How Your MBTI Type Affects Job Satisfaction

Job satisfaction is an important aspect in increasing productivity and personal success in the workplace. Job satisfaction can be influenced by a variety of factors, including personality type. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a popular instrument for determining a person’s psychological preferences regarding how they see the world and make decisions. Understanding personality types with the MBTI can provide useful insights into how a person interacts with their workplace, manages stress, communicates with coworkers, and resolves conflicts.

The MBTI divides people into 16 personality types based on four main dimensions:

• Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I): How people get energy and interact with the outside world. Extraverts derive energy from social engagement, whereas introverts seek isolation to recharge.
• Sensing (S) versus intuition (N): How people process information. Sensing focuses on facts and specific details, but intuition is drawn to patterns, possibilities, and the broader picture.
• Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F): How people make decisions. Thinking relies on logic and objective analysis, whereas Feeling considers personal values and the emotional influence on others.
• Judging (J) versus Perceiving (P): How people order their life and interact with the outside world. Judging values structure, plans, and unambiguous decisions, but Perceiving is more fluid, spontaneous, and adaptable.

Each kind has distinct qualities that might influence how people interact with their work environment, colleagues, and tasks, resulting in job satisfaction.

MBTI Correlation with Team Performance Perception

A study published in Forbes found a link between an individual’s personality type and their impression of team performance. Individuals whose Sensing-Intuition (S/N) and Thinking-Feeling (T/F) preferences match their team’s general “personality” are more optimistic about team performance.

For example, an ESTJ personality type working in a team dominated by ISTJ personality types (both ST) is more likely to be happy because their information processing and decision-making styles are similar. Both categories are fact-based, detail-oriented, and rational. They value efficiency, organization, and clear rules. An individual with a radically different personality type than the team, such as an INFP in an ESTJ-dominated team, may struggle to adapt and feel dissatisfied. INFPs respect personal values, harmony, and flexibility, which may clash with the ESTJ-dominated team’s work approach.

The Impact of Perception on Team Leaders

The study also found that the perception of the team leader has a substantial impact on job satisfaction. Interestingly, people regard their leaders as having similar personality characteristics to themselves.

For example, an ENTJ personality type that values efficiency, objectivity, and aggressive leadership is more likely to be fulfilled when led by someone who has their personality traits. However, someone with a different personality type, such as an ISFP who values harmony, flexibility, and a personalized approach, may be less at ease with such leadership style. The ISFP may feel overlooked or stressed in a work setting that is overly demanding and fails to address emotional issues.

MBTI Diversity Within Teams

While personality type alignment can improve job satisfaction, team-wide personality variation is equally important. Teams with varied personality types have the potential to be more imaginative and creative due to their differing viewpoints and problem-solving methods. MBTI variety in a team can result in more thorough thinking, greater detection of blind spots, and improved problem-solving skills.

As a result, team leaders must understand and accept the diversity of personality types within their teams, as well as foster an inclusive workplace in which every individual feels valued and can contribute to the best of their abilities. Effective team leaders may use the assets of each personality type while managing differences appropriately to reach common goals.

Know Your Personality with MBTI

The MBTI is a useful tool for studying how personality affects job satisfaction. Individuals can increase communication and teamwork by recognizing their own personality type as well as that of their colleagues. Team leaders who understand the personality characteristics of their teams can improve team performance and job satisfaction among members.Do you want to understand more about your personality type and which jobs might be a good fit? Try Take the Personality Test today!