1.
Where does Personality Type come from? Is it something you're
born with?
2.
Isn't it possible to change our type as a result of experiences
or as a result of pressure to be different?
3.
I'm very different at work than I am at home. Isn't it possible
to be more than one type?
4.
I've changed a LOT over the past few years. How does growth
affect one's type?
5.
I took a personality test at work a few years ago. Is this the
same thing?
6.
How does knowing my type help me with my career?
7.
How can knowing about Personality Type help in a personal Relationship?
8.
Your book JUST YOUR TYPE is about and relationships.
How is it different from other relationship-advice books?
9.
Is there any one perfect type for me, or any combination that
spells disaster?
10.
What's the secret to a great relationship?
11.
What are the most common problems couples have that result from
personality type differences?
12.
Why is Personality Type more helpful method than the "men
and women are from different planets" approach?
13.
How do couples use your book JUST YOUR TYPE?
14.
Are there some combinations that make for better, happier relationships?
Are there some that just don't work well together?
15.
Even though you say it's not better to be one type than another,
isn't it just plain easier to be certain types than it is to
be others?
16.
How early can I figure out my child's type?
17.
My kids are like day and night! How can I use this to be a better
parent?
18.
Isn't parenting each child differently going to cause World
War 3, or at least increase sibling rivalry?
19.
There's a little of me in all of these descriptions. Isn't it
possible I'm the "17th type?"
20.
What exactly is SpeedReading People, and why is it a useful
skill to have?
21.
Who is SpeedReading for - and how will it benefit me to know
how to SpeedRead others?
22.
Isn't the ability to SpeedRead People giving some an unfair
advantage? Can't it be used to manipulate others?
1.
Where does Personality Type come from?
Is it something you're born with? Yes. Like handedness or other
preferred ways of using your brain, your Personality Type is
an essential and inherent part of who you are.
Back
to Top.
2.
Isn't it possible to change our type as a result of experiences
or as a result of pressure to be different?
Under most "normal" circumstances, no. While we may
change the way we behave and may develop all kinds of adaptive
or accommodating skills or habits, we do not change our personality
type. Now, under extraordinary circumstances (i.e. serious child
abuse, extensive experience in a lifestyle or career that runs
counter to your normal operating style), people can and sometimes
do become so affected (or damaged) that they no longer recognize
their "true" selves. But in most situations, all we
are really changing is our behavior - not our inborn preference.
Back
to Top.
3.
I'm very different at work than I am at home. Isn't it possible
to be more than one type?
Theoretically, no. You are born with one true type and remain
that type all your life. If you seem to behave differently at
work than you do at home, you might consider which is the "real"
or "true" you, and which is the one you have to act
like in order to meet the demands you have placed on you.
Back
to Top.
4.
I've changed a LOT over the past few years. How does growth
affect one's type?
All types develop over time - and in a pretty predictable and
logical fashion. We all begin to unconsciously develop and strengthen
the less developed parts of our personality starting at around
mid-life. This explains why work that used to be a good fit
may no longer be, or why we begin to see ourselves differently.
We are not the same person at 20 as we are at 40. For a full
discussion of this interesting and helpful aspect of Personality
Type, see Chapter 7 in DO WHAT YOU ARE.
Back
to Top.
5.
I took a personality test at work a few years ago. Is this the
same thing?
There are a variety of different personality or work style assessments
used in business. The most popular and widely respected is the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. It helps people determine their
personality type and must be administered by a qualified professional.
To find out more about the MBTIŽ, we suggest you contact its
publisher: Consulting Psychologists Press in Palo Alto, California.
Back
to Top.
6.
How does knowing my type help me with my career?
When you are doing work that uses your natural strengths and
preferences, it hardly feels like work - it's interesting, energizing,
and even fun. Knowing your type will help you determine what
you need in a job for it to be satisfying. Then you can select
an occupation or field that is a natural match with who you
are as a person. Finally, you can use what you know about your
natural strengths (and possible blindspots!) to conduct a successful
job search that makes use of your natural skills. To find out
more about Type and careers visit DO WHAT YOU ARE.
Back
to Top.
7.
How can knowing about Personality Type help in a personal Relationship?
Personality Type can provide valuable insights to each partner
about themselves and each other. It provides a positive, non-judgmental
framework for understanding natural, inborn differences and
how those differences often result in predictable conflict.
It can also help couples lean to communicate on their partner's
wavelength - in the way he or she is more likely to hear the
message.
Back
to Top.
8.
Your book JUST YOUR TYPE is about and relationships.
How is it different from other relationship-advice books?
JUST YOUR TYPE is totally unlike any other relationship
advice book because it's personalized - it's about your relationship.
Rather than offer generic or gender-stereotypical advice, JUST
YOUR TYPE helps you determine your natural, in-born type (and
that of your partner) and then gives you specific advice and
recommendations that are right for your relationship. JUST YOUR
TYPE is loaded with practical and useable suggestions that will
help you understand, accept, and appreciate your partner as
never before.
JUST
YOURT TYPE is the result of extensive scientific research
conducted with over 2500 individuals of all types and over 20
years experience studying and teaching Personality Type.
Back
to Top.
9.
Is there any one perfect type for me, or any combination that
spells disaster?
Yes, and no! The more similar you and your partner are, the
more likely it is you will have an easier time communicating.
Yet it's also true that opposites attract. But there is no one
combination of types that is destined for bliss, or doomed to
failure. Knowing your type, and your partner's type, can help
you make what you have stronger and more satisfying. In some
cases, it can make the difference between happiness and divorce.
Back
to Top.
10.
What's the secret to a great relationship?
Depends upon your type! What one person considers essential
to happiness and satisfaction, another person might not consider
important at all. Personality type helps you understand and
communicate with your partner in more effective and satisfying
ways.
Trying to
change your partner only creates more tension and unhappiness.
Being accepted and appreciated for who you are - is the greatest
source of satisfaction and aphrodisiac there is!
Back
to Top.
11.
What are the most common problems couples have that result from
personality type differences?
Communication! One partner wants to talk while the other needs
time to think things through first; or one partner focuses on
the facts and details while the other focuses on possibilities;
or one partner is logical while the other emotional; or one
partner likes things neat and organized while the other likes
things open-ended and flexible. Neither is wrong but the differences
create ongoing conflict.
Back
to Top.
12.
Why is Personality Type more helpful method than the "men
and women are from different planets" approach?
Because the over simplified and limiting gender stereotypes
offered in that approach are true for only about 35-40% of the
population, leaving out 60-65% of the population! The "different
planets" perspective assumes all women are alike and all
men are alike when in truth, our personality type is much more
predictive of how we prefer to interact with others, make decision,
and organize our lives - AND which aspects of a relationship
we think are most important. In addition, claiming that men
and women are from different planets traps couples into believing
they'll never really understand or communicate well with one
another. This is not only untrue, but it also perpetuates limiting
and sexist myths.
Back
to Top.
13.
How do couples use your book JUST YOUR TYPE?
Through a series of questions, checklists, and real life examples,
readers figure out which of the 16 types fits them (and their
partner) best. Next, readers read descriptive profiles about
their type (and their partner's). Then, they turn to a section
devoted to their particular combination and read about the common
joys and frustrations other couples like them experience. Finally,
JUST YOUR TYPE gives specific advise that other couples
of that same combination found useful to make their relationship
more satisfying. Couples find that knowing about their Personality
Type helps them rekindle much of the passion and magic they
first experienced.
Back
to Top.
14.
Are there some combinations that make for better, happier relationships?
Are there some that just don't work well together? With 16 different
types, there are 136 possible couple combinations! Some do say
it is easier to understand, communicate and live with someone
with whom you share at least 2 of the 4 preferences (or letters),
and many agree that it is the middle two letters that are the
most important to share since they deal with how you notice
the world and how you make decisions. But remember that there
are many factors that contribute to a satisfying relationship
and while Personality Type is an important one - it is only
one of them!
Back
to Top.
15.
Even though you say it's not better to be one type than another,
isn't it just plain easier to be certain types than it is to
be others?
The 16 types are not evenly distributed throughout the American
population. So, there are fewer of some types than others and
if you are one of those less common types, it sometimes may
be difficult to feel like you belong. No matter what your type
or how rare or common that type is in the American population,
everyone deserves to lead a personal and professional life that
accepts and celebrates who you really are.
Back
to Top.
16.
How early can I figure out my child's type?
Before a child can talk, it's usually pretty tough to figure
out the whole type (all four letters). But after about age two
or so, most children being to speak fairly fluently, letting
us hear what they're noticing and how they are making decisions.
So, most parents are able to determine their child's type by
around age 3 or 4. Children with stronger preferences are easier
to figure out than those with less clear preferences. But remember,
neither way is better! And there's no rush. Even knowing one
or two of your child's preferences can help you better understand,
accept, and nurture her/him. To find out more about Type and
your child check out NURTURE BY NATURE.
Back
to Top.
17.
My kids are like day and night! How can I use this to be a better
parent?
In most families, siblings are quite different from one another.
What works with one, doesn't necessary work with another! Understanding
- and accepting - how children are different from one another
is essential to parenting them in the style that is going to
be the most loving, the most nurturing, and the most effective
for that child. Discovering your child's personality type will
give you great insights into what really makes him or her tick
and will help you become the best parent you can be with THAT
child.
Back
to Top.
18.
Isn't parenting each child differently going to cause World
War 3, or at least increase sibling rivalry?
First of all, you probably already parent each of your children
differently. You'd be a machine if you treated each person exactly
the same. And actually, treating children as the unique individuals
they are defuses sibling rivalry. By actively recognizing, respecting,
and accepting differences in a family, every person learns to
make room for everyone else. Children are less likely to have
to compete with one another to win your attention (which is
one of the primary reasons for rivalry). Letting young people
be who they are breaks loose the roles they may have been forced
to play. When everyone feels free and more accepted they tend
to BE more accepting and respectful of others. For more on this
topic visit NURTURE BY NATURE.
Back
to Top.
19.
There's a little of me in all of these descriptions. Isn't it
possible I'm the "17th type?"
All of us have all of these "mental functions" inside
us. But we each have a natural, unconscious preference for one
over the other. So, of course, there's a bit of all in you in
almost all sixteen of the types. But the key to finding your
true type is to spend some time honestly thinking about who
is the real you. Some people find it helpful to read two opposite
type descriptions (for example: read ISTJ and ENFP) and see
if they both describe you equally well. Take your time. Some
people need to read several profiles before they find the one
that is really them. And most people are better served by reading
the longer, more in-depth descriptions found in DO
WHAT YOU ARE, NURTURE BY
NATURE, or THE ART OF SPEEDREADING
PEOPLE. Remember, there's no rush, and no type is any
better than any other type.
Back
to Top.
20.
What exactly is SpeedReading People, and why is it a useful
skill to have?
SpeedReading People is a truly unique system for quickly identifying
key personality characteristics in others by carefully observing
several clues pertaining to appearance, language, energy level,
occupation, advocational interests, body language, and others.
The ultimate goal of Speedreading People is not just to size
someone up, but to be able to communicate more effectively with
them.
Back
to Top.
21.
Who is SpeedReading for - and how will it benefit me to know
how to SpeedRead others?
The ability to SpeedRead others is a permanent life skill which
is invaluable to anyone whose livelihood depends upon successful
interpersonal interactions: sales people who need to quickly
size up prospects and customers; managers needing to motivate
their employees; teachers eager to employ the right strategies
to reach different learners; and all sorts of professionals
who want to provide better service to their clients. Learning
to SpeedRead People will also help people better understand
and relate to their parents, spouses, children, and friends.
Back
to Top.
22.
Isn't the ability to SpeedRead People giving some an unfair
advantage?
Can't it be used to manipulate others? The question of what
constitutes ethical behavior has a lot to do with intention.
If your purpose is to do harm in some way, and you use SpeedReading
to help you do that, then you are acting unethically, as well
as immorally. But the mere fact that you possess set of skills
someone else does not have, constitutes no more of an unfair
advantage than one person being more intelligent, better at
math, or more intuitive than someone else.
Learning
to SpeedRead People is also not a skill which is available to
only certain people...anyone can learn to do it, just like anyone
can learn to speak Spanish if they chose to.
Can SpeedReading
be used to manipulate someone? Like virtually any other powerful
tool, it can, if the SpeedReader chooses to use it that way.
A hammer, for example, in the hands of Michaelangelo is used
to sculpt a masterpiece or, in the hands of a madman, be used
to smash another's skull. The difference lies in the intention
of the user. Undoubtedly, most people will use their SpeedReading
ability for its intended purpose -- to better understand and
communicate with others, and to bring about greater understanding,
prosperity, and growth.
Back
to Top.
