As the HR and Finance Director of March Communications, a PR firm located near North Station, I’m constantly looking for ways to enhance company morale, introduce new training initiatives and make sure that teams work efficiently as possible.
Earlier this month, the company participated in a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) workshop, which is basically a psychological test that allows us to better understand ourselves and each other. My colleagues took the online test and then we broke off into two groups for a three-hour session to learn all about the types and the most effective ways for working with people of similar or different type.
So what’s my type?
I’m an ISTJ, which stands for introverted, sensing, thinking and judging. ISTJ’s have a tendency to be quiet and reserved, and are interested in security and a peaceful living. Fourteen years ago when I took the MBTI test before college, I was not an introvert. I was an off-the-charts extrovert – very social, chatty and assertive. I was not okay with quiet, I was not okay with my own thoughts, I was not okay being alone.
So why the change?
Thanks to a daily yoga regime these past ten years, I’ve learned to become more comfortable in my own skin and with my own thoughts. The word “introvert” tends to have a negative connotation, but it’s actually a very positive quality. Introverts are known for their reflection and calmness, which are two of my favorite aspects and takeaways of yoga class. Introverts also tend to recharge by spending time alone in a quiet setting. Hello, yoga class!
In this article by Carolyn Gregoire at The Huffington Post, she shares the 23 signs that you’re secretly an introvert, and it’s a good thing. For me, insert #2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 14, 16 and 17 (80/60 baby)!
Ten years ago, I would not be caught dead in a yoga class without music. Now, my body craves it and it’s become part of my weekly, introverted routine.
So what’s your type? Find out by taking the MBTI test online and whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, join us for some yoga!
*Photo credit – Amansala Resort in Tulum, Mexico where I practiced yoga about a year and a half ago