Type is our Psychological Energy System!
In a world filled with imposter assessments and one-dimensional personality quizzes, the true power of Type often gets lost. But Type isn’t about labeling or limiting people—it’s about understanding the whole of who we are, and who we are becoming.
The MBTI® assessment is an assessment that helps us to understand the whole of who we are. It is grounded in Jung’s theory of Psychological Types. When taught well, it offers a lens into our internal energy system: how we’re wired to take in information, make decisions, interact with the world, and grow over time. It’s not a set of fixed traits—it’s a dynamic framework for individual and team development.
Unfortunately, when stripped of its theoretical roots, Type becomes easy to misinterpret—and even easier to dismiss. That’s why we teach Type as a living model: one that evolves, resonates, and sticks.
We help practitioners bring Type to life in every workshop, integrating practical tools, deeper insights, and facilitation techniques that move beyond labels to spark real transformation.
Here are the basic principles that are important to capture when creating and facilitating Type programs:
(1) Type is our living, breathing, renewable source of mental energy
Myers’ assessment was created to help make Jung’s Types useful. She created 16 different Types, or energy patterns for taking in information and making decisions in the inside and outside worlds. Our four-letter Type Code helps us understand how we prefer to process information – and distribute that energy – Perceive and Judge – in the inside and outside worlds – and how others may differ. When we select the four-letter Type Code that fits us best, we can understand our mental patterns and learn to appreciate and leverage those around us who provide different perspectives.
(2) The Dominant Function of each Type is its guiding force
Our four-letter Type Code helps us identify our primary energy source, which is known as our Dominant or leading Function. Understanding the Dominant Function allows workshop participants to see where their energy primarily resides and how they can tap underused energy sources within to grow and develop. Once people know their type, they can understand where they might be stuck and how to choose to direct their energy differently when needed. Type becomes a living system.
“One consequence of the popularity of the MBTI is that it has become increasingly detached from psychological type theory – often to the detriment of the individuals whom it is intended to benefit.”
MBTI Manual, 3rd ed.
(3) Practical application from the start is essential
It is imperative to connect Type to the prevailing issues identified by your client for maximum results. Placing Type within the context of the organizational problem you are trying to fix, even as you introduce the concepts, will help your participants use Type at the end of the workshop. We help you design and craft workshops that identify different team issues within the context of the introductory session.
By incorporating Jungian concepts into your Type workshops, you will help people see the fluidity and usability of Type. When your participants become conscious of the functions that are easy to use and harder to engage, they will know they have a choice – to tap into different perspectives and employ those most appropriate for the situation. Learning to balance the psychological tasks of Type can inform all aspects of organizational behavior, leading to more informed and productive teamwork and more effective organizations.