In recent years, there has been a surge in the use of personality assessment tools to help individuals and organizations gain insight into human behavior and enhance the quality of their relationships. As a fifty-year-old man who had to put myself back into the dating pool, I’ve also learned that these tools come in handy in the dating world. Everyone seems to know their four letters on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Also, people seem to value others who are self-aware, so having this tag on your dating profile can pay dividends for the right person or confuse the wrong person.

When I tell people I’m Birkman certified, they often ask what it is and how it compares to MBTI. I wrote this blog to help answer their questions.  Both provide insights into personality but differ significantly in their approaches and applications. Check out this comparison below or access the white paper for more detailed information.

Birkman Method:

The Birkman Method is a science-backed assessment that reveals how people behave, what motivates them, and how they react under stress. It focuses on four core areas: Usual Behavior (your natural strengths), Needs (what you require from others and your environment), Stress Behavior (how you act when needs aren’t met), and Interests (what energizes you). Unique to Birkman is its emphasis on Needs, helping individuals and teams understand invisible expectations that impact performance and communication. It’s widely used for career guidance, leadership development, and building high-performing, psychologically safe teams by turning self-awareness into actionable growth. Even though I love the Birkman Method, it is not widely known in the dating world, so understanding my Birkman personality type didn’t pay the dividends I had hoped.

Pros:

• Comprehensive Insights: The Birkman Method offers a detailed analysis of an individual’s personality, encompassing their usual behavior, underlying needs, stress behaviors, and interests. It provides a well-rounded view, making it suitable for personal and professional development.
• Versatility: The Birkman Method can be applied in various settings, including individual coaching, team dynamics, and leadership development. Its versatility makes it a valuable tool for organizations and individuals alike.
• Scientific Credibility: Developed over decades with a strong foundation in psychology, the Birkman Method has undergone rigorous scientific validation. This credibility ensures that the results are reliable and rooted in extensive research.
• Customization: This assessment provides tailored feedback, allowing individuals to identify unique patterns in their behavior, motivation, and preferences. This personalization can be instrumental in self-improvement.

Cons:

• Complexity: The Birkman Method can be pretty complex to understand and interpret, especially for those without a background in psychology. Its depth may be intimidating for some users.
• Cost: Obtaining a Birkman assessment comes with a significant expense, and professional interpretation of the results can often be expensive. This cost may deter some individuals and organizations.
• Time-Consuming: Completing the Birkman Method assessment requires more time than other personality assessments, which may be a drawback for those seeking quick insights.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI):

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality assessment that helps individuals understand their psychological preferences in perceiving the world and making decisions. Rooted in Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types, MBTI categorizes people into 16 personality types based on four dichotomies: Extraversion–Introversion, Sensing–Intuition, Thinking–Feeling, and Judging–Perceiving. Each type reflects a unique pattern of behavior, communication, and decision-making. MBTI is widely used in career development, team building, and personal growth to foster self-awareness, improve interpersonal relationships, and align personal strengths with meaningful work environments. It promotes appreciation of personality differences in teams and organizations. I am an ENTJ (Extraversion, Intuition, Thinking, Judging) on the Myers-Briggs assessment. Understanding this undoubtedly helped me in job search mode, but I was surprised that it helped me when I was in dating mode.

Pros:

• Simplicity: The MBTI is relatively easy to understand and use. It categorizes individuals into one of 16 personality types, making it accessible to a broad audience without a deep understanding of psychology.
• Popularity: The MBTI is one of the most widely recognized personality assessments used for decades in various industries and educational settings.
• Self-Awareness: The MBTI can help individuals understand their preferences and how they relate to the world. This insight can serve as a starting point for self-awareness and personal growth.
• Team Building: In organizational settings, the MBTI is often employed to build teams and improve communication among team members. It helps identify potential conflicts and synergies among different personality types.

Cons:

• Limited Depth: The MBTI provides a simplistic categorization of personalities into 16 types, which some argue oversimplifies the complexity of human behavior and may not capture an individual’s entire personality.
• Lack of Scientific Validity: Critics have long questioned the MBTI’s scientific validity and reliability. It lacks the extensive empirical research and validation in other assessments like the Birkman Method.
• Rigidity: The MBTI assigns individuals to a single personality type, implying that people fit neatly into one category. In reality, individuals are multifaceted and may exhibit behaviors from various personality types.

What Should You Do Next?

Choosing between the Birkman Method and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator depends on your circumstances and preferences. The Birkman Method provides a more in-depth and scientifically based approach to self-understanding and personal and professional growth. I love that the Birkman method helps an individual understand their underlying and motivational needs, and this report provides an excellent summary of coaching someone to their needs. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is simpler and easier to use, making it a great starting point for self-improvement and team building.

While both tools have pros and cons, it’s important to note that no personality test can truly define you. These tools are valuable for self-reflection and fostering better understanding in personal and professional relationships. Still, you should view them as a starting point for self-discovery and personal growth. Ultimately, the choice between the Birkman Method and the MBTI depends on your specific goals and the depth and detail you seek in your personality assessment. However, knowing your MBTI letters could pay dividends if you are dating or interviewing with a company that uses it extensively.

Career Upside works with business leaders, executives, and others to uncover their unique strengths, improve their performance, and achieve success in their work and personal lives. We provide insights for individuals and companies on how to use the Birkman Method to optimize achievement. To learn more about our career coaching services, visit our career services page.