BUILDING A WINNING PROJECT TEAM - CHARACTERISTICS AND SELECTION USING THE MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR (MBTI)

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret

A discussion of what makes an effective team member and what defines an effectively operating project team, framed through personality differences as a practical asset. The paper explains the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) origins in Jung’s perception and judgement ideas, and describes how preferences can be identified and used in team contexts. It outlines six member characteristics and four team characteristics, emphasizing commitment, ownership, trust, open communication, compromise, problem solving, and supportive leadership.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Characteristics/Attributes of An Effective Member of a Winning Project Team

Willingness to put the team first

Supportive team leadership and shared responsibilities

Contribution, compromise, openness, and problem solving

Characteristics/Attributes of a Winning Team

BUILDING A WINNING PROJECT TEAM: CHARACTERISTICS AND SELECTION USING THE MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR (MBTl) Robert R. Bergseth, Air Force Institute Of Technology (AFIT) Introduction What are the most important characteristics or attributes of an effective team member of a winning project team? What are the most important characteristics of an effectively operating project team? These questions and many more related to building a winning team have been asked and at least partially answered in several hundred published articles over the last several decades. This paper will address these questions as well as discuss the concept or idea that team member personality differences are truly a positive asset in building a winning project team and discuss the process of team member selection based their differences using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) . The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is based on Carl G. Jung’s (1921/1971) ideas about perception and judgement, and the attitudes in which these are used indifferent types of people. The thrust of the MBTI is to identify, from a self-report type indicator of easily recognized reactions, the basic preferences of people in regard to perception and judgement, so that the effects of each preference can be established by research and put to practical use. Perception involves all the ways of becoming aware of things, people, ideas, etc. Judgement involves all the ways of coming to conclusions about what has been perceived. In a nutshell, type theory (MBTI) defines personality as the way you prefer to see and react to the world around you. Does this affect the way you work in teams? Logic and the theory say “yes”. It is assumed that the reader has some basic knowledge of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) . If this is not the case, I invite the reader to investigate the MBTI on your own to gain a better understanding and appreciation of this excellent personality type indicator. You might consider reading some of the references at the conclusion of this article as a good starting point such as “Please Understand Me” by David Keirsey,“Gifts Differing” by Isabel BriggsMyers, or “People Types & Tiger Stripes” by Gordon Lawrence. Characteristics/Attributes of An Effective Member of a Winning Project Team: Many times we hear about the importance of being a good team player, but seldom do we hear what the actual characteristics or attributes are. The behaviors seem to be rather nebulous at best. After some research and thought, I offer the following characteristics or attributes for at least a beginning for further research, investigation, and discussion. 1) A willingness of the team member to put the team first. By this I mean a willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of the team. Emphasis here is not on individual recognition, but on the team. If your a good team player, this concept will not bother you. 2) Let the Team Leader lead. The team leader was chosen to lead - let him / her do it and be supportive. If you are a good team player, loosing leadership control should not bother you. 3) The ability to contribute your best as a team player. This characteristic is pretty straightforward-contribute your best and being motivated to be the best team player you can be. 4) A Spirit of compromise and support. Teams usually make decisions by consensus and this involves compromise. Once a decision is made through compromise, it is your responsibility to support it. 5) A willingness to keep an open mind, try and explore new ideas, etc.. Team members must keep an open mind, exploring new areas and looking for new possibilities. 6) An ability to see things clearly and to solve problems. Here the team player should be a clear thinker with good problem solving abilities. I offer these characteristics of effective team members as“food for thought” and as a possible beginning point for expanding attributes of superior team players. Characteristics/Attributes of a W

FAQs

What is the MBTI and how is it used in team selection?

The paper presents MBTI as a type theory based on Jung’s ideas about perception and judgement. It uses self-report preferences to explain how people perceive and make decisions, aiming to put those differences to practical use in forming teams.

What characteristics are recommended for effective members of a winning project team?

The paper lists six: putting the team first through sacrifice, letting the team leader lead while remaining supportive, contributing one’s best, practicing compromise and support after consensus decisions, keeping an open mind to explore new ideas, and having clear thinking with problem-solving ability.

What characteristics define a winning project team?

The paper describes a strong commitment to organizational goals, a sense of ownership developed through participation in problem solving and decision making, contributions of unique talents and knowledge supported by the team, and a climate of trust, openness, and understanding with active listening and welcomed questions.

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret