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PL 101: Understanding Your Gifts and Strengths from the MBTI (Discussion 2)

GlenM June 29th, 2020

Please note: In order to successfully complete Course 1, you must respond to this post. Your comment/response should answer the questions/shows that you completed the given activity (if any). Read the post carefully and follow the instructions given. Save your responses to a document that you can later refer to. You will need to copy/paste your response in the course evaluation form at the end of each course to show that you have done the work and to refresh your memory.
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Hello Leadership Crew!

I have just gone through the introduction thread and read about all of you. If you havent yet introduced yourself, then please stop by and share a little about yourself so we can get to know you. Im encouraged by all the great people that have joined. This should be a fun and enriching program!

Let me first zoom back and talk more broadly about your career and how we can help. When you become a leader on 7 Cups, we want you to find the work fulfilling. Fulfilling work means that it is:

a) work you are good at;
b) work that is interesting to you; and
c) work that solves an important problem or meets an important goal (Thiel, 2015).

The sweet spot is that blue area in the middle below.

Work Alignment Diagram

If you do work that you are good at, but not interested in, then you wont do a great job. If you do work that you are interested in, but not particularly good at, then it wont be great work. If you do work that you are good at and interested in, but it isnt helping to solve an important problem, then we wont be a good fit for you. We need alignment on all 3 things. We work very hard at the beginning of your work with us to match your inherent strengths and interests with needs we have so that we can work together to solve problems that we all care about.

You have strengths â things that you are just really good at when compared with others. Operating out of your strengths feels good, is personally fulfilling, and enables you to hit flow states. As a result, you are much more effective and productive. Operating out of weaknesses is a drain. If you have to do work that you are not good at, then you wont be as effective. Doubling down on your strengths enables you to level up much faster and it helps 7 Cups make much more progress. Â

The next step becomes helping you find ways to identify your strengths, gifts or natural talents. You can learn some of this through self-observation - what do you seem especially good at? Are there things that just come natural to you that are more challenging for others? My wife, for example, is really good at writing; it just comes natural to her. Im pretty good at public speaking, whereas others find it more challenging.

Another way is to ask people you trust. You can say: What do you think Im good at? Or: what do you think are my top 1-3 strengths? Things that stand out to you about me? Note: only ask people you trust because sometimes people can give you feedback in a harmful rather than helpful way especially if they are not trustworthy.

For the purposes of this course, we are going to use personality tests to help you identify your strengths. Some of these are better than others; they are more reliable and have more research behind them. Broadly, we are using them here to help you begin to map out your strengths and to help you find ways where you can naturally excel here on 7 Cups, in your personal life, and in whatever career your are in or choose further down the road.

To start:

Go to this site here and take the test: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

Next, in the thread below, answer the following questions:

1. What is your personality type? Include your 4 letters please Â

2. What were the main things you learned about yourself?

3. What are your top 3 strengths or gifts according to this test? Please describe them.

Last, when people interact with one another, it makes the course more enriching and it allows us to learn more about one another. In addition to posting in the thread, please also be sure to respond in a helpful and positive way to at least 3 other comments in this thread.

You can also ask any questions in this thread and well respond to them as well.

Very excited to kick this off with all of you!

After fulfilling the requirements of this post, please check out the next post here! You must take part in the brainstorming/activities given in all of these posts to successfully complete the program.


This post is brought to you by the Leadership Development Program Team, find out more information about the program here.

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Skyy0 November 16th, 2020

1. ENFP-T

2. I agreed with much of what the personality type of the Campaigner revealed. I now understand why I feel like I can flow in many directions; I am an empath and can listen to one's ideas and understand with them just as I can listen to another's ideas whose are opposing, and still understand and relate to them. It causes conflict and confusion into my own ideals, but that's exactly why I love going to gatherings so I can learn more and expose myself more to ideas. I learned I'm compassionate because I look at the bigger picture and want to understand things deeply, so being a counselor or journalist would be ideal career paths. I learned that many Campaigners also struggle with going the straight forward logical path and it's instinctive to overthink since we are so emotional and go off intuition. Even more interesting and relatable is the Strategy and Role which I fall under: Social Engager and Diplomat. 95% of Social Engagers say that helping others boosts their self-confidence, and only 8% of Diplomats would like to spend most of their time alone. Now, I can see why I dislike being alone; it's because I feel valued when I find somewhere to belong in a community and also when I'm alone I have no one to help and no one to tell me how amazing I am; it is repetitive how often the site calls Campaigners charismatic.

3. Curious because I am imaginative and am willing to step out of my comfort zone to explore new ideas. Observant because I don't let one behavior change, when talking to someone, go unnoticed. Enthusiastic because when I'm excited about my findings, I'll share them and the one's who listen will benefit from a new source of information and experience, and I benefit from feeling heard.

4 replies
Chevy81 November 19th, 2020

@Skyy0 if you were asked (that I am doing right now), which career path would you prefer to take?

3 replies
Skyy0 November 20th, 2020

@Chevy81

I feel very much like a diamond in the rough...there must be alot of digging first, until I can see what makes me shine. I'm in my "hibernating" phase at the moment...because going back to school to get a masters just seems too "set" and not "right" to me; I could study psychology if I wanted to go into counseling, but not right now...I just know I like helping people and feel settled and useful in my part time retail job (I'm in my 20s so I think it's fine I'm still figuring it out).

2 replies
Chevy81 November 21st, 2020

@Skyy0

Digging and exploring many things to see and find things that make you shine is a really good plan! I like how you take your time of "hibernating" and not rushing yourself to make an important decision like this. Also, I love how you have found your passion in helping people and feel being useful with your current job. Doesn't it feel good to have a job that we love doing and enjoy, yes? I wish you all the best in every process and progress in your journey. And in case, you think that discussing this matter or about anything else might help, please do not hesitate to message me.

Stay safe and take care.

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Chevy81 November 19th, 2020

1. What is your personality type?
Mine is Turbulent Defender (ISFJ-T)

2. What were the main things you learned about yourself?
Actually, there were many things I've learned from this personality test. It amazed me how these things precisely describe how I am and do. And if I had to choose which ones, well I'd try. Here it is:

"avoid risky or unpredictable situations" - I do not like unpredictable things, even a surprise party for me, that would make me very uncomfortable.

"don’t give up quickly when faced with difficult problems" - somehow difficult problem challenges me to find solutions. I can get easily curious by these kind of things.

"often the types who quietly clean up other people’s messes" - yes! I do like cleaning up my son's and/or husband's messy desks. I can't stop wondering how they could working in such a messy place.

3. What are your top 3 strengths or gifts according to this test? Please describe them.

Supportive - I do love sharing my knowledge, experience, time and energy to whom needed it. Especially, the ones who asked me. But, I could be hesitated if I didn't get sign(s) of "affirmation". And if that's the case, I would delay or even cancel what I wanted to share.

Reliable and Patient - When I have started a task, I usually couldn't stop doing it, not until it was completed. If I had to postpone it (in case of another urgent matters), I could manage but I might be having trouble sleeping :p

Imaginative and Observant - Observing people and things have become one of my favorite things. I don't really know how doing this can amuse me. But people often get surprised because I could mention little details about themselves or memories.

SnailPurple November 19th, 2020

@GlenM

1. What is your personality type? Include your 4 letters please Â

INFJ

2. What were the main things you learned about yourself?

My intuition is more than just anxiety

3. What
are your top 3 strengths or gifts according to this test? Creativity, insightfulness, and principle

ItsZaylee November 20th, 2020

1. What is your personality type? Include your 4 letters please Â

INFP-T

2. What were the main things you learned about yourself?

these were quite accurate and i sort of knew half of it. but it made me realize some things i was doubting before. i can do more things i thought i could, now i feel like i can do things i was afraid of

3. What are your top 3 strengths or gifts according to this test? Please describe them.

open minded, caring and hard worker

2 replies
Destiny00 November 21st, 2020

@ItsZaylee

Its great to know that now you are enthusiastic about things you were afraid before. All the best 😊

sensitiveSailboat November 25th, 2020

@ItsZaylee I am also an infp.

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Destiny00 November 21st, 2020

Hi everyone,

So here are my answers😊

1- My personality type is advocate INFJ-A

2-There wasn't a lot to learn about myself in that article because I was aware of all those traits in me but the amazing fact was, I never thought my feelings' and ideas are valid. This article helped me to validate myself. I used to be so uncomfortable around my friends and family ,because no one used to relate with me and now I know the reason behind it (I have the rarest personality). Thus feeling ultra special right now xD.

3 - According to this test my top 3 strengths are

A) Creative - I never had any formal training in writing poems or art and crafts or any other stuff apart from academics and dance, but still I used to beat every trained artist at my school when it came to creativity, even my parents gets shocked sometimes how creatively I solve some problems and in lcr too I sometime show my sparkles of creativity playing some out of the box games (do join sometime when you are free🤭🤭)

B) Insightful- well this quality of mine was a great shock to mysel as well initially. I had no clue how but I just get to see things beneath the surface which usually no one sees or seems to notice. I had to do a lot of research regarding this sphere of mine so at least I can tell myself that I am sane and all those research lead me to the conclusion that I am an empath thus can hear the unsaid, see the unseen and feel the unexpected. 💫

C) Altruistic- this defines me to a great extent. I really reject the idea of using people for personal gain or happiness and don't let others to do so as well. And I rarely say something to someone without analysing how would have I felt if someone had said such to me? Its not just humans but for nature too. If I see someone hurting an animal let it be some school guys throwing water on street dogs or my sister blocking the path of ants I do stop by to ask them the question "hey, how would you feel if I do the same to you?" And make them realise that they too have feelings like us so don't play with it. I am a strong believer of karma, thus never try to do things which I cant entertain later

Thanks for reading, have a nice time ahead☺

2 replies
GlitteringNights November 27th, 2020

@Destiny00

Hi! We got almost the same type (I'm INFJ-T). I'm so thrilled for you that the quiz helped you feel validated. That's so, so awesome. I'm glad that you were able to have that experience with it all <3

1 reply
Destiny00 November 27th, 2020

@GlitteringNights

Thank youuuuuuu🥰🥰🥰

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giggleSun1695 November 22nd, 2020

My personality type is INTJ-A.

I learned that the type of personality I have is on the rarer side and that the perfect description of how I perceive life: a chess game. For instance, I've always known that I am keener to think things out, however, the test was able to verbalize the importance I place on strategy. However, although things like knowledge may be high up on importance, social life is also something I keep in mind.

My top 3 strengths were being rational where every situation is taken as an opportunity to gain more knowledge. THen second was informed, where most conclusions are made from research and thorough analysis to provide self-assurance. While the third is independent, where conforming to society is not of utmost importance.

1 reply
TaranWanderer November 23rd, 2020

@giggleSun1695 wow, seeing life as a chess game and utilizing strategy sounds really interesting, I think it's a great metaphor! It's good to be able to look at things from a bigger picture and plan ahead what would be the best move

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TaranWanderer November 23rd, 2020

1. What is your personality type? Include your 4 letters please.
INFJ-T - Advocate

2. What were the main things you learned about yourself?
I can definitely relate to the ability to be burnt out easily, or becoming frustrated when that's usually not like me, because I'm so focused on others. Self care is still something I'm working towards being better at. I can also relate to needing a "mission" in my life or not feeling okay with just the ordinary, needing something bigger to work towards. Not in a fantastical "extraordinary" way, but more in a needing a purpose kind of way.

3. What are your top 3 strengths or gifts according to this test? Please describe them.
Creative - drawing on your imagination and strong sense of compassion to find solutions
Insightful - not judging things based on surface level, but being able to understand a person's inner motivations, feelings, and needs
Principled - having deeply held beliefs and strong convictions

1 reply
GlitteringNights November 27th, 2020

@TaranWanderer

Hey! We've got the same MBTI type. It was really accurate, wasn't it? I found that it's been one of the more accurate personality tests out there, what did you think?

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LoveTracker November 25th, 2020

@GlenM

1. What is your personality type? Include your 4 letters please Â

ISFJ

2. What were the main things you learned about yourself?

I am assertive, observant and partially introvert.

3. What are your top 3 strengths or gifts according to this test? Please describe them.

I am more of loving myself person.

I see all possibilities to help people.

I am observant

Duckswithmoose November 26th, 2020

@GlenM

1. What is your personality type? INFP-T

2. What were the main things you learned about yourself? I am a value-driven idealist. I tend to follow my heart rather than my mind when making important decisions, and achieving harmony rather than confontation is how I like to approach difficult situations.

3. What are your top 3 strengths or gifts according to this test? Please describe them. I am thoughtful, generous, and open-minded. I care deeply about the feelings of others, and I exude kindness and tolerance. Others tend to come first, if I can help it.

Dazzle28purvi November 26th, 2020

@GlenM

1. What is your personality type? Include your 4 letters please Â

ENFJ-T (Protagonist)

2. What were the main things you learned about yourself?

It clarified that I am someone who will set tough goals and do everything possible to achieve them but it is unrealistic (overly idealistic). I may have the discipline to push myself far but I should set realistic goals.

I learnt that I do end up making other people's problems my own and do my best to solve them.

I dont like to dissappoint others.

Whatever I do or say affects others, so I should be wise when i act.

3. What are your top 3 strengths or gifts according to this test? Please describe them.

Reliable - I will do everything possible to make something work and I will push myself beyond my limits for a cause.

Charismatic - If things are going downhill, I know how to hit the right points by motivating my teammates. I can be optimistic and positive and so it brings a whole set of reasons why we should continue on our path despite the obstacles. I believe obstacles or challenges are opportunities in disguise. We are on one path but there are different ways on going about it.

Altruistic- We can work together to make things work. It takes one voice to connect a whole chain of other voices, and with more voices the stronger we are.

1 reply
GlitteringNights November 27th, 2020

@Dazzle28purvi

Reliability, Charisma and alrtuism are awesome strengths to have!! Sounds like you learnt a lot from the quiz, go you!!

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