Neil
I dont like working alone - so this is not me - but I know another RD is this type and many of my developers are
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INTP
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INTP types are quiet, thoughtful individuals who don't mind spending long periods of time on their own working through problems and forming solutions. They are very curious about systems and how things work, and are frequently found in careers such as science, architecture and law. INTPs tend to be less at ease in social situations and the caring professions, although they enjoy the company of those who share their interests. They also tend to have a strong dislike for the bureaucracy, rigid hierarchies and politics prevalent in many professions.
My response:
Hi Adam,
Myers-Briggs provides a snapshot at one point in time of how a person 'feels', humans are not that shallow. We do have tendencies but they can change, especially if our environment changes. I believe the reason many people 'prefer' working alone is because they have never experienced working in an awesome team. Prior experiences of poor team behavior leads to a belief that working alone is better, and they are proved correct when the team doesn’t function well.
I have seen people who would have been labeled INTP become amazing team players when placed in a functional, inspiring and motivated team. It is a shame that teams of this nature are still so few and far between, leaving the INTP labeled people in the dark as to the possibilities of team interaction and delivery.
All the best
Dr. Neil
1 comment:
I agree that good teams are rare, but I really enjoy interacting even in the bad ones. Firstly, you can still learn from those around you, even if you have no respect for them. Its about YOUR focus, and output. Good things happen in what you consider to be a bad team situation, because the team would not survive if they didnt.
I agree about snapshot behaviour. We are all guilty of that. Often times the most brilliant of my associates will come to me for a social chat and proceed to totally assasinate their own belief system over something that I regard as totally trivial. Its usually because as developers we are taught to focus on a specific issue. This unfortunately transfers to our private life, and of course we are also taught to compartmentalise and categorise, so when someone such as the Myers-Brigges chaps come along, we can feel somewhat validated that thank God a scale exists for us.
Adam, mate, I will be very proud to work on any team with which you are associated, and that goes for you too Neil. And if you need to change your focus, try a Terry Pratchett or a Douglas Adams novel.
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