Introverted Sensing (Si) Spotlight: Jung and MBTI® Series

We are posting a blog series to dig more into the Cognitive Functions as described by Carl Jung, and as interpreted in systems including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®). No matter what your level of experience is with the cognitive functions or MBTI®, you might recognize these descriptions in yourself or in those around you, in your professional or personal life. To learn more, keep reading below! If you want to get a foundational understanding of the MBTI® Types, check out our online course here. 

Who uses Introverted Sensing (Si) as their 1st or 2nd function?

In this post we're going to talk about the Si function, which is “Introverted Sensing.” Folks who have Si as their first (primary) function in their MBTI® function stack, are ISFJs and ISTJs, and folks who have this as their second (auxiliary) function are ESTJs and ESFJs. 

What does “Sensing” look like? 

Folks with a Sensing preference take in information in a chronological order, and they want to put that information back into the world in a chronological order. They prefer to operate in a step-by-step, one step at a time way. Additionally, folks with a Sensing preference are more comfortable with the past and present and what they can observe with their five senses, rather than the more ambiguous future. 

What does Introverted Sensing (Si) look like?

Introverted Sensing (Si) is about remembering. This looks like collecting detailed information about things and people. Folks with this preference pick up and internally store data from their environment. For ISFJs and ISTJs, this is their first function, so they prefer to start with details or the data. This sensory information about what is and what has been - the reality around them as collected by their five senses - may make a particular impression on Si users. 

Outside of work, this might look like having “highly curated preferences,” as one of my friends with an ISFJ profile says. Folks with an Si preference might love particular scents, foods, traditions, places, or ways of doing things. This strong impression that particular pieces of data or sensory information has on Si users might cause them to uphold certain traditions or ways of being, going to the same restaurant every Friday and ordering the same meal, or trusting particular bits of data that have stuck with them. They may try to use this sensory information to reinforce their feeling of security, or to re-create a particular positive experience. Depending on their function stack (other MBTI® “letters”), they might use that data to reinforce their decisions as they organize their world through a framework (ESTJ, ISTJ) or maintain harmony in their world (ISFJ, ESFJ). 

In the workplace or in sport, this might look like asking: 

• What did we do before?  What did other folks who succeeded do before? 

• What practical use does this have? 

• What are the deadlines? What are the boundaries, rules, processes? 

How can Si be used in a positive way, and what are some drawbacks?

No matter what Type someone has, we can all benefit from using Si in a positive way, as described above. This might look like remembering what we’ve done well in the past, to build on and try to repeat those successes, or to learn from what others have done well. This also might look like remembering and celebrating positive past experiences through memory, or focusing on gathering details that might help us in the future. 

On the flip side, the SJs are often called “Guardians,” as they use the data they have stored to support their decisions, and it may be difficult to convince them to consider other possibilities. It is important for SJs or anyone using Si to reflect and even ask for accountability partners to help check that you are not having too narrow of a focus, and not ignoring outside information or possibilities that might be beneficial. We should all ask: 

• What is beyond the data, or beyond the details? 

• What might happen?

• What am I not considering, and why? What are the dangers in not considering this information?

• What other perspectives do I need to bring in?  

How to support folks with an S preference:

• Provide specifics, be as detailed as we can

• Acknowledge that we might not all know all the information or details up front, and that is okay - it’s part of the process

• Recognize and celebrate their detailed perspective

• Be aware that they may ask more questions regarding details, data, and deadlines 

Thank you for reading, and we look forward to sharing more in future blogs and on Youtube. If you want to learn more, let’s find time to connect to talk about support in team or 1x1 sessions, or learn more at your own pace through our online course. 

Stress, Type, and Mind-Body Connections!

Let’s get right to it: If you have a brain and a body, you have stress. Yup- it’s a fact. We can’t avoid stress all the time. Of course you can seek out situations we think will be less stressful, or avoid certain experiences entirely to minimize our stress, but our bodies are wired to experience it. To navigate this reality, let’s strive to view stress more as a given in our world rather than something we need to avoid. Stress is- and will always be- as sure a part of daily lives as our need for food, shelter and water. It’s what compelled our ancestors to run from threats like bears, and--  if we’re thinking about it through a positive lens--  it can compel us to change our behaviors in our modern world, too.  

But let’s be real: the ‘stress’ we are more used to experiencing is the negative kind. This often shows up in our bodies as sweaty palms, feeling jittery and unfocused, being on a short fuse, and may bring with it physical ailments like an aching back or headache.  And the reality of a global pandemic on top of the stress our bodies were already experiencing has put many of us in a more heightened and more frequent state of stress. E-x-h-a-u-s-t-i-n-g. In some ways our brains have adapted to pandemic stress over time -- at this point we likely pay less conscious attention to the changes of the pandemic than we did in March of 2020 --  but our bodies are still undergoing pandemic stress, as the threats and fears persist.

So what might it look like to better understand the innate connections between our brains and bodies when it comes to stress, instead of ignoring the links? Because the reality is that the more equipped we can become at navigating stressors in our lives (notice I said ‘navigating’ rather than ‘eliminating’) the more calm, at ease, relaxed, and joyful we can be. And isn’t that something we can all use more of?

If you’re curious about strategies to  proactively manage stress in your life, the first thing I recommend is the practice of pausing and noticing. If you’ve been following along with my blogs thus far, you know that I'm a big fan of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI® ). When it comes to stress, the MBTI® tool is another resource to work through stressful moments with a better understanding of why they happened and how to alleviate them. As I’ve shared before, I am an Extravert (or “E.”) And I am working to notice when I feel particularly drained or “stressed” at the end of a workday- even when I am doing work that I love. At my best, I pause and ask myself some questions before I start “treating” the symptom.  For me, these questions sound like: What happened during my day? Did I get a chance to interact with others (an energizer for me as an E)? Did I get to share big ideas with others (another energizer, as an ENTP)? When the answer is no-- which it can be with my virtual work-- I know more about the source of my stress. Without this quick reflection, I have a tendency to give in to the exhaustion, or jump to some illogical conclusions- like “I’m stressed out because of my job,” when the reality may be that I’m not working enough in ways that serve my preference as an E. Pausing to make these connections can be a game changer. 

With this reflection in mind, I know I can proactively adjust my daily schedule to avoid feeling stressed out after a particularly long day.  I might pause for a quick walk or lunch with a friend, work at a co-working space, or schedule a  brainstorm session with one of my teammates to bring myself back into balance and create a less stressed state in which to operate. Not to say that my days won’t ever end in stress- but a better understanding of my innate preferences helps me feed my preferences to maintain focus and re-energize when needed. 

I’m excited that next month, I will be presenting a session at the AusAPT Conference: “Type and Stress: Your Type and Mind/ Body Connections” and I can’t wait for this opportunity! My 60 minute session will dive more deeply into what’s covered in this blog post: how stress overlaps with MBTI® Type and mind-body connections, and what we can do with this knowledge. My goal is for all participants to leave with a sense of how they can individually manage their own stress more proactively via a deepened understanding of brain-body connections and the MBTI® tool.

Icebreakers & Type: Introverted Guest Post!

Check out these reflections from one of our amazing Introverted KJCG team members

Meeting icebreakers are ubiquitous these days. And I get it- they’re meant to “warm us up” before we dive into the true content of a meeting. But for an Introvert like me, they can sometimes fill me with dread.  “What IS a hobby I picked up during the pandemic?” Read: Nothing. I tried to stay sane. “Get up and run around the room to find 3 other people who have two siblings and who grew up in a different state.” Read: Why???? 

But for others- potentially E’s (Extraverts) who are more action oriented than me; those who prefer to communicate by talking and are both sociable and expressive- my dread may be their vitality. So in my continual journey to better understand other perspectives and MBTI® Types in the workplace, I’m trying to be more open minded about the utility of the icebreaker. I know a good icebreaker can be a game changer to start a meeting on the right foot. It can create a common, light experience for a team to work from; it can generate needed laughter, and it can truly “warm up” a hesitant group before jumping in. (And even for an Introvert like me- once the process has actually started, and I have had a moment to think through how I want to share or respond, it often brings me energy as well.)

Our team recently led a Myers Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) session for 40 teachers and administrators at a new charter school in South Carolina. Our objective was to help build a trusting, communicative team that understands each other, and we rooted our dialogue in our individual MBTI® “Types.”  The school team took their MBTI assessment before the session, so we knew coming in that about 55% of the group identified as Extraverts. We used that data point to select an icebreaker that would call in the majority, but followed it up quickly with time for individual reflection before we dove into the agenda content. As outside facilitators, we knew that the group would need different ways to move into our day together. Integrating activities early in our session that met the needs of both Extraverts and Introverts allowed for everyone to participate in a way that matched their MBTI® preferences. 

If you seek to build a meeting culture that is inclusive of all Types, we recommend incorporating a variety of icebreakers in your agendas- those that your Type is drawn to, as well as others that may push you a bit. To take it to the next level, set up a rotation of who is leading each meeting icebreaker for distributed leadership and variety. What caters more towards your I’s one week can be balanced by an activity that caters more towards E’s the next- and over time a more inclusive team culture is built.

Check out this free resource: a few of our favorite icebreakers for Introverts and Extraverts!

Mind/Body Strategies from a Quarantined Extrovert

Sea lion yoga

“If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is to be present in the present. Gratefully.” 

- Maya Angelou

These last few weeks in the U.S. have been unprecedented, confusing, difficult, frustrating, scary, and filled with grief. To manage my stress, I’ve been incorporating mind/body strategies. Thinking about the future now increases my anxiety and fear, so focusing on my body through practical strategies and connecting with loved ones gives me a positive experience in the present moment, as I practice a more still presence. 

Though mindfulness is a word that is thrown around a lot, I encourage you not to overlook it. Paying attention, stillness, quiet, slowing down, breathing…these are practices that are valuable to all of us, and that have been key components of faith-based practices for thousands of years. The ambiguous situation we currently face is incredibly challenging, and yet mindfulness practices bring me moments of peace even on difficult days. They help me slow down, breathe, pay attention, and broaden my perspective about what connection means. 

I have started doing yoga every day, and when the weather permits, I take (physically distant) walks in my neighborhood. Prior to the pandemic, I would run while listening to music, but recently, I silenced the headphones and slowed to a long walk, realizing I was not in a hurry to cut my exercise short or consume information quickly. Over time, I began to notice more external sounds…water flowing, birds chirping, my feet on the rocky path, the wind whipping past my ear. Our brains encounter so many potential inputs, they have to work hard to choose what to pay attention to. Without the stimulus of the music and at this slower pace, my brain was free to pay attention to the rich beauty of the natural world around me. 

Cherry Blossom trees in ATL

As I continued my walks, I started to appreciate the gorgeous intricacy of the trees, water, rocks, birds, and squirrels. This reminded me of a recent unforgettable 40th birthday trip to the Galapagos in which I was forced to slow down and notice the beauty around me, as we rarely had cell service but were surrounded by breathtakingly gorgeous nature. On that trip, we took daily walks during the wee hours of the morning with a naturalist guide. The first day as I awoke to embark before the sunrise, I thought, “I hope waking up this early is worth it.” I was used to on-demand entertainment and heavy stimuli, rather than simply taking a walk and learning about plants and wildlife. But over time on that trip, I gradually noticed birds that previously seemed camouflaged in trees, countless sea lions and iguanas hiding among the rocks, and cacti that grew at different heights based on the predators on their specific islands. I deepened my understanding of the interconnectedness of our natural world and of details I previously ignored.

I realized that what’s jaw-dropping about the Galapagos is not that you will see odd animals, but how unbothered the animals are by humans, and how close they will get to you as a result. One day, you may quietly approach a beach where flamingos enjoy a morning stroll without flying away, you may encounter penguins who swim close enough to curiously peck the GoPro, or you may even lay on a beach where sea lions waddle up to nap alongside you. 

Penguins in the Galapagos

The more I walked on that trip and now back in Georgia, I started to appreciate the cool shade provided by the trees. I noticed the weather shifting from sunny and warm to overcast and breezy within the time frame of a walk, and I marveled at a bird quickly shifting its tail as it repositioned itself on a branch. In the past, I would have missed all of these details, jamming to an upbeat playlist and ignoring the world, ready for the next highly stimulating activity. I had disconnected myself and dismissed the awe of nature, zipping past natural wonders and mindlessly seeking instant, artificial entertainment.  

Existing in this current reality, staying home and away from people I care about to do my part in stopping the spread, is incredibly difficult for me, as it is for all of us. I am an extrovert and am screaming inside with my heart ripping at the seams out of a desire to hug and spend time with my loved ones. I feel like I am disconnected from my lifeblood, from face to face interaction with people. I want to go back to normalcy as soon as possible, to talk to my friends in person over tacos, work at my co-working space, go to church, or volunteer to help in some tangible way. 

As with all of us, I have a long list of activities I can’t wait to do when this is over. But I know we have to wait, because we are interconnected with each other, as we are with the trees, the birds, and the rocky paths. We are deeply linked with the life that breathes all around us, whether we notice it or not. We have to wait for the safety of our society, for the health of our loved ones and of others’ loved ones. 

Walks in Georgia

Because of our connection, we have to momentarily disconnect with each other physically, but this does not mean we must lose connection. As we are forced to pay less attention to in-person interactions, our brains may be more awakened to our link to the natural world around us and to the calm, steady power of our breath.

As we wait, some of my strategies for mind/body connections are: focusing on the present day, gratitude, walking, yoga, prayer, and connection. This experience of being isolated from loved ones is gut wrenching, but it is an opportunity to teach me something different, to pay attention, move at a slower pace, and listen. 

Thank you for reading, and check out some of my favorite mind/body resources: 

Books: 

• The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, Haemin Sumin

• Wherever You Go, There You Are, Jon Kabat Zinn

• Mindfulness for Beginners, Jon Kabat Zinn 

• Meditation is Not What You Think, Jon Kabat Zinn 

• Present Over Perfect, Shauna Niequiest

• The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel Van der Kolk, M.D.

• Overcoming Trauma Through Yoga, David Emerson

• Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer  

Yoga Videos, Meditations, and Podcasts: 

• Brené Brown’s Podcast “Unlocking Us”

• Sarahbeth Yoga

• Body Scan from Les Mills 

• Guided Meditations from 10 Percent Happier