From MBTI to AMDG is a program designed for leadership teams in Jesuit schools who are seeking to further understand the cura personalis of working relationships so as to more effectively lead the cura apostolica of the school.
Introduction
The Journey - Through the Self, Beyond the Self
In the beautiful coda of the Spiritual Exercises, the Suscipe, Ignatius offers everything to God in a final and full forfeiture of his own will. With profound humility and gratitude he beckons a full displacement of the self such that every thought, every act of his life might be toward the greater glory of God.
How did he get there?
In order to get to a place of complete self displacement, Ignatius first had to journey through stages of self awareness. From courtier to pilgrim to companion to Superior General, Ignatius successively deepened his understanding of his true self such that he might most fully respond to God's calling for him.
It is the fundamental underpinning of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator that our lives present us with opportunities to continually develop into our best selves; more mature, multi-faceted and well rounded. In that way, the tool shares a foundational humanism with the Ignatian charism. Given that connection, there is a workable and meaningful throughline from an understanding of one's type preferences to becoming a spiritually actualized companion of Christ. One comes to understand one's gifts so as to best make a return of those gifts to God.
Such is the blended framework of From MBTI to AMDG - equal parts investigative and spiritual.
The Society's Social Capital
It was in Venice in 1535 that the first companions gathered to discuss the future of the nascent Society. The group was a blend of nationalities, upbringings, levels of education and times of life. A true mélange of talents and perspectives, this group imagined forward the Society of Jesus with both an understanding of themselves and an unwavering determination to follow in the footsteps of Christ.
While discernment in common was the core way of proceeding for this group, they must surely have developed a depth of social capital that bonded them together and galvanized their vision. The mission was worthy and the bonds that held the parts of it together were inviolable.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is the most widely used psychometric instrument in the world, with over three million individual assessments taken worldwide each year. The true strength of the tool, however, comes when individual results are explored within the context of a workgroup or team. When studied and interpreted with colleagues, the MBTI becomes a powerful means by which to improve:
- interpersonal relationships
- communications
- workplace conflict
- visioning
- change management
- employee onboarding and retention
- stress management
The From MBTI to AMDG program provides precisely this - an in situ opportunity to use the MBTI to improve group dynamics and build social capital.
Program Framework
While the program is fully customizable according to the needs and capacities of the school, the principal framework of the program involves four phases, which follow the flow of the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP):
- CONTEXT - purpose and goal setting with the executive point persons
- EXPERIENCE - a three-step immersion into the MBTI tool
- REFLECTION - a prayerful consideration of the learnings from the MBTI, within the context of the Examen
- ACTION - consideration of future practical implications of the MBTI dynamics of the group, producing an executive summary
1. CONTEXT
In this first step, the point person from the school is given the opportunity to explain the context of the participating team including:
- team composition
- current strengths
- areas for growth
- tailoring of the program to identified needs
An output of this Context phase will be a Program Storyboard, which will act as the guiding document for all participants for the subsequent three phases of the program.
MODE: videoconference | TIME: 30-45 minutes
2. EXPERIENCE
This second step invites each member of the participating group to engage in the three-step MBTI typing process:
- Assessed Type - a link to an online assessment will be provided for participants within the Program Storyboard. This step will be completed before the group meets in person.
- Predicted Type - this will be the first in-person presentation piece, which utilizes Mentimeter to explain the MBTI model and crowdsource information from the participants.
- Best Fit Type - this final step will invite participants to individually explore and hone their type preferences so as to confidently establish their best fit type.
MODES: email of Storyboard for Assessed Type, followed by in person time for Predicted and Best Fit steps | TIME: 30 minutes for individual assessments with timeline spanning 5-10 days, followed by 120-180 minutes for type prediction and best fit determination
3. REFLECTION
This important next step continues the sequence of the IPP and provides individual time for each participant to consider her/his MBTI type in the context of the Examen:
- Becoming Aware of God's Presence - how the Lord might become more fully invited into the process of discovery within the MBTI process
- Being Grateful for the Gifts - establishing a disposition of gratitude in exploring personal strengths suggested by the MBTI
- Recognizing our Shortcomings - considering challenges brought to light by the MBTI process
MODE: in person preferred, but capable of being structured virtually | TIME: 60-120 minutes depending on group size
4. ACTION
This final phase will consist of structured discernment based on implications that have come forward from the group's MBTI profiles. An MBTI Type Table will be built for the group, which can act as a central reference point for these conversations. Areas of application of the MBTI tool for this phase include:
- Communication
- Decision Making
- Change
- Conflict
- Stress Management
- Project Management
Ultimately, prayerful discernment should include the implications of this effort on cura apostolica, with an articulation of how the school might be better served in light of the learnings of the program.
MODE: in person preferred, but capable of being structured virtually | TIME: flexible, depending on which areas of exploration are desired
Upon the completion of the above four phases, Find Your Hum will provide a written executive summary to the school point person, including:
- collected input from Mentimeter sessions
- copies of all individual MBTI assessments
- group Type Table
- all reference materials
- identification of established strengths and areas for growth
- future practical implications
- suggested next steps
Provided Materials and Resources
Find Your Hum will provide the following materials to support the program:
Participant Level
Within the Program Storyboard, each participant will receive:
- Instructions and links for completing their online MBTI assessment
- A personalized MBTI Interpretive Report, which will be updated following the determination of best fit type
- Interactive MBTI app (optional)
- Links to reference materials for further study and clarification
Coordinator Level
The executive point person(s) will be provided:
- Continuous access to the Program Storyboard
- A completed Team Type Table
- An Executive Summary, highlighting key points of consideration and implication
Let's Get Started!
Find Your Hum is ready to help you custom design your From MBTI to AMDG 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