Introduction
For an organization to be truly Christ-centered, it must be informed and inspired by the Holy Spirit. While that is commonly aspirational, it is challenging within the reality of individual differences and team dynamics.
In the body of Christ, each person brings unique gifts, perspectives, and ways of engaging the world. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) helps us recognize these differences—not to divide us, but to deepen our appreciation of how the Holy Spirit works through diverse personalities. When we understand how some of us are energized by reflection while others thrive in conversation, or how some seek clarity through logic while others lean into values, we can begin to see preferences working in complement to one another, not in competition. In that way, Christian leadership can begin to work in a way that is greater than the sum of the individuals within it; in a way that is informed by the Holy Spirit. The Unity and Presence program invites participants to deepened self-awareness that fosters fuller communal discernment: a Spirit-led process where our differences converge into unity. By understanding and embracing what is unique about each person, we create space for the Holy Spirit to guide us toward shared wisdom, deeper presence, and faithful action.
The MBTI: From Me To We
Self-awareness is the starting point for any personal development. If we want to improve performance - as individuals, in teams, or as leaders - we’ve got to know who we are and how we function.
The MBTI framework gives people a simple and accessible way to become more self-aware. It helps them identify their personality preferences and understand their potential strengths and challenges. In that way, the MBTI begins with ME.
But more broadly, the MBTI provides a common language for team members to talk about commonalities and differences. With that equal footing established, the tool can then be used to explore common challenges to team dynamics, including:
- communications
- leadership
- trust
- decision making
- change management
- stress and resilience
- conflict
Most importantly, the MBTI can help strengthen social capital and, within an expressly Christian context, elevate a team's capacity to engage in communal discernment.
Phase 1 - Storyboarding
Because the Unity and Presence program can be customized in myriad ways, we will begin with an introductory session with point persons to:
- understand the context and needs of the leadership team
- collaboratively scaffold out a central document that can be used to guide participants through the program
Following this time of establishing context and goals, a Project Storyboard will be sent to the point persons within the organization. Once that document is agreed upon and signed, additional participants can be welcomed and the program can continue into the next phase.
SETTING: One session, structured either virtually or in person
TIMING: Typically 30-45 minutes
Phase 2 - The MBTI Process
The second phase provides each member of the participating team with an opportunity to engage in the established three-step process of MBTI type preferencing. This process employs official Myers-Briggs instruments and materials and is overseen by a certified MBTI practitioner at Find Your Hum.
Preparatory materials will be provided within the Program Storyboard to introduce participants to the MBTI tool. In addition, a link will be provided to the official online MBTI assessment for each participant.
SETTING: Individual online engagement as coordinated by the Program Storyboard. TIMING: 15-20 minutes for introduction and 20-30 minutes to complete the online MBTI assessment.
In this second step, the group will have an opportunity to learn about the MBTI model and each of the four preference pairs. This piece is presented interactively, allowing participants to predict their type preferences and suggest implications for team dynamics.
After individual predicted types are established, each participant will receive a printed copy of their assessed type. Time will then be provided in which to explore these results and compare them to predicted type.
SETTING: In person, with space for presentation
TIMING: 90-120 minutes, depending on group size
The final step of this second phase is the critical establishment of each participant's best fit type, which is determined after the consideration of both predicted and assessed types. Ambiguities and clarity shortcomings are worked through so that each participant can proceed confidently with their type and its implications for the next program phase.
SETTING: In person, directly following the previous step
TIMING: 30-60 minutes depending on group size
Phase 3: Works in Progress
Now we arrive at a point at which a deeper dive into type preferences can illuminate strengths and challenges for members of the team. Understood holistically, the MBTI is a developmental tool that sees people as works in progress through their lifetimes - coming to the world with certain innate strengths and maturing into more challenging capacities.
Transitioning to a more spiritual context, we engage in this process with an understanding of Imago Dei - that all persons are created in the image of God. Through individual reflection and group discussion, participants look more deeply at themselves and who the Lord is calling them to be.
SETTING: In person, with a combination of presentation and individual reflection TIMING: 60-75 minutes
Phase 4 - Dynamics and Discernment
With team member preferences firmly established, we can transition from individual self awareness to a broader understanding of team dynamics. How do we get unique voices, strengths and perspectives to work in harmony with one another? And how can communal discernment be divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit?
A key launch point for this phase is the creation of the Type Table, which identifies preference commonalities and differences across the entire group.
We will then explore team dynamics, as originally identified in the Program Storyboard. Through a combination of individual reflection and centered group discussion, the team will be encouraged to discover how to employ their preferences in symphony with one another.
SETTING: In person with room for presentation and group discussion
TIMING: Typically 90-120 minutes, depending on structure and group size
Development Areas
Once individual preferences are understood, the MBTI tool provides great flexibility for further exploration into team dynamics. The following section suggests areas for investigation that can be enlightened by the MBTI.
Communication
All four type pairs contribute to preferences for communication. The MBTI lets you explore how to:
- manage in-person discussions
- balance written and verbal communication
- be cognizant of conceptual and practical parts of communication
- recognize and manage convergent and divergent thinking
Change Management
How change is initiated within and then adopted across organizations is heavily influenced by the Sensing function (S/N) and the Outer World Orientation attitude (P/J) of the MBTI.
It can be hugely impactful to know how each group might contribute to or act in opposition to organizational change, and the MBTI helps identify how different type preferences respond to change.
Stress and Resilience
Because of its inherent structure, the MBTI model has opposites within it. Therefore, what works for some people is going to be more challenging for others.
Identifying these differences and bringing them to light within a team can help reduce a "one size fits all" mentality and alleviate stress for all types.
Conflict
The Judging function (T/F) can help illuminate differences in how people prefer to manage conflict. For some, conflict is a problem to be solved. For others, it is an environment to be avoided altogether.
There is a companion tool to the MBTI entitled the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) that can be used to more thoroughly explore people's tendencies for managing conflict.
Onboarding
Organizational growth and turnover mean that new employees will be coming aboard. Some will want detailed, established job descriptions while others will prefer to learn from peers or mentors. The MBTI tool helps leaders and hiring personnel best tune onboarding experiences and resources to different personality types.
Work Environment
Comfort, satisfaction and productivity are all impacted by work environment. Like with communications, one size does not fit all across MBTI preferences.
The MBTI tool provides an excellent basis by which to discuss work spaces and their impacts on employees. Remote, hybrid, on-site - different types respond to these working environments differently.
Provided Materials and Resources
Find Your Hum will provide the following materials to support the Team Harmonics program:
Participant Level
In coordination with the Program Storyboard, each team member will receive:
- Instructions and links for completing their online MBTI assessment
- A personalized Interpretive Report, along with the interactive MBTI app
- Links to reference materials for further study and clarification
Coordinator Level
The client program coordinator will be provided:
- A customized program design, provided after the Scaffolding
- A completed Team Type Table, provided after the Step 2 interpretation
- An Executive Summary, highlighting key points of consideration and implication
Program Time and Cost
The Unity and Presence program is fully customizable and scalable. An initial cost-free consultation can help establish the desired scope and structure of the program. Program time can extend across a number of months or be abbreviated down to a combination of condensed virtual and in-person sessions.
A full cost estimate will be provided following the initial consultation.
Let's Get Started!
Find Your Hum is ready to help you custom design your Unity and Presence program. It promises to be a great investment in your people - knowing them better and more fully aligning them to your mission. Please use the contact options below to get the possibilities started!
Email Tim Sassen - tim@findyourhum.com
Credits:
Find Your Hum