Leadership teams spend a lot of time discussing strategy, budgets and performance. What often gets pushed down the priority list is taking time to think about how they work together.
That was the focus of a recent MBTI workshop delivered for the senior leadership team at Age UK Wyvern. The team wanted to gain a better understanding of one another, recognising that everyone brings different strengths, preferences and ways of approaching work. By exploring those differences, the aim was to strengthen collaboration, improve communication and build an even more effective leadership team.
What is MBTI?
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the world’s most widely used personality development tools. Based on the work of psychologist Carl Jung, it explores four aspects of personality:
- Where people get their energy.
- How they gather information.
- How they make decisions.
- How they approach work and everyday life.
These preferences combine to create a four-letter personality type that provides insight into how people naturally communicate, solve problems and interact with others.
There isn’t a “best” personality type, and MBTI isn’t about putting people into boxes. It’s a development tool that helps people understand themselves while gaining a greater appreciation of different ways of thinking and working.
Our consultant, Charlotte Greenwood has been a qualified MBTI practitioner for more than eight years, delivering workshops for charity leadership teams, retail managers and colleagues across the sector.
Why is MBTI relevant in charity retail?
Charity retail is built on people. Retail leaders work with colleagues, volunteers, trustees, donors and customers every day. Strong technical knowledge is important, but understanding how people think, communicate and respond to different situations can make a big difference to the way teams work together.
Investing in leadership development can sometimes feel difficult when budgets are under pressure. Yet the way a leadership team communicates influences almost every part of an organisation. Better understanding can lead to stronger relationships, clearer decision making and a more positive culture.
Why Age UK Wyvern chose MBTI
Like many leadership teams, Age UK Wyvern already worked closely together. The workshop created an opportunity to step away from day-to-day operations and explore how individual personality preferences influence communication, leadership and decision making.
Rather than trying to change personalities, the focus was on recognising how different approaches complement one another. It encouraged the team to reflect on how they communicate, where misunderstandings can arise and how they could make the most of each person’s strengths.
What happened during the workshop?
The workshop combined short presentations with practical exercises, discussion and interactive activities.
Throughout the day, the team explored how personality preferences influence everyday situations at work, from communication and decision making to giving feedback and responding to pressure. The activities encouraged honest discussion, helping participants recognise why colleagues can approach the same situation in very different ways.
There were plenty of opportunities to reflect, challenge assumptions and share experiences, along with a few lighter moments like comparing their MBTI types to celebrities and breeds of dogs!
By the end of the session, the team had identified practical ideas they could start using straight away, along with a better understanding of how their different personalities can strengthen the way they work together.
Taking the learning away
Before attending the workshop, each participant completed the official MBTI questionnaire. Following the session, everyone received a personalised 24-page Personal Impact Report. The report explores communication preferences, decision-making style, leadership strengths and opportunities for development, giving participants a practical resource they can continue using long after the workshop had finished.
Feedback from Age UK Wyvern
Creating space for those meaningful conversations is often where the greatest value lies. When people understand why colleagues approach situations differently, they’re better equipped to communicate, support one another and work more effectively as a team.
Could MBTI benefit your charity?
Whether you’re developing a senior leadership team, supporting retail managers or investing in staff development, MBTI provides a practical framework that helps people understand themselves and those around them.
Every workshop is tailored to the organisation’s objectives, ensuring the learning is relevant to the challenges teams face every day.
If your charity is looking to strengthen communication, improve collaboration or invest in leadership development, we’d love to discuss how an MBTI workshop could support your team.
