Have you ever found yourself answering a series of questions to reveal your personality type through the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test? If so, you're not alone! In fact, 89 percent of the Fortune 100 companies use it.
Despite its widespread usage and perceived insightfulness, the MBTI test is profoundly flawed. Why, you ask? The test suffers from a severe lack of validity and reliability. It's so inconsistent that if you took it again after some time, it might present you with another personality! It fails to measure aspects of personality that psychologists consider important. Even worse. It doesn't predict anything of real importance to companies, such as work performance. Surprisingly, some of the most accurate personality tests, underpinned by substantial research, are available at no cost.
Trusting Research Over Gut Feel
Let's consider a parallel scenario. Would you willingly consume a drug that hasn't undergone rigorous testing? A drug that might even exacerbate your symptoms? Most likely, your answer would be a resounding "no." Yet, when it comes to leadership, the rules of the game seem to change dramatically.
We're drawn to stories of entrepreneurs who, trusting their instincts, beat the odds. But keep in mind: For every celebrated story of instinct-driven success, there are innumerable untold tales of businesses that crumbled because they leaned too heavily on intuition and not sufficiently on data.
Evidence-Based Management
There are many leadership myths out there that could easily be debunked if one spends some time looking at the large body of management research published in peer-reviewed journals and conducted by thousands of scientists all over the world. These aren't your typical YouTube sensations or Amazon Best Sellers. Oh no! These are the unsung heroes laboring behind the scenes in the hallowed halls of academia. Their mission? To produce rigorous, time-consuming, and objective research that's independent of commercial interests in the outcome of their findings.
In evidence-based management (EBM), robust evidence guides and justifies managerial actions and strategies. It involves making informed decisions grounded in sound knowledge and facts derived from scientific methods, significantly increasing the likelihood of achieving intended results. Without it, businesses rely on gut feelings and unverified assumptions.
What can you do to improve your craft as a manager or student?
Let's get real here. We've all been caught in the tangle of leadership gibberish that's been peddled around. But it’s time to say goodbye to it. If you're a business student, imagine management research as your secret weapon, your key to unlocking the mysteries of business concepts and strategies.
And what about managers? Well, management research can be your ace in the hole. Make decisions based on hard evidence rather than shaky intuition or hearsay, and watch your success rate soar. How to start? Keep your finger on the pulse of the latest industry research. Attend scientific conferences, devour journals dedicated to scientific research, or enroll in a course at your favorite business school. You could even embark on a journey of evidence-based research within your own company.
Remember, the goal is to challenge your pre-existing beliefs and being ready to pivot based on what the research unveils. So next time you're faced with a business decision, don't just trust your gut–trust the research.