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
- Asking directly for
specifics on what systems would provide the best concrete results right
now
- Taking time to shift your
attention to encompass the future and people-oriented concerns
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
- Asking directly for
specifics on the most practical way to take the best care of yourself and
others right now
- Taking time to shift your
attention to encompass the future and data-driven concerns
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
- Asking directly for ideas on
what might best motivate you and others going forward
- Taking time to shift your
attention to encompass the present and data-driven concerns
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
- Asking directly for ideas on
what systems could be developed to provide the best outcomes going
forward
- Taking time to shift your
attention to encompass the present and people-oriented concerns
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.
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