Personality and individual differences at work: Personality and individual differences at work Types of personality


Themes: Themes Asess the influence of individual differences at work. Being able to recognize the types of personality and to evaluate their potential in different work settings Understanding the dynamic of personality during its different stages of development


What is the personality?: What is the personality? The relatively stable set of psychological characteristics that influences the way an individual interacts with her environement.


The fundamental bases of personality: The fundamental bases of personality Unity (it behaves as a coherent whole) and identity (consistency of the person through time) Vitality (dynamism, vigour, energy that the porson deploys in her activities) Self-conscience (ability to realistically perceive herself and to represent the inner life and the external environment) Relations with the environement (ability to determine her own possibilities and limits and to modulate/regulate/alter her behaviour according to situations)


Approaches to describing personality: Approaches to describing personality By personality traits: stable dimensions of the personnality through which we describe and predict a person’s typical behaviours, independently of the situations Personality types: combination of unique attributes which determine certain typical personal behavioural tendencies and reactions


The five personality Factors(Big Five): The five personality Factors (Big Five)


MBTI: MBTI


MBTI: MBTI


The psychological type according to JUNG: The psychological type according to JUNG It is a relatively stable pattern in perceiving, judging and orienting his interests Characterised by : An type-attitude (extraversion or introversion) A dominant psychological function Thinking or feeling Sensation or Intuition


Slide10: Thinking Sensation Feeling Intuition Extraversion Introversion Rational Irrational


Attitudes: Attitudes Extraversion: orientation of the interest towards the external world (persons, things, events, norms, relations) Vital need to adapt to the external conditions Preference for action, diversity, expansion Introversion: orientation of the interest towards the internal world (ideas, thoughts, images, fantasies, etc.) Vital need to satisfy the conditions of the individuation Preference for reflection, concentration, prudence


Irrational psychological functions(adapting behaviours to the perceived reality, either external or internal): Irrational psychological functions (adapting behaviours to the perceived reality, either external or internal) Sensation (S) Sensing what happens inside and outside yourself Preference for facts, concrete experience, continuity between past and future Intuition (N) Sensing/anticipating what will happen in the future Preference for flair, inspiration (insights), possibilities, the impact of the present on the future


Rational Functions(adapting values to objective values established throughout human history): Rational Functions (adapting values to objective values established throughout human history) Thinking (T) Judging from rules, principles, laws (natural and social) Preference for analysis, justice, results Feeling (F) Judging from values, ideals, moral standards Preference for synthesis, equity, processes


Attention!: Attention! «Feeling» is not the same thing as «sentimental», «emotional», «arbitrary», «subjective» «Feeling» is understood here as someone «who adapts his judgements to values, ideals (like good and beauty) in a certain situation»


Dominant function: Dominant function Self control and self-confidence in the realm of the function Acquisition and development of the traits which are characteristic to this function


Auxiliary Function: Auxiliary Function Different in nature, but not opposite to the dominant function Facilitates the balancing of behaviours Helps approaching the realm of the unconscious and developing the personality


Tertiary Function: Tertiary Function Opposes the auxiliary function, but plays a similar role It is not as differentiated as the auxiliary function Serves as a back-up when the auxiliary function fails


The inferior function: The inferior function The weak spot of the personality Slowness, source of errors and setbacks, susceptibility, hidden, troubling, etc. Indicates the direction of adaptation and individuation


The importance of life style?: The importance of life style?


In a team,: In a team, Extravert (E) Stimulates action Encourages discussion Appreciates team work Introvert (I) Stimulates reflection Encourages preparation Respects frontiers private life sphere


Attitudes : how to act?: Attitudes : how to act? Extravert (E) To know what he thinks, you have to listen to him Focus on action Don’t be surprised if he takes innitiatives Introvert (I) To know what he thinks, you have to ask him Give him the time to think Expect he’ll prefer to work alone or in small and preferably stable groups


To improve: To improve Extravert (E) Leave the others talk first Stop and think before you act Don’t think reflection hurts efficacy Introvert (I) Daring to express his good ideas Finding himself a quiet place to work Not believing that the others know what he’s thinking


In a team,: In a team, Sensation (S) Focuses on the pragmatic aspects Makes reliable notes and briefs Follows established courses of action Uses his common sense to solve problems Intuition (N) Analyses problems from a global perspective Values imagination Brings up original ideas and visions Likes and seeks change


Modes of perception: how to act?: Modes of perception: how to act? Sensation (S) Follow the established course of action Talk about the details Show the continuity between past and future actions Value the skills and ways of doing things Intuition (N) Expect that he will skip stages when acting or reasoning Present the situation as a whole Figure out the possibilities and the future Focusing on experimentation and innovation


To improve: To improve Sensation (S) Look for different options, possibilities, to solve a problem Connaître les implications des plans et des idées Train his imagination through exercises of creativity Intuition (N) Direct his attention on the essential aspects of problems Stress the importance of the present moment Develop a personal discipline


In a team,: In a team, Thinking (T) He is emotionally detached when making decisions Focuses on objectives and means to achive them Values rationality Criticizes for improvement Feeling (F) Worries about the consequences of his decisions Focuses on participation Values equity Gives support and appreciation


Modes of judgement : how to act?: Modes of judgement : how to act? Thinking (T) Suggest analyses Explain the postulates and the rationale Talk about the causes and finalities, about costs and benefits Feeling (F) Choosing a humane approach in doing the tasks at hand Being honest and letting your beliefs and principles to be knownn Underscore the human consequences of the decision taken


To improve: To improve Thinking (T) Becoming aware of the critics he is formulating as compared to the compliments offered Try to obtain the cooperation of others, rather than their obedience Feeling (F) Let others make their own mistakes and learn from those mistakes Being firm Listen to what others say without feeling personnally involved


In a team,: In a team, Judgement (J) Plans ans organizes activities Focuses his actions towards getting results Deploys effort in order to deliver in time Finalizes the projects Perception (P) Deals with problems as they appear Focuses attention on processes Adjusts his decisions according to the new data Makes compromising to allow for progress in activities


Life style : How to act?: Life style : How to act? Judgement (J) Make sure that tha deadlines are reasonable and do everything possible to keep them Offer a structured environment Perception (P) Give deadlines and timelines and provide follow-up Offer a non-directive environment


To improve: To improve Judgement (J) Accept that impredictible things can happen If someone looks for advice, offer several solutions and let them choose Perception (P) Learn and apply time management techniques Establish a realistic action plan, with a minimum of options


How to recognize a psychological type without passing the test?: How to recognize a psychological type without passing the test? Determine the type-attitude of the person (Extravert or Introvert?) Determine the life style of the person (Judgement or Perception?) If Extravert, the life style indicates the dominant function If Introvert, the life style indicates the auxiliary function