The Personality Puzzle is not only an effective tool to identify type, it’s also springboard for a number of activities to explore type. Here are just a few of these activities:
1. Meet my Opposite
Provide each participant the card with his/her own whole type description. Now flip the card and look at the type description on the other side of the card. It will be the type opposite. From this description, have the participants make up a character by identifying:
- 3 or more characteristics that describe this person
- 3 or more characteristics that they like about this person
- 3 or more characteristics that irritate them about this person
After approximately 10 minutes, ask each person to introduce the new character. More often than not, this new character is more irritating than likable! Explore the idea of opposite preferences in this context.
2. Love Thy Opposite
Given the new character described in Meet My Opposite, talk about how you would get along with such a person. What if she were your boss? Your significant other? Your co-worker? What strategies would you use to smooth the interaction with someone who sees the world quite differently than you?
3. Exploring the Dominant Function
Ask the participant to take the preference card for their own dominant preference (S,N,T,F). For example, an ENFP would use the Intuition card. Explore the following questions:
- How does this preference help me in my work, communication, and problem solving? How does it work against me?
- How does it help others? How does it cause concern when interacting with others?
- How and when do I use this function well?
- How do I compensate for this function when it is ineffective?
- How do I feel when someone notices this weakness in me? What do I do?
- How would you motivate the individual?
- How would you have to flex your natural style to connect with the other individual to create energy?