Personality Analysis

Miscommunication, misunderstanding, "cliques," etc. can lead to stress and strife between your MOPS team. The article below describes personality types and provides some insight into the way they think/react to others. There's also links to personality tests. I think it would be fun to have your leadership team take one and compare results! Don't you?

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Personality Analysis

By Liz Selzer

Our personalities were given to us by God - long before our parents knew us, God had plans for us and created us with special and unique attributes. Our personalities are one aspect of this. 

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13

Our personalities are not a mistake - and each personality has positive characteristics and challenging aspects. Understanding our own personality and the personalities of those around us can help us be more proactive in working with others, and more effective at getting results as leaders. There are a number of personality tests and many people have categorized personality traits in a number of ways (most of them are rather similar). The Myers Briggs analysis is used by many to understand personality (see the link below for a free test).

Another test that may help you understand your team better is the one that Donna Partow discusses in her book: A Women's Guide to Personality Types. The elements are listed below:

Director - wants control
Traits - driven by an active will and the need to get results
Under pressure - responds through outbursts
From others - needs respect and the acceptance of their ideas
Biblical characters and verses - King David, Ruth, Apostle Paul

Philippians 2:5-8, 

1 Peter 5:5-6 "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." 

Question to ask: "How can I give this person ownership?"

Cheerleader - has fun, wants to be loved
Traits - driven by emotion and the need to influence
Under pressure - responds with intense emotion and talking
From others - seeks approval, camaraderie and to be noticed
Biblical characters and verses - King Solomon, James the brother of Jesus
Psalm 1 (substituting woman for man, her for his and she for he)
Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
Question to ask: "How can this person make this event/idea fun?"

Investigator - brings perfection
Traits - driven by logic and the need to do things right
Under pressure - responds by withdrawing and thinking negatively
From others - wants assurance and recognition for competency
Biblical characters and verses-Moses, Matthew the Tax Collector
Philippians 4:6-8
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Question to ask: "How can this person do this task in an orderly fashion?"

Mentor - Takes life easy, lives in peace
Traits - driven by a passive will and the need to help
Under pressure - responds by withdrawing and becoming fatigued
From others - wants sincere appreciation and harmony
Biblical characters and verses - Abraham, Esther, Barnabas
Colossians 3:23-24
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline"
Question to ask: "How can this person promote harmony at this event or in this situation?"

Think through how understanding personalities might help in the following scenarios: The first personality characteristic listed is from the descriptions above, the second is from the Myers-Briggs categories.

MOPS meeting: After experiencing a MOPS meeting hosted by your Cheerleader/Feeling Hospitality Coordinator, you note the elaborate decorations and give-aways, and are aware of the lean budget you have to work with. Discuss this with her. 

Conflict: Your Director/Judging Discussion Group Team Leader informs you that there is a conflict situation brewing. Help her role play a conversation with those who are "stirring the pot." 

Reports: You have asked your Investigator/Sensing Finance Coordinator for her monthly report for the fourth time. She is now not responding to any e-mails or phone calls. What do you do? 

Leadership Training: The date is set for your Steering Team retreat and the entire team is able to come. You are in charge of planning the training. What piece of the training can you assign to each personality to help her feel a part of the event?

Helpful Personality/Leadership Styles Links:

Free Myers-Briggs personality test: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
http://www.discoveryourpersonality.com/
http://www.leadingfromyourstrengths.com/facilitator
http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/survstyl.html
http://www.godsquad.com/squadroom/leading/topics/style.htm