Model MBTI
The aim of this essay is to analyze the advantages of different personality models. Before embarking my course, my perspective around personality was rudimentary in comparison with after completion of the course. During my in-depth research and studies, I found that behaviour is affected by outside forces. There are positive and negative reinforcements that affect behaviour (Hutteman et al. 2014). Reflection is a critical component so that we as individuals are aware of the strategies that can be used for self-development and improvement. This essay discusses the conflicts I have experienced in my life and in my overall personality. The essay analyzes Johari window, Myers-Briggs Test Indicator (MBTI), transactional analysis and Dominance, Influence, Conscientious and Steady (DISC) models. Knowing self-status shall help my surrounding ones such as family, friends or colleagues to serve customers effectively. When you understand a person’s natural preferences, it is easier to fit her with a job she’ll like and will be good at. This helps improve performance and engagement (Bipp and Demerouti 2015).
The Johari window helps people in better understanding of relationship with others. It has assisted me in improving personal development and developing self-awareness. As communication is vital to understanding and transmitting information, it needs to be effective. When I took the Johari window test, I discovered my public self, blind spot, façade and unknown area (Tran 2018).
I came to understanding that my unknown areas are introversion and nervousness. With self-awareness, I knew my areas where I excel and lack in. With the help of my family and team members, I was able to overcome my deficiencies with stronger points (Specht et al. 2014). For example, I would often get the position of a ‘leader’ in my group. A leader requires a strong personality with excellent communication skills and trust among other group members. I am a person who is not able to build trust easily among people. With the help of Johari Window analysis, I worked on my communication skills. I practiced delivering speech and I overcame my stumbling issue. In the next stage, I generated feedback from my fellows so that they could review my speech delivering skills. Hence, based on the review I dealt with my communication conflict.
I used Johari window as a tool for my personal as well as professional development. Johari window uses feedback that made me accept a great deal about myself and increasing effectiveness as an individual. Johari window has been useful to me as there was self-disclosure and self-discovery that helped in better understanding. With my lack in communication skills, the feedback of team members helped me in presenting my views in a better manner without hesitation (Saxena 2015).
Model DISC
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or MBTI is widely used for team building. After taking the test my result for it was Introversion, Sensing, Feeling and Judging (ESFJ). I have come to an understanding that introversion is something I have received from my parents. I am receptive to change and new ideas. The MBTI model has made me realize that I have trouble separating personal and interpersonal situations. For example, there was a situation where I was facing criticism in my personal life. As I am quite humble and shy, I have a hard time expressing my emotions. The MBTI model made me realize how I should work on my extraversion skills. Improving as an extrovert can help portray my level of confidence (Hancock 2016).
The MBTI is helping me view the world from a different perspective. It has made me greatly self-aware. From the test, I learned that I need to use the obtained facts and details for calculating the most practical course of action. The MBTI model has made me emphasize the importance of knowledge and experience. MBTI shall be beneficial in my future courses as I shall be able to work on my overall personality. It shall be beneficial in my professional development so that I can excel in my future endeavours. I have come to an understanding that I need to make a practical and logical approach rather than always considering the feeling of others.
For example, one of my friends asked me for a personal advice regarding his personality. In the first stage as I was afraid to hurt his feelings, I intended to change the subject. I should have been honest and practical and offer advice to my struggling friend. After studying the MBTI model in my course, I gave him brutal yet honest advice and the changes he needed to bring in his behaviour. Thus, MBTI model helped me in being spontaneous.
The MBTI model made me realize the importance of flexibility. For example, if I am assigned a project, I proceed by making plans in a structured manner. In the first stage, I found it difficult to incorporate it in my existing plan due to time management. The MBTI model taught me the importance of keeping multiple options open and changing the track midway. Therefore, I managed to incorporate changes in the project within the given time-frame (Clinton 2018).
As propounded by Dr Eric Berne, transactional analysis is a great model to understand self-behaviour and improve communication. In my opinion, transactional analysis can write their own life-plan and change their inappropriate behaviours of the past. The psychologist states the three stages or ego states- the parent, adult and child. This model has proven beneficial for me and improved my communication standards on a regular basis. For example, I have noticed that sometimes I say things like my parents unconsciously. This is because we have lived with them for so long that leads us to be nurturing or critical. Not just home, I have observed the child ego state at my workplace. For example, there have been situations when my boss has called me into the office and my stomach went churning thinking what I did wrong. In the terms of psychotherapy, this situation is termed as self-awareness (Berne 2016).
Model Johari Window
Another example comes from my personal incident where my aunt gave me the permission to have more fun and be joyous that I did not get as a child. In the first stage, I channel my thoughts wondering what my parents would say about it. But now, I have come to understanding that I must not stress myself thinking what my parents would think about it. Instead, I try to relax myself and take some time out. The TA model has lessened my over thinking where I used to beat myself up. Gradually, I started taking care of myself by being self-aware and decisive. I have come to an understanding that psychotherapy involves significant work to reach the adult state while challenging child or parent ego state ideas. Currently, I am working on a few of my child-like ego characteristics to reach the adult state (Hargaden and Sills 2014).
The Dominance, Influence, Conscientious and Steady (DISC) profile is a judgmental tool for assessing people’s differences. I completed a series of questions to produce a detailed report about my behaviour and personality. DISC profile helped me in increasing my self-knowledge thereby becoming effective leaders. For example, I encountered performance based conflict at my previous workplace. My work performance did not meet the expectations of my employer regarding meeting deadlines. Further, I applied the DISC model of conflict management for better communication between me and my employer. Therefore, I reflected on what went wrong during my tenure of work rather than who was wrong. The DISC model helped me understand that it is useless to blame anybody else. The model taught me a lesson for setting a timeframe within which I had to complete my work. In the next stage, I drew up learning points from the above mentioned conflict situation and shared the conclusion with my employer. I saw improvement in myself as I stopped missing work deadlines (Davenport 2018).
The DISC model proved the most useful among all conflict management models as I intend to become a manager in future. My job shall be to orchestrate and get people’s work done. I wish to diminish the conflict between employers and employees. Instead of spending all day on “personality conflicts,” they’ll be able to navigate individual differences and coach employees to communicate more effectively (McAdams 2015). I need to understand that nobody likes to involve in conflicts in a group. The DISC model has made me realize that language and managing behaviour can make team cohesion successful. Too often leaders are told what leadership is supposed to be or provided grandiose pictures of the ultimate leader, but they aren’t provided with tangible, actionable, personalized feedback and strategies for how to improve as a leader (Anderson 2015).
Transactional Analysis
Conclusively, I need to improve on several traits so that there is greater positivity and acceptance around me. This reflection paper has helped me refer to my performance criteria and monitor learning. I have recognized improvement in several areas that I shall continue to work in accordance with the models such as Johari window, Myers-Briggs Test Indicator (MBTI), transactional analysis and Dominance, Influence, Conscientious and Steady (DISC). I have set achievement goals for myself where I can evaluate the merits and shortcomings in my overall behaviour and personality. I am working on a few of my child-like ego characteristics to reach the adult state. The MBTI model made me realize how I should work on my extraversion skills. The DISC model helped me understand that it is useless to blame anybody else. The model taught me a lesson for setting a timeframe within which I had to complete my work.
References
Anderson, A., 2015. Team-building exercises and simulation. Manual of Simulation in Healthcare, p.208.
Berne, E., 2016. Transactional analysis in psychotherapy: A systematic individual and social psychiatry. Pickle Partners Publishing.
Bipp, T. and Demerouti, E., 2015. Which employees craft their jobs and how? Basic dimensions of personality and employees’ job crafting behaviour. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 88(4), pp.631-655.
Clinton, R., 2018. The making of a leader: Recognizing the lessons and stages of leadership development. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc..
Davenport, L., 2018. Home Sales Success and Personality Types: Is There a Connection?. Journal of Real Estate Practice and Education, 21(1), pp.29-57.
Hancock, D., 2016. To test or not to test: Assessing personality traits. Practice Management, 26(5), pp.23-25.
Hargaden, H. and Sills, C., 2014. Transactional analysis: A relational perspective. Routledge.
Hutteman, R., Hennecke, M., Orth, U., Reitz, A.K. and Specht, J., 2014. Developmental tasks as a framework to study personality development in adulthood and old age. European Journal of Personality, 28(3), pp.267-278.
McAdams, D.P., 2015. The art and science of personality development. Guilford Publications.
Saxena, P., 2015. JOHARI WINDOW: An Effective Model for Improving Interpersonal Communication and Managerial Effectiveness. SIT Journal of Management, 5(2), pp.134-146.
Specht, J., Bleidorn, W., Denissen, J.J., Hennecke, M., Hutteman, R., Kandler, C., Luhmann, M., Orth, U., Reitz, A.K. and Zimmermann, J., 2014. What drives adult personality development? A comparison of theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence. European Journal of Personality, 28(3), pp.216-230.
Tran, B., 2018. Communication: The Role of the Johari Window on Effective Leadership Communication in Multinational Corporations. In Social Issues in the Workplace: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice (pp. 135-160). IGI Global.