Frank Kanu's Books

© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

Maccoby

Michael Maccoby,⁴ a psychoanalyst who studied under Erich Fromm, came up with some of the most interesting definitions:

1. Expert
2. Helper
3. Defender
4. Innovator
5. Self developer ⁵

    But probably the definition with the broadest impact is “The Gamesman”. ⁶

    Maccoby distinguishes four different types of managers:

1. The Craftsman
2. The Organizational Man
3. The Jungle Fighter
4. The Gamesman

    No person will be just solely one type but rather a mix of all with the main type depending on the manager’s personality and the environment. Maccoby goes on to describe each of the types and how they influence a business.

    And then there are the Myers-Briggs Types (based on the psychological studies of Carl Gustav Jung) and Keirsey Temperament (also named Temperament Sorter). Keirsey’s studies are similar to Myers-Briggs (you can get more information about them at www.keirsey.com) and actually gave Myers-Briggs wider publicity. These studies and the results have led to probably the best known management type evaluations in the United States and many other countries.

Do you know your Myer Briggs type?

Your temperament sorter?

    While the results can be useful on a basic level, it’s a good idea to keep them in perspective. Remember that no one fits completely into one category, no matter what the test. Too often, people try to live the results. At best, they become what the results implied they might be instead of being themselves. Personal highs and lows and feelings will always influence the outcomes of tests. As do heritage and education.

1. E-I: Extrovert vs. Introvert
   Extroverts love to connect and act quickly while introverts are more reflective and intense.
2. T-F: Thinking vs. Feeling
   The thinker tries to optimize decisions by applying logic and being objective. The feeler is driven by emotions, taking relationships into consideration.
3. S-N: Sensing vs. Intuition
   The sensing person is detail-oriented and looks at the data at hand. The intuitionist depends on intuitions and tends to be a generalist.
4. J-P: Judging vs. Perceiving
   The judging personality will make a decision and stick to it even before all the facts are known. The perceiver relies on changing variables and will alter decisions accordingly.

⁴ Dr. Michael Maccoby is a psychoanalyst and anthropologist who consults to businesses, governments and unions on leadership and strategic development. He is president of the Maccoby Group in Washington, D.C. and has a PhD from Harvard University, where he directed the Program on Technology, Public Policy and Human Development from 1978-90.
⁵ Michael Maccoby, Why Work? Motivating the New Workforce (Miles River Press, 1995)
⁶ Michael Maccoby, The Gamesman: The New Corporate Leaders (Simon and Schuster, 1976)

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