Using MBTI to Understand Transformational Leadership and Self-Perception Accuracy

Results of this study of student leaders at a military academy indicated that the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI; Myers & McCaulley, 1985) can be used to understand transformational and transactional leadership behaviors as well as the leader's self-perception accuracy. Leaders who were evaluated as sensing and feeling types by the MBTI were the most transformational and used the most positive reinforcement with followers. Leaders who were introverts and sensing types had the most accurate self-perceptions. Addition- ally, transformational leader behaviors were related to reported extra effort on the part of followers. However, the most common type of leadership observed, active intervening with criticism when work was below standard, was unrelated to followers' extra effort. Results are discussed in terms of recommendations for leadership training and the usefulness of the MBTI in future leadership research.