Empowering career search and enrichment

Managing the Transition Home – Post 5

Written by Katherine and Elizabeth Hirsh

In previous posts we’ve looked at the impact of particular preferences (for example, Extraversion  and Introversion) on your reintegration journey. In the next few posts we’d like to introduce another way of working with MBTI® personality type, what we call a “Lens.” Like a pair of glasses, a Type Lens can help you see yourself and others more clearly. It can focus your attention on specific similarities and differences in the way people experience reintegration.

Let’s begin by exploring the Functions Lens, named thusly because it is based on the second and third letters in the four-letter type code—S or N and T or F—which are called the Functions. The Functions Lens highlights four ways of seeing the world: through Sensing and Thinking (ST), through Sensing and Feeling (SF), through Intuition and Feeling (NF), and through Intuition and Thinking (NT). 

Because the Functions Lens is based on just two of your letters rather than your whole type, each of the four different pairings has something in common with two of the other pairings: ST and SF share Sensing, NT and NF share Intuition, ST and NT share Thinking, and SF and NF share Feeling. Given they share a Function in common, there are some similarities in how individuals from each of these groupings approach reintegration. In contrast, differences between the reintegration approaches of individuals from groupings that do not have any letters in common—STs and NFs, and SFs and NTs—may be easier to spot.

How can an awareness of the Functions Lens help you? The Functions Lens highlights what tends to capture your attention, where you typically expend effort, and what you may fail to consider without a gentle reminder. Armed with this knowledge about your personal style, you can enlist others to help you get the information you need during reintegration, including support in exploring those areas that for you tend to fade into the background. 

People with preferences for ST tend to be present focused and data driven. If this is your style, you can improve your reintegration process by 

People with preferences for SF tend to be present focused and people oriented. If this is your style, you can improve your reintegration process by 

People with preferences for NF tend to be future focused and people oriented. If this is your style, you can improve your reintegration process by 

People with preferences for NT tend to be future focused and data driven. If this is your style, you can improve your reintegration process by 

Having a sense of your personal style and your needs during reintegration can make your life more manageable as you transition from warrior to worker. You can ask for the information you need to feel confident about your reintegration choices—details or the big picture, data or people—and also request help in areas that come less naturally to you. You may even recognize where you and your colleagues, friends, or family members might misunderstand one another due to your different ways of approaching things. Switching gears from service to civilian life can be tough—let knowledge of your MBTI type make it a little easier!

You can learn more on the topic of psychological type and reintegration in our booklet Introduction to Type® and Reintegration.

Elizabeth and Katherine Hirsh are coauthors of several publications, including Introduction to Type® and Teams, MBTI® Teambuilding Program: Leader’s Resource Guide, Introduction to Type® and Decision Making, and the MBTI® Decision-Making Style Report.

(Managing Your Transition Home – Part 3) 

Written by Elizabeth and Katherine Hirsh

Being in the military means adopting and living by important values such as camaraderie, teamwork, loyalty, and order. These are ideals that you honored during your service and continue to hold in high regard. Now, as you reenter civilian life, it’s time to discover what you value personally. Knowing about your Myers-Briggs^® personality type can help you identify your values so that you can find work environments that honor who you are and what really matters to you.

One way to zero in on your values is to consider your approach to evaluating options, which is reflected in whether you prefer Thinking or Feeling. Understanding this aspect of yourself can help you find career opportunities best suited to you.

For example, when comparing potential employers or career options, people who prefer Thinking and Feeling tend to look at different criteria. If you prefer Thinking, you might ask yourself:

“Do people in this company value objectivity, critical analysis, and data? Would pursuing this career path offer me more positives than negatives?”

Alternatively, if you prefer Feeling, you might ask yourself:

“Do people in this company value warmth, appreciation, and relationships? Does pursuing this career path feel right to me?”

Reentering the civilian job market, or entering it for the very first time after serving, offers you a unique opportunity to get in touch with your core values. Use your Myers-Briggs results to help you choose work environments that mirror and reward your personal style. Whether you lead with the head (Thinking) or the heart (Feeling), your specific approach is needed to make the world run—so get out there and contribute as only you can.

You can learn more on the topic of psychological type and reintegration in our booklet Introduction to Type^® and Reintegration.

Elizabeth and Katherine Hirsh are coauthors of several publications, including Introduction to Type® and Teams, MBTI® Teambuilding Program: Leader’s Resource Guide, Introduction to Type® and Decision Making, and the MBTI® Decision-Making Style Report.