The Myers-Briggs is a psychological test used to understand personality preferences. It has four scales each with two contrasting outcomes, which provides sixteen different personality types. One scale is the “Thinker” vs. the “Feeler”. Here’s their definition of each: “Thinkers prioritize logic, reason, and objective analysis, while Feelers prioritize values, personal opinions, and the impact on people involved. Both are crucial for healthy decision-making, and individuals typically use both, but one is usually preferred.”
Here’s a contrast in real life: While leading a company, we decided to lay off some staff during an economic downturn. Our situation improved later that year, so we needed to add staff again. I am a “T” (thinker) while one of my business partners was an “F” (feeler). I was ready to go ahead and start searching the market for new people to fill in our needed roles, while he was concerned about the optics of how our former staff would see this in not asking them back. I was looking at the future and wanted to be sure we had the right people in our open seats; he was concerned about the impact that decision might have on our culture.
Who was right?
These two verses demonstrate that we are to have feelings and that they are good:
Genesis 1:27: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:31: “And God saw everything that he had made, and it was very good.”
We are made in God’s image; God has emotions therefore emotions are good.
In contrast, we are to think and reason. Read this from Isaiah 18:1: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Feelings can deceive us and get us off track. If we are thinking only, we may trample over others without recognizing it.
God strikes the right balance in these to contrasting responses, and we are to do so as well. That’s why on leadership teams in an organization it’s important to know the profiles of each person and seek to find people that bring different strengths and perspectives.
In marriage, it has been said that “opposites attract”. I don’t know how true that is, but can you see some wisdom in having a partner that sees the world through a different lens than your own?
We can also balance this out with a mentor. Having a mentor that has a different profile than your own can help provide balance when you’re making big or important decisions.
Find out your personality type. There are many different profiles available online. Once known, urge the people closest to you to do the same. Then determine how you might strengthen your ability to make good decisions by adding someone to the conversation that provides you with a balanced perspective.
In our business, we did invite a few of our former employees to return, while we filled some of the seats with new folks. A bit of a compromise, but I may not have arrived at that without having a partner to provide a different viewpoint.
Richard Bahr 