A friend of mine just re-posted an article via Facebook called 25 Struggles Only ENFPs Will Understand — it’s put out by a blog called Thought Catalogue and, despite much skepticism of tests that “objectively” discern the vicissitudes of our personalities, I can’t deny these folks are on to something.
http://thoughtcatalog.com/heidi-priebe/2014/09/25-struggles-only-enfps-will-understand/
At my law school we have a leadership program that, up until now anyway, has largely been built around the use of personality types referred to in this article. It’s Myers-Briggs to be precise (although there are a couple more we’ve taken that when I say their names they sound like venereal diseases — examples being a “FIRO – B” — I mean, really, wtf??)
Seriously though, I think the bad taste I developed for these tests stems at least partially from an experience I had just out of college. A woman, whom I later found to be a staunch Republican of the Ayn Rand AND George Bush Jr. variety, literally pointed her finger at me on the street one day and said, “I see it! Totally corporate, totally artistic!” She then convinced me to come in for what would be two weeks of interviews enroute to my first ever salaried position.
I never even got to the point of being paid a real salary, as my probationary period as a light/industrial temp recruiter was, simply put, short lived. I was told my footsteps weren’t “heavy enough.” Not to mention it went quite unappreciated when I tried to give education and career consulting to some of the temp agency’s applicants (very poor folks whose job it essentially was to call us every day and inquire if we had any back-breaking work for extremely low pay that they could do).
I should have seen it coming, really. I mean, when you take a personality test and your about-to-be employer’s secretary calls to say they need you to re-take the test because the results, basically, indicate that you have multiple personalities, well, it shouldn’t be too hard to see that you might not fit into the culture of that particular workplace…
I distinctly remember re-taking that test and seeing exactly where they wanted me to answer differently because it’s what followed, according to their logic, from the answer I gave in the previous question. It was that ridiculous.
So when I got to law school and was asked to do the same kind of little dance, it felt pretty forced. I felt uncomfortable. And pretty dubious of how well this sort of testing can steer us in terms of (effective) leadership development.
Alas, I took all my tests. I listened to their lectures. And here’s what I’ve learned —
1 – It’s okay to be “sensitive” and actively value compassion, even when you are studying (and I believe practicing) law.
2 – It IS harder to be sensitive and compassionate and function in the legal world, but it is also better! It is what our system (and the world) needs.
3 – The same can be said for creativity and optimism.
4 – A persisting obstacle is the feeling of isolation that can come when what gives you energy is to be with people, but what allows you to work productively on legal problems requires being, or feeling, alone. It’s a toughie…
5 – Self-care practices are key. Especially if you are someone who is inclined towards feeling joy and gratitude even for the smallest of things, giving space for yourself to experience those things, even while you are “working” is ESSENTIAL. Otherwise, you risk losing what feels most important to you on a fundamental level every time you engage in the level of focus that the study and/or practice of law requires.
6 – Because we are sensitive, creative people, innovating self-care practices that fit our physical, mental and emotional needs is something we love to do! It’s an opportunity to ‘think outside the box’ and push ourselves to find forms of expression that burst what could feel like a prison, wide open…
Here’s to finding our way as un-lawyerly personalities and please comment if you have thoughts or feelings to share!!
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