Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Workshop 2: Understanding Who I Am: an MBTI Workshop.


The MBTI workshop was really interesting and a lot of fun to participate in. I only knew of Myers Briggs by name, I had never taken a test before participating in this workshop. I knew that Myers Briggs is used as a tool by HR managers to assess personality traits for new employees to a company. As an information professional or in any profession for that matter, the ability to know your own personality is so important. Having the ability to know your general strengths and weaknesses gives you the opportunity to pay attention to yourself and work on the areas that need to be worked on.

After taking the test I was surprised to find out that I was “The Nurturer” or ISFJ: Introverted. Sensing. Feeling. Judging. According to the website BSM Consulting, ISFJ are:

Quiet, kind, and conscientious. Can be depended on to follow through. Usually puts the needs of others above their own needs. Stable and practical, they value security and traditions. Well-developed sense of space and function. Rich inner world of observations about people. Extremely perceptive of other's feelings. Interested in serving others.”

I was not surprised to learn that the majority of people who enter LIS are generally introverted. This made me think of two stereotypes of librarians, the first being meek and shy, the second being harsh and intimidating. How did this stereotype come about? and was I going to to be a stereotype?

One of the main points that I took from this workshop was that just because I fell into the ‘introverted’ category didn’t mean I could use it as an excuse. Like everything else in life, I need to work on and practice my ‘extroverted’ skills. I really like the idea of knowing which way I lean so I know how to behave in social and professional situations.

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