Current affairs

How personality type affects team performance and job satisfaction

current blog
Posted 16 November 2023 by
Global Marketing, The Myers-Briggs Company

New research sends clear message to team leaders

Introducing The Myers-Briggs Company Podcast

current blog
Posted 09 August 2022 by
Melissa Summer, The Myers-Briggs Company

The Myers-Briggs Company is launching a new podcast about psychology, personality, work life, and how to get the best from life. 

Were you asked if you wanted to go back to the office?

current blog
Posted 24 May 2022 by
Kevin Wood, The Myers-Briggs Company

If not, you might be part of a hybrid strategy that’s about to fail.

Social contracts, returning to the office and retaining your people in the new hybrid workplace

current blog
Posted 20 May 2022 by
Melissa Summer, The Myers-Briggs Company

As employees return to the office, they’re expecting more flexibility in their social contracts with employers. How can HR help?

Survivor guilt and the aftermath of lockdown

current blog
Posted 17 July 2020 by
John Hackston, Head of Thought Leadership, The Myers-Briggs Company

Does personality impact survivor syndrome?

Welcome from our CEO

Welcome from our CEO
Posted 26 October 2018 by
Jeff Hayes

Jeff Hayes gives his perspective on The Myers-Briggs Company

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Reduce_reuse_recycle
Posted 01 August 2018 by
Stu Belcher, Product Manager at OPP

Our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment

What about GDPR?

GDPR
Posted 15 May 2018 by
OPP

In light of Europe’s new regulations on data protection, we’ve outlined our commitments to GDPR.

Salary: secrecy or transparency?

Salary - secrecy or transparency?
Posted 27 July 2017 by
Catherine Ellwood, Principal Consultant at OPP

The BBC, Norway and a tech start-up who is bucking the trend.

Decisions and Brexit: are you Tough or Tender?

MBTI decision making
Posted 28 March 2017 by
John Hackston, Head of Thought Leadership, OPP

Exploring the MBTI Thinking-Feeling Step II facets in the context of Brexit

This girl can

International Women's Day 2017
Posted 08 March 2017 by
Katy Lyne, Principal Consultant, OPP

Myers, Briggs and International Women’s Day

The rise of the robots

Are robots taking our jobs thm
Posted 16 June 2016 by
John Hackston, Head of Research at OPP

A robot workforce with personality? Where does the MBTI framework fit in?

Borderline research

London skyline thumb
Posted 26 March 2015 by
Rob Bailey - Principal R&D Consultant at OPP

I’m embarrassed by a tweet I sent yesterday. I quoted a BBC article that I’m now doubtful about. It wasn’t the tweet about Clarkson; I’m still fully behind the BBC’s decisive action in the face of an odious form of workplace bullying. No, the tweet was about research into regional differences of personality in Great Britain.

The Selfie Stick of Shame

Selfie
Posted 16 January 2015 by
John Hackston - Head of R&D at OPP

In the news this week, it seems that Humberside Police have come up with a novel way of recruiting their new Deputy Chief Constable. Prospective applicants were asked to include a ‘selfie’ with every request for an application pack. According to Chief Constable Justine Curran, this was because it was “vital that candidates embraced new technology” (hence presumably the idea that candidates should demonstrate their cutting edge technological expertise by taking and emailing a photograph). In Curran’s words, “it is vital that potential candidates understand the importance of embracing new technology within Humberside Police at the point of applying for the role”.

Top five blog articles of 2014

What's your type tipple?
Posted 29 December 2014 by
OPP Ltd

Visits to our Personality Matters Blog were at an all-time high in 2014, and we covered a wide range of topics in our weekly posts. Over the last 12 months we've talked about the best MBTI-based books and the various resources available for L&D teams. We’ve promoted Movember, and we’ve chipped in to the Paul Flowers furore. We've continued to thrive as thought leaders in a diverse range of workplace psychology issues, from recruitment and assessment centres to polarity management. But what are the top five posts that readers have returned to again and again?

Celebrate with 25 free resources for practitioners

OPP at 25 logo
Posted 28 May 2014 by
TeriSmith

Few things in life are free – but OPP has some really cool free resources to support you in your work! To help celebrate our 25 years in the business, we’ve taken a trawl through the various goodies available for zero outlay on our website. They range from white papers and feedback materials to fun quick guides and infographics – many of which can also be found on our practitioner downloads page.

Should we blame psychometric tests for Paul Flowers’ mismanagement of the Co-operative Bank?

Cooperative Bank
Posted 29 January 2014 by
TeriSmith

The news headlines today seem to make uncomfortable reading for test publishers like OPP. Apparently, failed Co-op Chairman Paul Flowers “aced” psychometric tests during recruitment, thereby pipping the more experienced and skilled candidates at the post. Given the disastrous results of Paul Flowers’ leadership of the bank, surely this means that psychometric tests are useless and should be thrown out?

Did your personality predict how you voted yesterday?

Posted 03 May 2013 by
TeriSmith

At OPP, we don’t pretend to be experts in politics – but we do know a little about personality. A little while ago we carried out some research to look at the personality traits associated with different political viewpoints. Now that the votes are safely in, we can reveal what we found. People who said they held Conservative views were more likely to be tough-minded introverts, compared to those with left-wing views, who were more sensitive and less self-controlled.

Horsemeat, vegetarianism and personality

Sign saying WHOA
Posted 21 February 2013 by
TeriSmith

It seems as if every time we look at a news bulletin at the moment, there is another twist on the horsemeat scandal. First horse was in supermarket ready meals, then in school dinners, and now pork, chicken and other substances seem to be getting in on the act. It is hardly surprising that we hear that people are turning to vegetarianism. Here at OPP, this made us reflect on what we know about ‘career vegetarians’ – the personality and characteristics of people who identified themselves as vegetarians before horsemeat hit the headlines.

When I grow up I want to be... Personality and university course choice

woman in front of blackboard covered in question marks
Posted 15 February 2013 by
TeriSmith

University application figures in England have taken a plunge following the recent increase in university tuition fees. Applications for a university place fell by 8% in 2012, and were the lowest they had been in six years. Given the financial burden a university education now entails, it has never been more important for a prospective university student to feel confident that they are embarking on the right course. But whilst an array of research exists on the subject of career choice in general, little is known about how students choose their university course. Universities in turn want to be confident that the students they recruit will be satisfied with their chosen course, and see their studies through to fruition – so we decided to find out how personality affects young people’s course choice.

Show me your money

Posted 07 August 2012 by
TeriSmith

Does revealing discrepancies in wages in the work place lead to a fairer pay system and more job satisfaction?

Bob Diamond was not God

Posted 24 July 2012 by
TeriSmith

The liabilities of a strong personality at the top of an organisation.

When it comes to soft skills, every little helps

Posted 09 May 2012 by
TeriSmith

Through appointing a personnel director, Tesco have made engaging their workforce a focal point for the executive board.

Can the Government's 'business compact' have an effect on unconscious bias?

Posted 29 February 2012 by
TeriSmith

The Government's 'business compact' is a drive to eliminate selection bias.

You can choose your friends but can you choose your colleagues too?

Posted 27 January 2012 by
TeriSmith

Pret a Manger's recruitment strategy involves consulting current employees about potential new recruits.

Is power sharing the key to engagement?

Posted 23 January 2012 by
TeriSmith

Shared business ownership can have many benefits in the workplace.

Should I stay or should I go? David Cameron’s negotiation style with the EU

TKI conflict-handling modes
Posted 21 December 2011 by
TeriSmith

David Cameron’s veto at the recent EU summit has given us all something to talk about. At OPP, the whole episode has been a reminder of the variety of ways that a person might approach conflict and negotiation.

News travels fast - social media and employer brand

Posted 14 December 2011 by
TeriSmith

The surge in social media usage in recent years presents new problems for employers about employees' conduct on such sites.

A lost generation?

Posted 05 December 2011 by
TeriSmith

Reports suggest that rising youth unemployment is creating a ‘lost generation’ of young people.

Occupy London - a positive form of conflict?

Posted 11 November 2011 by
TeriSmith

We all have preferred methods for dealing with conflict, but we may not be using the approach that is most appropriate for a particular situation.

The importance of good judgment

Posted 17 October 2011 by
TeriSmith

The ability to predict who will have the potential to exercise good judgment is useful when choosing a leader.

Are Gen Y corporate prisoners?

Posted 05 September 2011 by
TeriSmith

Members of Gen Y who have been stuck in career plateaus are likely to try and move on to bigger and better things once we're out of recession.

When being at the top isn't a riotous affair

Posted 22 August 2011 by
TeriSmith

Good leadership means being able to navigate through both good times and bad. So where are the political leaders as the riots unfold in London and elsewhere?