Type Talk at Work (Revised) - How the 16 Personality Types Determine Your Success on the Job Description:

Type Talk at Work (Revised) : How the 16 Personality Types Determine Your Success on the Job review:
4 stars (Can't we all just get along!) - This book with mainly two things in mind: communication and understanding. The author's adopt their longstanding research about the world of typewatching into an intelligible book about the main areas of the work environment such as problem solving, conflict resolution, time management, etc.



Any manager that has direct reports would do themselves a favor by reading this book. This book will also provide support for a subordinate that doesn't quite "fit in." For those hurried types, each chapter ends with guidlines in a charted format for working with those of other preferences. Although this is somewhat useful, what I don't like about the approach is that they focus on the four preferences instead of focusing on the four major groupings, forcing the reader to combine and study the effects. For example, the charts will explain how an E should lead an I, etc. I believe that it would be much more useful to categorize the charts by the four major groups (e.g. NF's, NT's, SJ's, SP's) and how to interact with other types in each subject area.



To the author's credit, the book does provide an overview on the major strengths and potential weaknesses of each of the 16 types in the workplace, for those who aren't familiar with the MBTI. However, it does not really provide a concrete method of determining type, leaving the reader somewhat guessing with the use of anecdotal phrases.



Overall, I find this book well worth the investment. However, I would not recommend this book as an introduction to typewatching. If you are familiar with type, the specific chapters will be meaningful, if not, pick up either the precursor to this book by the same author's or one of David Keirsey's works prior to reading this.
4 stars (Better tool for self understanding than controlling others) - Kroeger and Thuesen are not my favorite MBTI authors, but the Type Talk books are a decent reference for those who consider themselves beginner and intermediate level in the personality theory world. The explanations of the four preferences and how to look for them in one's own self or in others is reasonably well done. I particularly liked how they borrowed from Keirsey's theory and delineated the NT/NF/SP/SJ categories. They do not delve far into the dominant/auxilary/tertiary/inferior functions.



Type Talk at Work explains how people of different types set goals, manage time, hire and fire, resolve conflict, solve problems, and deal with other workplace issues. The range of topics was pretty comprehensive, although by necessity a bit superficial. Given the length of the book the explanation of how different types interact was well done, and had some case studies also. I was not very impressed with the 'Z Problem Solving Model', but it may benefit someone else. The best part of the book is the last part, entitled 'The Sixteen Profiles At Work'. The Sixteen Profiles section details how all of the types tend to think and behave in a workplace setting. I'm sure many people will be amazed at how accurate it can be for them. Type Talk at Work is defintely meant to promote self knowledge, which the authors stress is the first duty of the reader: know yourself well, then try to figure other people out.



I have two criticisms: firstly, the authors are NFs, and in my view did not altogether avoid unconsciously writing the book for other NFs. That is a minor criticism, as the book overall is well done. I also believe that Kroeger and Thuesen did not warn readers to properly use type theory, in other words use it in a very careful, ethical way. The book is very dangerous in the wrong hands and misuse of knowledge and information about someone can and does happen in the business world. The reader needs to know that sharing this type of information can be very risky.



I don't mind recommending the book, particularly because a type book regarding the workplace is badly needed and I'm not aware of any others. econ
5 stars (Finding Ways to Communicate) - All personality books offer generalizations and this is no different. The authors, however, do acknowledge the limitations of the Myers-Briggs test (in contrast to Please Understand Me, a worthless book). I had my staff take the MB test to see how they scored and then had them read and use the book in exercises to understand how their communication with and peception of others is affected by their personality. It was an interesting process and got them to realize that some of their interpersonal conflicts start in their head. A good choice for team building and organizational development.