How Your Myers Briggs Personality Type Affects Your Decision Making

The Decision-Making Process: Personality's Role

Decision-making involves several cognitive processes, such as gathering information, analyzing options, and weighing potential outcomes. However, how individuals approach these steps can vary widely based on their personality type. The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) framework helps explain these differences by categorizing individuals into 16 distinct types based on their preferences in four major areas:

• Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I): Where you focus your energy.
• Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N): How you process information.
• Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F): How you make decisions.
• Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P): How you organize and approach your environment.

Of these four dimensions, the **Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)** dimension is especially relevant when it comes to decision-making. However, each aspect of your personality affects how you make decisions in unique ways. Below, we explore how the four key dimensions of MBTI shape your decision-making process.

How Each Myers Briggs Dimension Affects Decision Making

1. Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I): How You Gather Information

Extraverts (E) and Introverts (I) approach the decision-making process differently when it comes to gathering information. Extraverts are energized by external stimuli, while introverts tend to focus on their inner thoughts and feelings.

• Extraverts (E): Extraverts typically prefer to seek input from others when making decisions. They often engage in discussions, brainstorm with colleagues or friends, and value feedback. This can make them more comfortable making decisions quickly in social settings, though they may sometimes need to pause and ensure they've reflected on all options.
• Introverts (I): Introverts, on the other hand, tend to make decisions after a period of careful reflection. They often prefer to consider the implications of their choices alone, analyzing the information internally before making a decision. Their decision-making process may be slower, but it is often more deliberate and thought out.

2. Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N): How You Process Information

The Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N) dimension determines how individuals process and prioritize information, which can directly impact decision-making.

• Sensing (S): People with a Sensing preference tend to focus on facts, details, and past experiences when making decisions. They prioritize what is tangible, practical, and grounded in reality. When making a decision, Sensing types will often consider tried-and-true methods and rely on their direct experience.
• Intuition (N): Intuitive types, on the other hand, prefer to look at the big picture and future possibilities. They tend to focus on patterns, concepts, and ideas, and often rely on their gut feelings or hunches when making decisions. They may value innovation and new approaches over traditional methods, which can sometimes lead them to make more unconventional or creative choices.

3. Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F): How You Make Decisions

This is perhaps the most direct dimension that influences decision-making. It describes how individuals weigh the factors that influence their choices—whether they lean more toward logic and objectivity (Thinking), or emotions and values (Feeling).

• Thinking (T): Thinking types tend to prioritize logic, fairness, and objectivity when making decisions. They value rationality and often focus on the pros and cons of a situation, looking for consistency and structure in their decision-making process. They are more likely to make decisions based on facts and data rather than personal feelings or emotional considerations.
• Feeling (F): Feeling types, in contrast, prioritize empathy, harmony, and personal values when making decisions. They often consider how their choices will affect others and may weigh emotional or moral factors heavily. While they can certainly make logical decisions, their process is often guided by a strong sense of how they feel about the situation or what aligns with their values.

4. Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P): How You Organize and Approach the Decision-Making Process

The final dimension, Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P), influences how individuals approach structure and decision-making deadlines.

• Judging (J): People with a Judging preference prefer a structured, planned, and organized approach to decision-making. They tend to make decisions quickly and stick to them, valuing closure and certainty. Judging types often feel more comfortable with set timelines and deadlines and may feel stressed if decisions are left open-ended or delayed.
• Perceiving (P): Perceiving types, on the other hand, prefer to keep their options open and may take longer to make decisions. They are more flexible and adaptable, willing to adjust their choices as new information comes in. Perceiving types may resist making firm decisions too early, preferring to leave things more open-ended for as long as possible.

How to Leverage Your Myers Briggs Type for Better Decision Making

Understanding your Myers Briggs Personality Type can help you become more aware of how you naturally make decisions. Here are some tips for leveraging your type to improve your decision-making process:

• For Extraverts: Seek input from others, but remember to take time to reflect on your own thoughts and feelings before making a final decision. Balance social feedback with personal reflection.
• For Introverts: While reflection is important, consider stepping outside your internal world and seeking advice or feedback from others to ensure you’re not overthinking or isolating yourself from valuable perspectives.
• For Sensors: Trust your practical experience and attention to detail, but also allow room for innovative thinking and future possibilities when making decisions that require long-term planning.
• For Intuitives: While your big-picture thinking is valuable, take care not to overlook the details that may affect the feasibility of your ideas. Strike a balance between creative thinking and practical application.
• For Thinkers: Ensure that your decision-making process remains empathetic by considering the emotional impact of your choices on others. Incorporate values and feelings into your analysis, especially in situations that involve relationships.
• For Feelers: While considering emotional factors is important, remember that sometimes objective, logical analysis is necessary to avoid being swayed too much by emotions. Balance empathy with rationality.
• For Judgers: While your structured approach is helpful, be open to spontaneity and flexibility. Consider the benefits of waiting for more information or allowing for changes to your decisions.
• For Perceivers: Try to make timely decisions and commit to them. Set deadlines for yourself to avoid procrastination and ensure that you make decisions without leaving things open-ended for too long.

Conclusion

Your Myers Briggs Personality Type provides valuable insights into your decision-making process. Whether you tend to make decisions based on logic or emotions, carefully weigh the details or leap toward the big picture, understanding these patterns allows you to make more effective choices. By recognizing and adapting to your natural decision-making tendencies, you can improve your decision-making skills and achieve better outcomes in both your personal and professional life.