The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as a Tool for Leadership Development in Management Education Programs: What’s Type Got to Do with It?

Leadership development is a process that begins from the inside out. Leaders first need to be aware of their personal strengths, their challenges, and how they approach situations. Leaders also need to be aware of how others view them and how others may choose to approach situations. While many aspiring leaders enroll in management education program to help them develop their leadership skills, the value of management education programs to developing effective leaders is widely debated. Management education programs may not provide adequate opportunities for aspiring leaders to increase their self-awareness and to develop critical interpersonal skills that are considered fundamental to effective leadership. This paper explores the use of the MyersBriggs Type Indicator in management education programs as a tool for developing leaders and providing an opportunity to explore differing views. The MyersBriggs Type Indicator is commonly used in workplace organizations but not as commonly used in management education programs. Through the lens of the MyersBriggs Type Indicator, aspiring leaders may gain an opportunity to assess themselves and reflect on how their preferences may affect their leadership approaches. Providing management education students with an opportunity during class time to assess their preferences and to engage in discussions about those preferences may influence their interactions with others in the workplace is a valuable learning experience.