The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator instrument is commonly referred to as the MBTI. It is based on the research of Carl Jung and the field of psychological types and is used by top businesses in every industry as a tool for understanding psychological types in healthy, normal people. It was created by Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother Katherine Cook Briggs. Their intent was to develop a tool in order to make Carl Jung’s work on Psychological Types available and useful for everyday life. The MBTI is a self-reported questionnaire designed to make Jung’s theories understandable and easily related to your life.

Explore with us today how conducting the MBTI can facilitate multi-dimensional improvement for you, your team, and your organization.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator instrument is owned by the publisher, CPP, Inc. (formerly Consulting Psychologists Press).  This organization is the sole publisher of the MBTI.   As the copyright owner for the instrument, CPP requires that practitioners utilizing the MBTI in their practice must be trained and qualified to administer the instrument to the public. 

Qualification is granted only to those who have completed training for the use of the MBTI instrument, either through a CPP, Inc., approved qualifying program including successfully completion of the qualifying exam for this course of study, OR have a minimum of a bachelors degree that includes successful completion of a college course in the interpretation of psychological assessment and measurement at an accredited college or university.

Additionally, a qualified administrator of the MBTI, has received in-depth training on the 16 psychological types, knowledge of the history and background of the development of the instrument, has been trained to conduct ethical based feedback consultations, and have been instructed in the appropriate methods to apply the results of the MBTI to a variety of applications for individuals, teams and organizations. 

Simply Bridges Group, Inc., completed qualification through the Center for the Application of Psychological Type in Gainesville, Florida.  Upon completion of this qualifying program and verification of our credentials by the publisher, CPP, Inc., Simply Bridges Group, Inc., has been granted approval to administer the MBTI to our clients.  

As a qualified practitioner we have taken the extra steps necessary to ensure a very high standard of excellence ensuring an exceptional experience  for our clients when they complete the MBTI instrument.  We believe there are no short cuts to providing high quality services to our clients. 

When you choose the Simply Bridges Group you receive the very highest commitment to achieving your results.

Explore with us today how conducting the MBTI can facilitate multi-dimensional improvement for you, your team, and organization.  Contact us today.

From “We’ll pick you up,” to “I’ll come get you” 

While driving back to Florida from a family vacation in New York our ten-year old Saturn blew a water pump on an isolated stretch of Interstate-95 near Santee, South Carolina.  When it happened, I knew something was wrong.  There was a sudden pop, a hiss and then the temperature gauge began to climb.  I coasted to a stop along interstate 95.  It was close to five in the afternoon and it was raining.  My wife, two teenage daughters and I are now stranded in what seems to us like the middle of nowhere.  

We began calling friends on our cell phones trying to secure a tow truck, rental car, and accommodation for the night.  The tow truck company would only allow one person to ride in the cab of his truck.  There were four of us and there was no way we would leave anyone alongside the interstate.  The weather was bad and it would be getting dark soon.  One of our friends who we called gave us the number to the local Enterprise-Rent-A-Car office, hinting that “they’ll pick you up.”  We were many miles from this location but we called anyway to see if they could help us.

By the time we called the Enterprise office in Sumter, SC it was close to closing time.  We explained our situation to the person who answered the phone and they directed us to the manager.  They indicated we were clearly out of their “geographic restriction” area to come pick us up.  When the manager got on the phone we again described our situation to him and we were shocked by his response.

After hearing our situation and request for assistance there was a pause on the other end of the line.  He then said something to the effect that, “it was the end of the day and he could not in good conscience send out one of his folks at this time of day to go pick us up…, I’ll come get you.”  I said, "Excuse me?”  And he repeated that he would come out to pick us up.  He estimated that he would be to our location in about forty minutes and he would be bringing a mini-van so there would be enough room for all of us and our luggage as well. 

When he arrived  he described that he didn’t know why he felt a strong need to come get us, but something inside him caused him to do so.  He had worked all day, had a wife and family to spend time with and an office to run.  My family and I were very tired from traveling, stranded, hot and by this time wanting very much to find a place to spend the night. 

We were in need and this leader bridged the gap for all of us.  Our family will never forget the compassion and service exhibited by this leader in helping us in our time of great need.  He went beyond the scope of expectations for his role or his job and extended a real servant mindset to us when we needed it.  After the round trip drive of an hour and twenty minutes driving out to pick us up and returning to the office, plus helping us secure a rental and helping transferring our luggage, he finally locked his office doors for the last time that day at nearly 8:00pm.

I began this story with a description of the reality my family and I found ourselves in, what the situation was like at the Enterprise office and have been pondering the thought of leadership emerging in context.  How did the decisions and actions of the manager demonstrate leadership in this context?

This leader did not put this responsibility on to any of his staff.  By taking on the responsibility himself he demonstrated servant leadership to his team.  By making a decision and taking the difficult, sacrificial actions, he demonstrated leadership that will help shape leadership understanding with his team.  He took the hard assignment showing his team he is will not ask them to do anything he is unwilling to do himself.  They see what he does, the way he makes decisions and the positive impact these actions have on people. 

He felt strongly that something could be done to alleviate our difficult situation. Somewhere within him was a source of motivation focused on helping others.  He stated to us, “I don’t know, something just told me to go and pick you guys up.”  He made the leadership decision to make the extra effort and his demeanor was serving, kind and patient. 

He took action he felt was appropriate.  The sacrifice he made and the actions he took on this rainy evening had lasting positive affects.  These affects go beyond just the immediate resolution of our situation or the sale he made for his company.  He made a commitment to a potential customer thereby demonstrating the character of the organization he represented.  This positive representation is now multiplied as we tell this story to others.  Word of mouth may or may not yield more customers for this office but it will add credibility to the company as a living testament that the company lives by the values they profess.

The leader's name is Xan.  I hope to  meet him again along our leadership journey so I can thank him again and let him know he made a difference. 

"If ever there was a time when America needs leaders, it's now. The litany of problems is all too familiar—Iraq, healthcare, schools, energy, the seemingly endless series of corporate scandals. What's nowhere to be found, however—or almost nowhere—is the leadership needed to fix things. The problem isn't the lack of potential leaders, however, but a wrongheaded notion of what exactly a leader is. This misguided notion of leadership often results in the wrong people attaining critical leadership roles. Search committees and voters alike fall into the trap of choosing leaders for their style rather than their substance, for their image instead of their integrity. Given this way of doing business, why should we be surprised when our leaders come up short?"  --Bill George, "Truly Authentic Leadership," US News and World Report

No need to wait for the “ball” to drop.

Especially since it now has already fallen.

What is this new start calling us to? Each year people take time to reflect on the past year and consider how their life is progressing. This happens almost every year around this time and I would venture a guess that at some point in each of our lives, we all give reflection and seek to discover meaning for our lives. Many times we have heard ‘resolutions” from folks who desire to quit smoking (a good idea), lose some weight (also a wise move) or reconnect with relationships that have broken down or lost touch (indeed the right thing to do). All of these we have either experienced or heard about from other people as a guide for how they would like to live there lives for the coming year.

I would agree that these are all good things, each in itself brings us to a better place physically, emotionally, etc. But is it enough?