Where do you go to learn about your personality type?
Once you know your Myers-Briggs personality type, the fun begins. You can figure out your principal strengths and why you do what you do. You can also begin to discover how you approach relationships, work, and life in general.
But where do you find this information? It can be hard to hunt down what you want with so much content out there.
I’ve spent the past couple years researching and reading about Myers-Briggs personality types. I enjoy learning about them so much that this past summer I got my Myers-Briggs practitioner certification so that I can help people like you better understand their own personalities.
To help you avoid information overload and simplify the research process, I’ve put together a list of my top 5 recommendations for learning about your personality type. Check it out!
1. Learn about your personality type.
You may think you’re an INTP when really you’re an INTJ. Before you start learning more about your type, confirm that you’ve got the right one. Here’s how.
First, write down what you know for sure. Imagine, for example, you’re certain of the following. You’re an intuitive (N), thinker (T), and judger (J) – an “NTJ”.
Next, determine where you need more clarity. You’re not sure whether you’re an introvert (I) or an extrovert (E).
Then, figure out your possibilities. In this example, you’d have two options: INTJ or ENTJ.
Finally, read about both on one of the sites listed below. And decide which one describes you more accurately. Parts of both descriptions will resonate with you. But one will definitely be a better fit.
Read the descriptions on all four sites, if you can stand it. Each site offers a slightly different take on each of the types.
2. Take a big-picture look at your type.
Once you’ve completed step one, you can take the next step: Learn about your personality type by taking a big-picture look at it.
One way to do that is to go back to the sites listed below and read about your ideal personality. Note the sections of the description that resonate with you.
But don’t worry if you’re not a big reader.
You can listen to a podcast or watch a video on your personality type instead. You’ll find one at personalityhacker.com.
Navigate to the site, and look for the “PERSONALITY TYPES” tab. Then, hover over it, and select your type.
There, you’ll find a video and podcasts. Here’s an example.
Keep in mind, the more you read and learn about your personality type from these free resources, the better you’ll understand yourself.
3. Consider buying a premium profile description or book on your type.
To learn about your personality type on a deeper level, you may want to purchase a premium type description. And you can find one on these sites:
It should be pretty clear where to click to buy the paid descriptions. The sites exist to make money.
As a caveat, I’ve only ever purchased a premium profile from 16personalities.com. But I did find it to be both helpful and accurate.
Books are another paid resource you can look into, and Amazon.com is chock full of them.
To locate a book on your type, find the search bar. Then, click on the gray tab to the left of it, and narrow your results by selecting “books”.
Next, type in the personality type you want. And pinpoint the books with the best combination of ratings, reviews, and time on the market. I also like to preview a book before buying.
4. Research your greatest strength.
Stick with me as I get a little nerdy on you here.
The dominant function is the key driver in any personality type. It’s the main way someone approaches or interacts with his world. So you can learn a ton about yourself by better understanding your dominant function – your greatest strength.
Here’s how to learn about yours.
First, find your type in the table below. Then, locate your corresponding dominant function.
Next, google that dominant function. Here, for example, are some of the results I got searching for “extraverted sensing”.
Check out a few of the articles that come up first. Get ready for an “Aha!” moment.
5. Understand your biggest weakness.
Everyone’s got strengths, and everyone’s got weaknesses. You can learn much about yourself by understanding your inferior function – your greatest weakness.
Find out about yours by following these steps.
Begin by locating your inferior function in the table below.
Then, google it.
Finally, read the top results, realizing this is a way of thinking that’s uncomfortable and unnatural for you. It’ll likely explain some of your major dislikes, discomforts, and stresses.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.