Opening Insights
The Keirsey Temperament Sorter (KTS) is a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves and others. It was first introduced in the book Please Understand Me. It is one of the most widely used personality assessments in the world, and its user base consists of major employers including Bank of America, Allstate, the U.S. Air Force, IBM, 7-Eleven, Safeco, AT&T, and Coca-Cola. The KTS is closely associated with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI); however, there are significant practical and theoretical differences between the two personality questionnaires and their associated different descriptions.
Informational Insights
David Keirsey expanded on the ancient study of temperament by Hippocrates and Plato. In his works, Keirsey used the names suggested by Plato: Artisan (iconic), Guardian (pistic), Idealist (noetic), and Rational (dianoetic). Keirsey divided the four temperaments into two categories (roles), each with two types (role variants). The resulting 16 types correlate with the 16 personality types described by Briggs and Myers.
- Artisans are concrete and adaptable. Seeking stimulation and virtuosity, they are concerned with making an impact. Their greatest strength is tactics. They excel at troubleshooting, agility, and the manipulation of tools, instruments, and equipment.[2] The two roles are as follows:
- Operators are the directive (proactive) Artisans. Their most developed intelligence operation is expediting. The attentive Crafters and the expressive Promoters are the two role variants.
- Entertainers are the informative (reactive) Artisans. Their most developed intelligence operation is improvising. The attentive Composers and the expressive Performers are the two role variants.
- Guardians are concrete and organized (scheduled). Seeking security and belonging, they are concerned with responsibility and duty. Their greatest strength is logistics. They excel at organizing, facilitating, checking, and supporting. The two roles are as follows:
- Administrators are the directive (proactive) Guardians. Their most developed intelligence operation is regulating. The attentive Inspectors and the expressive Supervisors are the two role variants.
- Conservators are the informative (reactive) Guardians. Their most developed intelligence operation is supporting. The attentive Protectors and the expressive Providers are the two role variants.
- Idealists are abstract and compassionate. Seeking meaning and significance, they are concerned with personal growth and finding their own unique identity. Their greatest strength is diplomacy. They excel at clarifying, individualizing, unifying, and inspiring. The two roles are as follows:
- Mentors are the directive (proactive) Idealists. Their most developed intelligence operation is developing. The attentive Counselors and the expressive Teachers are the two role variants.
- Advocates are the informative (reactive) Idealists. Their most developed intelligence operation is mediating. The attentive Healers and the expressive Champions are the two role variants.
- Coordinators are the directive (proactive) Rationals. Their most developed intelligence operation is arranging. The attentive Masterminds and the expressive Fieldmarshals are the two role variants.
- Engineers are the informative (reactive) Rationals. Their most developed intelligence operation is constructing. The attentive Architects and the expressive Inventors are the two role variants. [1]
The following table shows how the four rings relate to one another and to the various temperaments.
| Temperament | Role | Role Variant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete or Abstract? |
Cooperative or Utilitarian? |
Informative or Directive? |
Expressive or Attentive ? |
| Observant (S) |
Guardian (SJ) Logistical |
Conservator (SFJ) Supporting |
Provider (ESFJ): Supplying |
| Protector (ISFJ): Securing | |||
| Administrator (STJ) Regulating |
Supervisor (ESTJ): Enforcing | ||
| Inspector (ISTJ): Certifying | |||
| Artisan (SP) Tactical |
Entertainer (SFP) Improvising |
Performer (ESFP): Demonstrating | |
| Composer (ISFP): Synthesizing | |||
| Operator (STP) Expediting |
Promoter (ESTP): Persuading | ||
| Crafter (ISTP): Instrumenting | |||
| Introspective (N) |
Idealist (NF) Diplomatic |
Advocate (NFP) Mediating |
Champion (ENFP): Motivating |
| Healer (INFP): Conciliating | |||
| Mentor (NFJ) Developing |
Teacher (ENFJ): Educating | ||
| Counselor (INFJ): Guiding | |||
| Rational (NT) Strategic |
Engineer (NTP) Constructing |
Inventor (ENTP): Devising | |
| Architect (INTP): Designing | |||
| Coordinator (NTJ) Arranging |
Fieldmarshal (ENTJ): Mobilizing | ||
| Mastermind (INTJ): Entailing [1] |
Sources:
[1]Keirsey Temperament Sorter. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2017 from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keirsey_Temperament_Sorter
[2]Keirsey.com. (n.d.). The Keirsey Temperament Sorter®-II (KTS®-II). Keirsey.com. Retrieved from //keirsey.com/aboutkts2.aspx
Possibilities for Consideration
Take a moment and examine…
- As you reviewed the material above, what stood out to you?
- What is the potential impact, economically and/or socially?
- What action is needed to stop or support this idea?
- You may want to consider whether you:
- want to be aware of,
- should become supportive of,
- would want to be active in this topic?
Add Your Insight
I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Being willing is not enough; we must do.
LEONARDO DA VINCI