1. Personality-Based Decision-Making Styles
Kathleen E. High, M.Ed., GCDFI
Dream Chasers & Goal Setters

2. Decision-Making Styles Based on Myers-Briggs (MBTI)
Review MBTI:
Four sets of preferences:
Extravert [E] / Introvert [I]
Sensing [S] / iNtuition [N]
Thinking [T] / Feeling [F]
Judging [J] / Perceiving [P]

3. Style: Based On Outer Letters
There are four decision-making styles
Based on outer letters:
Extraverted / Judging EJ
Extraverted / Perceiving EP
Introverted / Judging IJ
Introverted / Perceiving IP

4. Extraverted Judging [EJ]
Mountain Climber
"I want to decide and then get on with it."
Pick out a specific peak to climb and then proceed toward their goal.
Put choosing a major on their "to do" list soon after reaching college
Seek career counseling early, hoping to declare a major before the firs semester ends
Tend to do well, unless chosen too soon – Then too impatient to start over when in trouble

5. Extraverted Perceiving [EP]
Bungee Jumper
“I want to experience it all.”
A decision is a point of departure, a jumping off place, not a final stop.
Deciding tends to be an ongoing process
Often decide by trial and error
They typically want, and try, to do it all
Changing their mind helps to reassure them that they still have options open
May sometimes feel they have too many options and don't know how to choose among them.
Often talking about trying out a new major is how they decide
Tend to stress-out “J-type” parents

6. Introverted Judging [IJ]
Computers
“I want to be sure”
All relevant data go in, processed carefully, and a decision comes out
Research and reflect before deciding
Consult books and other written resources
Information is carefully considered
Once decision is made, it tends to be final
Think alone, then announce
Tend to surprise people when decision is announced

7. Introverted Perceiving [IP]
Wanderers
"I wonder what I'll want to be when I grow up.“
A career path is a never-ending quest for more
knowledge, facts, or inspiration.
Want to delay a decision about a major until they can consider all options
Process decisions at their own pace
Often need push from outside to make a decision
Must be able to tell themselves, “no decision is ever final”
A struggle between input and reflection
At mid-life often still asking, “What do I want to do with my life?”

8. Why is Decision Style Important?
Should help you decide your best-fit personality type
Help you recognize:
How you prefer to make decisions
Parts of the career decision-making process that you do well
Possible blind spots/barriers in the decision- making process

9. Why is Decision Style Important?
Parts of the career decision-making process that you do well
EJ – Mountain Climbers = Set goals & follow through
EP – Bungee Jumpers = Exploration phase
IJ – Computers = Research & Reflect
IP – Wanders = Listen to ‘inner voice’
Possible blind spots/barriers in the decision- making process
Tips for overcoming those barriers:
EJ – Mountain Climbers = Slow down and process
EP – Bungee Jumpers = Prioritize and focus interests
IJ – Computers = Try to involve people in research
IP – Wanders = Remember: No decision is final

10. References:
Ditiberio, J. K. & Hammer, A. L. (1993). Introduction To Type In College.Palo Alto, CA: CPP, Inc