MBTI / 16Personalities

The MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) sorts personality into 16 types drawn from 4 Jungian dichotomies. It's the most widely used profiling tool in business worldwide, particularly effective at fostering mutual understanding and communication within teams.

Category Typological (a categorical model based on Jungian psychology)

Average cost Paid — publisher licence (CPP/The Myers-Briggs Company) / an unofficial free version on 16Personalities.com

Certification required Yes (Myers-Briggs Company accreditation is required to use the official instrument)

When to use it

Where it applies

→Recruitment. Limited use, and not recommended as a selection criterion (legal risk and a lack of predictive validity). Can be used to reflect on cultural fit if well framed.
→One-to-one coaching. An excellent tool for building awareness of one's natural preferences. Very well liked by coachees, as the profiles are flattering and engaging. Useful in career change to identify aligned working environments.
→Team-building & management. This is where it excels. MBTI workshops for improving team communication are very effective — they let people name differences in how they operate without passing judgement.

The underlying model

How the model works

The MBTI rests on 4 dichotomies that generate 16 type combinations. Unlike the Big Five, it sorts personality into binary categories rather than continuous scores.

E/IExtraversion / Introversion. Where the person draws their energy from (the outer world vs. the inner world).
S/NSensing / iNtuition. How information is gathered (concrete facts vs. patterns and possibilities).
T/FThinking / Feeling. How decisions are made (objective logic vs. human values).
J/PJudging / Perceiving. How one organises in the world (structure and closure vs. flexibility and openness).

16 types organised into 4 groups

Analysts (iNtuitive-Thinkers)

INTJ — The Architect · INTP — The Logician · ENTJ — The Commander · ENTP — The Debater

Diplomats (iNtuitive-Feelers)

INFJ — The Advocate · INFP — The Mediator · ENFJ — The Protagonist · ENFP — The Campaigner

Sentinels (Sensing-Judgers)

ISTJ — The Logistician · ISFJ — The Defender · ESTJ — The Executive · ESFJ — The Consul

Explorers (Sensing-Perceivers)

ISTP — The Virtuoso · ISFP — The Adventurer · ESTP — The Entrepreneur · ESFP — The Entertainer

References: themyersbriggs.com · 16personalities.com (a free public-facing version).

Wrap-up

Strengths and limits

Strengths

✓A highly accessible, non-threatening shared language for discussing personality differences within a team.
✓Very engaging for coachees (narrative profiles, strong storytelling).
✓A large community and abundant resources — easy to run workshops with.

Limits and biases

✕Weak test-retest reliability: 50% of people change type between two sittings five weeks apart.
✕Binary categorisation (E or I, T or F) that flattens the nuance — reality is a continuum.
✕Doesn't predict job performance (use in recruitment should be avoided entirely).

Resources

Other personality assessments

Psychometric traits Big Five / OCEAN 5 fundamental traits in continuous scores, the most scientifically validated framework. Behavioural DISC / Colour Method 4 observable behavioural styles, widely used in management and sales. Psychometric SOSIE Crosses values, traits and professional interests — the French standard in executive recruitment. Deep motivations Enneagram 9 personality structures rooted in fundamental motivations and fears. Emotional intelligence EQ-i (Emotional Intelligence) The global standard for measuring emotional intelligence in leadership and executive coaching.

Want to go further with the MBTI?

Whether you are a candidate preparing for interviews or a company running a hiring process, this assessment can be built into your approach.