED video on origami you can check out.)

We were laughing, dancing, and flying paper airplanes all over the classroom. A room-full of grown-ups acting like a bunch of third-graders. It turned out so much better than I could have imagined or expected. My only regret is that I did not have my camera with me. :-(

I cannot remember the last time I had so much fun. And to think... this is my "job." (Well, okay, the job doesn't pay all that well yet, but how can you resist?)

NOTE: Can you see a correlation between the types and what/how they chose to teach?

Type - Trait - Behavior

When we're speaking about personalities, there are three factors that come into play: 1) behaviors; 2) traits that cause those behaviors; and 3) type, which is the hard-wired preference in the way we perceive information and make decisions.

When I was leading my group through my first MBTI workshop, many people were confused about the differences. I designed some power point slides which I am posting below (without the awesome animation... but you get the gist):

Behaviors can be readily observed. We can discuss behavior without addressing trait or type.

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Traits cause behaviors. We must study behaviors in order to discuss trait. You can talk trait without discussing type.

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Type is inborn. Just like the preference for left or right-handedness, we always have a preferred function which we feel more comfortable using.

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Type cannot be validated without traits, and trait cannot be determined without behaviors. Type is the hard-wired preference that can be sorted; traits are universal in human nature in varying amounts and can be measured; and behaviors are observable and are the expression of type. However, through understanding and learning how to use our non-preferred functions when needed, we can become more balanced in learning, working, and communicating with other types at home, work/school, and play.

That is the way I understand it as of now. All those more knowledgeable and experienced... please feel free to correct me!

Well... I have to give myself E for Effort. :-)

Back to the Classroom

I did it! I finished teaching my very first MBTI workshop. It did not come without challenges, given the fact that my brain tends to shut down in front of a group. Nevertheless, I got through it, and I was amazed at just how much I enjoyed it. And I got two thumbs up from my ISTJ husband, who's the worst (but most honest) critic of anything that I do.

For the first lesson, I designed some power point slides to explain the history of personality tests, starting with Hippocrates and his theories and ending with Jung and the Myers-Briggs team. I received some very positive feedbacks.

I learned that I need to add some more real-life examples while explaining the preferences. I will have to carry my handy-dandy notebook everywhere I go to record my own experiences.

All in all, everyone in the class (about 20) loved the workshop. Here's a picture of a bouquet that an NF group made for me in 10 minutes during one of the exercises. It made me all warm and fuzzy inside... :-)

I also designed some slides to explain the differences between TYPE, TRAIT, and BEHAVIOR, which I feel many people get confused by.

I am sad that it's over, but I will be starting a new workshop in a couple of weeks. Yay! No doubt it will be completely different from the first, knowing me. Same theory, same concept, but totally different lessons and experiences... Routine and monotony will be the death of my passion. (Did I mention that I am an ENTP?) But how long will I be able to keep up the intensity? That's the big question. hmmmm....

During my couple weeks off, I will thoroughly investigate the ICON Success site recommended to me by Breanne Potter at CPP. I found so much helpful information on there (that's an understatement) that I think it's a must for every new MBTI practitioner to check out. Breanne's blog also has a wealth of helpful and insightful information.

I have also ordered several books on the subject:

Knowing Me, Knowing God, by Malcolm Goldsmith
God's Gifted People, by Gary L. Harbaugh
From Image to Likeness: A Jungian Path in the Gospel Journey, by W. Harold Grant
Quick Guide to the 16 Personality Types in Organizations: Understanding Personality Differences in the Workplace, by various authors
The Art of Speed Reading People: How to Size People Up and Speak Their Language, by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger
Please Understand Me II, by David Keirsey

I think that ought to keep me busy for a while