As we become somewhat secure in knowing our psychological type, it then becomes possible to specialize in it, i.e., to develop our psychological functions.  Here the emphasis is in developing depth and sophistication with, first, the Dominant and, then, the Auxiliary.

Of the eight possible functions involved, each of us needs to develop at least two. Hopefully, as we mature we will become proficient in all eight functions.

• Se – Extraverted Sensing

• Si  – Introverted Sensing

• Ne – Extraverted Intuition

• Ni  – Introverted Intuition

• Te – Extraverted Thinking

• Ti  – Introverted Thinking

• Fe – Extraverted Feeling

• Fi  – Introverted Feeling

Each of these functions operates differently so it takes a specialized approach to becoming sophisticated with each.  Some ideas for things to do in developing these functions are suggested next. This is not a comprehensive list, just a start for your own personalized plan.

Extraverted Sensing (Se)

Extraverted sensors need to be among people gathering publicly available data. The kinds of things they might do include:

•   Create a newsletter

• Maintain a web site's information

• Take a job as a reporter

• Interview people on a specific topic

Introverted Sensing (Si)

Introverted sensors need to be gathering publicly available data and keeping this information for private reflection. The kinds of things they might do include:

• Keep a journal

• Do quality control on a web site to ensure clarity and completeness of information

• Take a job as a rewriter using the raw input of reporters

• Take notes in lectures; reflect on the most important points; and reorganize the information.

Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

Extraverted intuitives need to be among people sharing hunches, possibilities, and future implications of current events. The kinds of things they might do include:

• Participate in planning sessions

• Volunteer for long-range business forecasting work. 

• Contribute to brain storming sessions

• Participate in political rallies and fund raisers

Introverted Intuition (Ni)

Introverted intuitives need to be gathering hunches, possibilities, and future implications for themselves. The kinds of things they might do include:

• Keep a journal

• Write essays elaborating all elements of a subject of interest

• Seek out "futurist" books and speakers

• Read science fiction

Extraverted Thinking (Te)

Extraverted thinkers need to be among people analyzing information and reaching objective conclusions. The kinds of things they might do include:

• Work in a library

• Take a job on a hotline or a help line

• Partner with a sensor and do the analysis of the data

• Work on a newspaper or at a TV station to analyze the news and organize the newscast

Introverted Thinking (Ti)

Introverted thinkers need to perform objective analysis by themselves. The kinds of things they might do include:

• Write research reports

• Write a book

• Prepare a business presentation for an executive

• Work on the staff of a government executive

Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

Extraverted feelers need to be among people caring for their needs.

The kinds of things they might do include:

• Organize and run a wedding or other social occasion

• Hold a birthday or retirement party

• Host a business dinner

• Organize and give a public presentation on psychological type

Introverted Feeling (Fi)

Introverted feelers need to care for people while remaining in the background. The kinds of things they might do include:

• Work as a clinical psychologist

• Participate in setting up a help line and ensure the staff has what they need

• Create a web site dedicated to the improvement of mankind

• Work in the service industry.

This workshop was to help MBTI® practitioners to approach the medical community in a positive way so that medical doctors could see the benefits of the MBTI®. Robert Doughty presented the following ideas which are presented in outline form.

Why Physicians may resist MBTI®:

Takes too much time to use
Has minimal value
No practical application
Does not impact primary responsibility of care, service, and quality

Projection is a big issue

What we assume about MD’s is the problem. Most of us assume that medical doctors are not open to the MBTI®. However, if we assume they are open we will have a less difficulty in presenting the benefits of the MBTI®..

A Few Things to Remember About Doctors

All types are found in the profession.

Doctors have been rewarded for getting straight A’s and for getting it right since kindergarten, so they under pressure not to get anything wrong. Remember a mistake on their part could mean the death of their patient. So if they make a mistake in using the MBTI® they will be seen as less than competent.

There is a distrust of psychiatry and psychology among MD’s. For a doctor to have a psychological problem is a sign of weakness. Assure MD’s that the MBTI® reveals no deep, dark secrets or psychological problems.

Some Present Conditions in Medicine 

Doctors have a drive for autonomy and they want to be in charge, but now medicine is a team approach and doctors need to learn to work in teams. 

Heath care system is in chaos—morale at an all time low. There is an erosion of consumer confidence in doctors, the threat of malpractice suits, and high cost of malpractice insurance.

Irrational reimbursement system—insurance companies will pay for procedures but not for consultations. A doctor who spends an hour in a follow-up visit with a patient will only receive $35.00, but if that same doctor orders more procedures insurance will pay.

There is excessive government regulation.

How to Approach Physicians

Show them the exciting reality of the MBTI®.

Have a clear contract up front—we will spend 4 hours together—that is a long time but it is necessary for you to understand the MBTI® and not see it as a horoscope.

Validate scientific base of MBTI®--get out the statistics. 

Don’t oversimplify or over-interpret data—don’t get too complicated

Emphasize instrument is not related to intelligence or psychological problems.

Emphasize that MBTI® is like a constellation of stars but we also have the whole Milky Way and other galaxies—it is a part of our world, not the total world.

Learn more about the physician’s life.

This exercise, 16 Type Clock Cards: Basic Problem Solving, gives facilitators a quick, easily-understood and effective application of the MBTI.  The presentation provides an explanation of problem-solving theory based on Gordon Lawrence’s work and one application exercise designed for participants to literally “walk through” the problem solving process. The facilitator’s notes should be read and understood before using this program.

Until now, these have only been available with the entire package, Introduction to Type and Temperament by Robert W McAlpine & Wendy Finger, for $199.  Now the Clock Cards are now being packaged separately and sold for $79. The set includes:

• 16 Type Clock Cards – very colorful with characteristics of the functions on the back side of the cards (descriptors of Function-Attitudes taken from Personality Types by Darryl Sharp)

• PowerPoint Slides (with leader’s script found in “Notes” view}

• Leader’s Guide

• Handouts in Word of the Sixteen Problem Solving Clocks (print double sided for best effect)

The exercise takes an hour.  It starts with the progressive processes used in problem solving, offers an example of a side-by-side comparison with two individuals with different type codes, moves the participants through the problem-solving activity with step-by-step directions, then moves them to closure, debriefs, and offers some “food for thought” and next steps.

NOTE: Those who review a book or other MBTI product for the APT newsletter will be reimbursed the cost up to $30. Please recommend buy/no buy for the APT/RTC library (see www.apt-nc.org for current contents of library, available to chapter members).

I saw then, and I’ve seen many times since, that individuals will release frustration over co-workers’ responses upon realizing they were not purposely trying to be antagonistic. Other individuals have understood and accepted their unique contribution to a team that was very different from them, no longer feeling ostracized, just different. Many have moved forward, adapting and flexing so that the whole group could benefit from varying perspectives, instead of harboring hurt feelings. Some of the benefits have been an immediate ‘ah ha!’ for everyone in the room. Some benefits happened over the course of time which I got to watch as I spent several years working with that particular leadership team and many others since then. Through attending APT-RTP programs, I learned new principles and strategies to manage conflict and decision-making. 

And you can’t beat the price for the value! I joined as a graduate student when other professional organizations were just too expensive for my threadbare budget. I could always attend APT-RTP programs and learn from some of the most diligent minds in the type community sometimes without spending any money! I was even put in touch with a scholarship program offered by one of the major type organizations, which offered me the chance to get qualified to administer the MBTI by helping assist administratively at the week long qualifying workshop. There I got to know a few more members of this type community who I continue to learn from in a dialogue that has stretched across the years. 

Then a previous board member helped my husband (then my fiancé) and myself understand the functions in their attitudes, which opened up a lot of great discussions for us that continue to this day. We discovered the difference between an introverted and an extraverted feeling type preference and Michael saw clearly that he was an INFP, not an INFJ which is what he has scored on the indicator several times (See Henry Thompson’s book, Jung’s Function-Attitudes Explained and the wonderful color slides which said it all to Michael!)  . Seeing the difference between the introverted feeling and the extroverted thinking decision-making function was a significant step in our readiness to marry. Few things I have done have ever been so worthwhile and far reaching as joining the type world. 

One of my goals for this year is to continue the collaborative board work that has made it easier for others to find and make the fullest use of the richness APT-RTP brings to learning and living in the triangle. Plan to attend our upcoming “Type and TLC: Training, Leading, Coaching and get to know more people who share an interest in type. If you haven’t joined yet for 2005 {link}, please do.

Krista enjoys that she must ‘wear many hats’ in order to further the goals outlined by the Division Balanced Scorecard. She serves on strategic initiative teams, facilitates meetings, coaches individuals, trains groups in the use of the Myers-Briggs, and writes scripts and articles. With 28 different groups to support under the Corporate Services Division umbrella, using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator has been very useful in helping intra-departmental and inter-departmental communication succeed.

Before coming to SAS, Krista held positions as a newsletter writer, employee relations representative, management trainer, and HR strategist. Previous experience working in varied industries, such as pharmaceutical, retail, automotive manufacturing, healthcare and government, has helped prepare her for the diversity in her division. 

Krista completed her Masters in Communication Studies in August 2003 at UNC-CH and her undergraduate degree in Forestry at Clemson University in May 1983.  As an ENTJ who is exploring her tertiary sensing function, Krista has recently discovered gardening can be wonderfully therapeutic.  She tries to resist just read ideas about plant placement and instead has begun to actually move pots around to really ‘see’ how they fit together before planting them. She has planted over 120 perennials in the last 3 years but still has 30-40 in her nursery waiting to find the ‘right’ place.  Her husband Michael says, “Come visit and bring a shovel."

Before coming to SAS Laura worked with adults with autism for 1 1/2 years, as a case manager for a mentoring program, and as a program specialist at a psychiatric rehabilitation program for adults with mental illness. She completed her Masters in Social Work in May 2003 at UNC-CH in the area of practice with families and children and her undergraduate degree in psychology at UNC-CH in 1997. Laura is currently enjoying life as a newlywed and proud parent of Princess, a rambunctious Shetland Sheepdog.

Krista Babbitt, President, Krista.Babbitt@SAS.com

Elizabeth Wolgin, President Elect, ewolgin@cisco.com

Carol Linden, Co-VP of Programs (acting) and Past President, Carol.Linden@SAS.com

Tony Ingle, Co-VP of Programs, tonyingle@aol.com

Emily Page, VP of Membership, emilyapage@aol.com

Carol Shumate, Co-VP of Communications, Paraphrase@nc.rr.com

Walter R. Smith, Co-VP of Communications, wrsmith587@adelphia.net

Laura Sarisky, Treasurer, Laura.Sarisky@SAS.com

Mary Charles Blakebrough, Ex-officio, mcbreakthrough@mindspring.com

Karen Ridout, Southeast Regional Representative, kgr@mindspring.com

Send a check payable to APT/RTP to Emily Page  at: emilyapage@aol.com

APT/RTP Membership
Emily Page
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Durham, NC 27713
919-484-0977

Regular - $30 _____ Student - $20 _____ (School: ________________________)
If you have questions concerning your APT/RTP membership, contact emilyapage@aol.com

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How it all works...  

1. Send an email to Walter R. Smith  and tell him what you want to write.

2. He will reply and tell you when we can use the article and when to submit it.

3. When your article is received it will be edited and sent back to you. If you agree with the edited copy, fine. If you don’t, tell us and we will work with you to make the article what you want it to be.

Looking forward to hearing from you.