admittedly, but the mother-daughter team of Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs applied Carl Jung’s psychological types mid-century in a critical new way. Their self inventory became a research tool which morphed into the book The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, published in 1962. Millions have since taken the assessment test, and it is still used in revealing key differences in temperament both individually and organization-wide. The MBTI helps disparate teams work in complementary ways, Humphrey says, and lends insights into our personal lives. The test is a gateway to deepen self-knowledge. Selfknowledge fulfills the famous dictum to “know thyself” in order to reach self-actualization. Psychologist Abraham Maslow taught that self-actualization is the precursor to living fully and creatively. The New Normal: who takes the time to know themselves? “The key question isn’t ‘What fosters creativity?’ but ‘why in God’s name isn’t everyone creative?’,” asked Maslow. “Where was the human potential lost? How was it crippled? I think therefore a good question might be not why do people create? But why do people not create or innovate? We have got to abandon that sense of amazement in the face of creativity, as if it were a miracle if anybody created anything.” Creativity of all types requires selfknowledge. “In a breathless world, there is little time for reflection,” admits Humphrey. “A key characteristic of a leader is their ability to understand how to impact people, change when needed, be open to feedback, and constant learning. Anything that I do, if I reflect upon that, have self-awareness, I am
She adds: “Those who came of age before this century have the wisdom of perspective!” ✦
open to other ways of being.” Younger leaders are naturally nimble-minded. How do those over age 30 remain relevant and gain a fresh perspective on this new normal? Humphrey says time may be on their side. “The advantage leaders over 30 have is that they have had an opportunity to develop ranges of behaviors that may be outside of their natural preferences,” Humphrey replies in an e-mail. “MBTI research suggests that the more experience people have, the more flexible they may become with doing things that are not always comfortable for them, because they know they need to in order to be effective.”
Read the following list of skills for a more positive life and a greater ability to lead others.
go to
www.meyersbriggs.org for more on Meyers-Briggs www.ippanetwork.org to learn more about the International Positive Psychology Association
According to positive psychologist Seligman, who wrote Flourish, a New Theory of Positive Psychology, these are the virtues that enable us to be better individually, collectively, and personally:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Wisdom and Knowledge: creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective, innovation Courage: bravery, persistence, integrity, vitality Humanity: love, kindness, social intelligence Justice: citizenship, fairness, leadership Temperance: forgiveness and mercy, humility, prudence, self control Transcendence: appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, spirituality
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