Workforce of the Future - Myers Briggs - Case Study Example

Professional Reflective Paper Name Institution Year Introduction This a reflection paper in relation to the professional business practice and theories as discussed in our class. The paper starts with an introduction that gives a narrative of how I evolve as a growing global business practitioner, followed by a description of the attributes of the effective business practitioner that I would like to become at the end of my study then finally summaries and conclude on the issue. As a global business practitioner, it is upon me to learn the areas that I intent to specialize in order to achieve my dream. This will depend in the way I approach the business subject, the way I relate with the people around me and the major skills I am likely to acquire as the day’s move by. (Moon, June 17, 2004 ) There are several leaning models for an aspiring business practitioner. But at the end of the day, each business model will be shaped well according to the personality type that one grows to become at the end of the training sessions. Workforce of the future The workforce for the future, calls for a person who is able to deal with any type of personality. I must be able to understand people and how people work together, for one another and against one another. For example, when we look at the changing paradigms, one comes to realize that the workforce for the future is gradually changing. People are moving their efforts to the developing countries and exploring new opportunities. I realize that the highly developed countries now realize that the only way to survive in the changing work environment is to be friend the East and the developing countries of the North part of Africa. In this situation, the workforce for the future is about making harder, tougher and wise choices, the way you choose to go is the way your destiny will be determined. In the Abrahams Maslow hierarchy of need, it is said that we all want to reach the state of ego gratification, for this reason, as a professional business person, I must develop a legacy that takes me to that level of gratification. This means that to make a strong workforce for the future, one must be able strategize for the unseen events. This must be well planned and goal oriented This is because; to make a workforce for the future, one must be aware of the global economic times, and the physical world we live in. For the business world it would mean being able to mark the growing markets, the challenge that come with new business opportunities while being able to provide solutions to such challenges. My Learning experience According to the information that was acquired from the Myers Briggs workshop, it was revealed that there are different personality types in the business practice profession, and that the personality type that one adopts will determine the kind of a business success one is about to be in the future practice. I learnt that in every person there are 8 functions that enable one to work and relate with others, these functions were invented by psychologist Carl Jung, they were later classified as the Myers Briggs Type indicators of personality (Lizzard, 2012). I learnt that in the business world, there are different personality types and once one was able to identify this in person then dealing with him or her in the business practice would be easier (O'Leary, May 6, 2006). For example, an MBTI is usually an indicator of personality and not a test. In this indicator there is never a true or false answer as the indicators does help in classified ones character to a certain personality. The session took around 40 minutes to complete it all. There results that come hereafter are neither good nor bad but give practical results that as a business practitioner would be useful in identifying a business strategy. MBTI are used in almost all countries in the continent, the most popular areas that one would find the use of this technique would include banks, the Australian posts, Telstra, tax offices and Qantas. This is because all these areas involve interaction with people and thus it would be important to learn to rate a person’s MBTIs. Extroverts for example were classified as people who against all odds were very attracted to the things and issues that went on around them. However these types of people were not aware of what is going on inside of them they would spend most of their time doing things that please other people and forget about themselves. Extroverts would make good campaigners for business growth. They can also be good in terms of marketing of a product. They, extroverts Briggs adds, do enjoy talking to people, making new interaction and speak out easily at meetings.opposite of these group of people are the introverts. According to MBTI theories, these types of people they exert opposite. They are so much concerned about the things that happen inside their heart (Myers, May 3, 1995). Their reflections of the self are based on the inner thoughts, and are usually aware of their reactions. However they cannot make good people in a business practice, especially when it comes to relation with the outer world. During business meetings these people may not contribute anything at all. In terms of relationship with other people at work, these people are the poorest, they rarely relate with other people and will always request for more time to enable them gather their thoughts before they finally settle down to speak as a business practitioner, I learnt, dealing with an introvert client would be the most difficult task, because it is always hard for one to know what an introvert is planning. They are always withdrawn and secretive and give a deeper meaning into life and business. For this reason, it would be important for me to have a balance by putting them together with extroverts. Apart from the two personality types, I also learnt that there are various factors that define our personality at work and in our social lives. Sensing for example was a good quality for a business practitioner as it would help see above the normal order of a business day. For an introvert type of person, sensing would help one to see things, analyse and collect facts and details to support the thought. However the issue have to be practical and realistic. The art of sensing involves analysing issues one by one. It is not about dealing with the things that are yet to happen, however one must be able to prepare for the unseen. At this point, I learn that for a business mind, one should not also reject the possibilities of things happening around us. We must be able to envisage and oversee the wider picture by use of our sense. After sensing then one will move to thinking. In this process, a person analyses the picture in mind and tries to bring it to the normal examples of a business life. For example, when sensing a dark business future for an item, I must put myself through a process of critical thinking. During this time, the MBTI process of critical thinking recommends that logic should play a part making business decisions. One must learn to know that it is only by focussing on the main facts of the issue at hand that the reality of the business outcome is bound to be seen. Business decisions are usually serious one, this means that emotions are about to affect a personal decision. During the process of thinking, it is thus demanded that as a professional practitioner I must be able to distinguish personal interest and the needs of the business to prosper. People with ability for logical thinking, are able to analyse positively a situation, this is because they concentrate on the thought of an individual and not the feelings. It is actually the thought that counts in a business practice. The other is the feeling, for an introvert, feeling is more of a filter of the things that they find to be right based on what they think is right. They are the ones who make the final decision as to what is wrong and what is right; they are not ready to welcome the feeling of other people. As a matter of fact they are cold to such feelings. The feelings of an introvert will be seen through action more than just talking. This is different from the extrovert. Before they decide to make a personal decision, they will consider what other people feel in the process. They will be busy trying to make every person work together and share the same ideas, during this process, an extroverted feeling type of person; will often determine what works best for a group or an organization. This helps them involve the feelings of other people in the decisions that are made in the organization. Conclusion When I shall finally feel that I have fully qualified as an over the course of my career, I realize that there are still other aspects of the professional business practice that I need to explore. There will be need for networking, learning more from competitors and invention of new business strategies. It is indeed real that there is so much to be explored in the business profession and being a student in the field, there are so many levels that provide me with unending opportunities that allow me to grow. This type of business growth is important to enable me become more effective business practitioner and a better human being (Jung et al., October 1, 1976). As can be seen my view of business practice and personality that is derived from the MBTI tests theories. I believe that a combination of these theories can lead to an exemplary business professional. The MBTI personality types that best fits my view of an effective business practitioner is the Extrovert in which Business practice involves the active construction of meaning in the process of analysis and integration of ideas. This type of business personality requires more than memorization of facts to actually thinking with those facts, and thinking about how those facts relate to each other and to what the learners themselves knows. In conclusion, a good business career should make it possible for students to be active participants in the learning process, discourage passive reception of knowledge, thereby making it possible for them to learn meaningfully and should be able to find material of relevance in their future business career. This will be done in relation to the area of interest in the different business career fields that are available for them to explore. Reference Jung, C.G., Hull, R.F.C. & Baynes, H.G., October 1, 1976. Psychological Types (The Collected Works of C. G. Jung, Vol. 6) (Bollingen Series XX). Princeton University Press. Lizzard, L., 2012. Understanding the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. [Online] Blogger Available at: HYPERLINK "http://understandmyersbriggs.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-8-cognitive-functions.html" http://understandmyersbriggs.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-8-cognitive-functions.html [Accessed 4 September 2013]. Moon, J.A., June 17, 2004. A Handbook of Reflective and Experiential Learning: Theory and Practice. Routledge. Myers, I.B., May 3, 1995. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type. 2nd ed. Nicholas Brealey Publishing. O'Leary, T., May 6, 2006. Warriors, Workers, Whiners, and Weasels: The 4 Personality Types in Business-And How to Manage Them to Your Advantage. Tim O'Leary. Read More