My journey in developing empathy is only just beginning. It’s a shame, because empathy is so key to one’s relationships: whether with family, friends, or colleagues. I wish I had started earlier.
The moment that got the ball rolling for me came when I was 19. I planned to volunteer in a remote part of Burundi for 10 weeks, as part of a government-sponsored programme called the “International Citizen Service.” The programme assigns British 18-25s to support projects in developing countries, working alongside national volunteers.
Alongside other prospective volunteers, I participated in a preparatory weekend ahead of the placement. We were briefed on the projects we would support, and completed some exercises intended to help us to foster good team dynamics. The most useful by far was taking the Myers-Briggs test and discussing our results.
In case the concept is new to you: the Myers-Briggs test seeks to describe how different people perceive the world and make decisions, by placing people on four spectra. Placement is done through a questionnaire.
The spectra are as follows:
1) Introversion/Extroversion
2) Sensing/Intuition
3) Thinking/Feeling
4) Judging/Perceiving
A total of 16 combinations are possible, represented by letters. My results are consistently ENTJ.
Completing the test, aged 19, felt like a breakthrough moment for me. Suddenly, there was an explanation for why people might receive the same information as me but make different decisions, or feel hurt by something I say despite there being no ill intent on my part.
Additionally, I felt equipped to provide people with a head start on understanding my own personality, facilitating effective communication and mitigating against misunderstandings.
In the years since I first took the Myers-Briggs test, I have regularly returned to it either out of curiosity or for more practical reasons. I have cajoled colleagues into taking it, and included it in the orientations of my two team members.
While the Myers-Briggs test has by no means been a silver bullet for effective communications between my colleagues and I, it has helped to facilitate a more open conversation about the different ways in which we process information and make decisions. The test results provide a platform for a discussion about personality that might otherwise be quite difficult to start.
I would encourage you to take the test, along with your colleagues. While taking the test and guessing one another’s results are fun, the real value lies in discussing the results together.
Here’s a website that offers a quick, free test. You will not be forced to hand over your email address in exchange for your results.