The Amazing Un-Myers-Briggs-able Woman
Yesterday, I took seven different Myers-Briggs tests.
My seven results were: ISFJ, ENFJ, ENTJ, INTJ, ???J, ESFJ, and ISFJ.
I am un-Myers-Briggs-able.
As you can see above, one test wouldn’t even rate me in three out of four categories. How am I supposed to know who I am on a fundamental level if Myers-Briggs can’t categorize me?
Let’s dive right in to my neuroses:
E vs. I
On almost every test, I was close to an even split between Extraverted (Medium thinks that is misspelled, but here’s why it’s not) and Introverted. Which makes sense. I have no problem speaking or performing in front of people. Also, I’m what people politely refer to as “talkative” (and impolitely refer to as “obnoxious”). However, given the choice between going to a gathering where there will be more than six people or staying home alone and reading a book, I will choose the book 100% of the time. Myers-Briggs doesn’t know what to do with that.
Outcome: ?
N vs. S
Since the tests couldn’t give me a definitive result, I tried to reverse engineer my Myers-Briggs type. I looked at things like “What Star Wars character/Disney princess/classic novel are you based on your Myers-Briggs type?”; picked the one I think I’m the most like; and then noted the Myers-Briggs type. I ended up with ENTJ, ENTJ, INFP, INTJ, and INTP. This solidifies the iNtuitive trait. My reverse engineering concept may not be scientifically validated, but it’s better than a question mark, so I’m going with it.
Outcome: N
F vs. T
Thinking outweighs Feeling in my reverse engineering. But in the tests, Feeling outweighed Thinking. So this one’s still very unclear.
I feel like I’m a Feeler; but I think I’m a Thinker. If you asked me to answer quickly— do I act based on my feelings or based on thinking things through — I’d say feelings. But when I take a minute and think about how I actually make decisions? I think them through. So, which am I? Am I a Feeler because I feel like a Feeler? Or a Thinker because I think like a Thinker? I don’t think there’s an answer.
Outcome: ?
J vs. P
This test outcome pictured on the left made me really angry. Because I have one thing — one thing — to cling to in this Myers-Briggs wasteland that is my personality: I’m a J. This result was trying to take away my only solid footing. But if you look closely, you can see that the dot does fall on the “J” side of the center line. So my one shred of understanding about who I am as a person is safe.
I am a J because I plan vacations down to the last detail and get very irritated when other people want to just “wing it.” I prefer to plan other things, too, but vacations are serious business for me. I recently heard someone talking about buying a last minute plane ticket and I almost broke out in hives. Apparently, if you are a P, you just wander around wherever the current takes you… I can’t even write about it. It makes me so uncomfortable.
I am a J.
I have always been a J.
I will always be a J.
Outcome: J
Final Result: ?N?J
I looked up the definitions of all the xNxJ personality types:
- INFJ — The Counselor
- INTJ — The Mastermind
- ENFJ — The Giver
- ENTJ — The Commander
These all sound like me to an extent.
The xxFJ descriptions both speak to my love for mentoring and giving advice. In my lawyer days, I was a mentor for ‘summer associates’ and I really enjoyed that part of my job. I’ve also considered going back to school to become a counselor. Then I look at my student loan balance and realize what a terrible idea that would be.
The xxTJ descriptors capture the fact that I like to make a plan. And not only do I like to make a plan for myself; I like to make a plan for other people. And I like when everyone follows the plan. I’d be equally fine delivering the orders — ahem, I mean plans, to the troops myself, like a Commander, or to do so from behind the scenes, like a Mastermind.
One final note. I looked up which Myers-Briggs personality types care the most about Myers-Briggs personality types. Again, this is a very scientific and authoritative source I’m referencing here. The very top contender is INFJ and a total of three xNxJ types are in the top six. Considering the piece you just read, I’m sure you’ll agree with me: that seems about right.
Important Update: The DISC Personality Test also doesn’t know what to do with me:
“Your DISC Personality Report
When responding to the questions you placed an equal value on all four of the personality traits measured. This is a very unusual pattern of response. It occurs when people are not answering in a spontaneous and uninhibited way.”
Excuse me DISC, but I beg to differ.
