Alternative #1: StrengthsFinder (aka Gallup CliftonStrengths)
While MBTI explores the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of your team members’ interactions and approaches, StrengthsFinder zeroes in on the ‘what’ of their talents, offering a clearer and more actionable path to team success.
Have you ever wondered why some team members excel in brainstorming sessions while others shine in detailed project planning? While the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) provides some insights, StrengthsFinder (CliftonStrengths) offers a more practical approach.
Understanding Team Roles with StrengthsFinder
StrengthsFinder identifies 34 talent themes and helps team members discover their top strengths. This tool explains why some team members thrive in innovation (like those with Strategic strengths) or why some excel at maintaining harmony (like those with Relator strengths). Understanding these strengths can help you assign roles, anticipate conflicts, and leverage talents within your team.
Why StrengthsFinder is a Good Alternative to MBTI
While MBTI categorizes individuals into 16 personality types, it often feels too broad and theoretical. StrengthsFinder, on the other hand, offers a more detailed and actionable understanding of individual talents. It goes beyond personality traits and focuses on what your team members are naturally good at, making it easier to apply these insights in a work setting.
Want to use StrengthsFinder for team building? Check out our free CliftonStrengths team building workshop download!
StrengthsFinder in Action
Imagine you’re assembling a project team. With StrengthsFinder insights, you can pair a team member with Analytical strengths with another who has Ideation strengths to balance detail orientation with creativity. It’s about creating a team where strengths are recognized, celebrated, and utilized effectively.
Alternative #2: DISC Assessment
DiSC offers a practical lens to view your team. It’s a vital tool in team analysis, providing insights that complement and surpass what MBTI offers.
Welcome to the DiSC Assessment, where understanding your team’s behavior is as easy as ABCD. DiSC stands for Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. This tool focuses on how people act, especially in team settings, providing a clear roadmap to navigate your workplace’s diverse behavioral landscapes.
Behavioral Insights with DiSC
Picture being able to predict your team’s reactions under pressure or knowing who will take charge in a crisis. DiSC makes this possible by categorizing team members based on their behavior. This is crucial for planning projects, creating communication strategies, and resolving conflicts. For example, ‘D’ individuals are your go-getters, often taking the lead, while ‘S’ types are your reliable rocks, ensuring stability and calmness.
DiSC vs. MBTI
While MBTI categorizes people into 16 personality types, it can often feel overly complex and theoretical. DiSC provides a simpler and more actionable understanding of behavior. It goes beyond personality traits to focus on how your team members naturally behave and interact. This is essential for managers and team leads who need to understand team dynamics at a detailed level to guide their teams effectively.
Want to use DiSC for team building? Check out our free DiSC team communication workshop download!
Practical Application of DiSC
Imagine leading a team with a tight deadline. A ‘C’ type’s attention to detail combined with an ‘I’ type’s optimistic influence can drive the project forward while maintaining quality. Understanding these behavioral patterns helps in creating teams that are not only skilled but also behaviorally compatible.
Alternative #3: TeamDynamics
TeamDynamics measures the shared behaviors of a specific team across Communicating, Processing, Deciding, and Executing. In Pro, participants describe how the team works, and their completed responses contribute to a shared team profile.
Personal preferences separately inform CoDynamics, which helps each participant understand natural fit and potential tension with the team. They do not determine the team’s shared result.
What TeamDynamics measures
Use the team profile to describe patterns such as how information reaches people, what evidence shapes a decision, who determines the next step, and how plans respond to change. The profile reflects participants’ reported experience of the team.
TeamDynamics compared with MBTI
MBTI describes personality preferences and offers team reports based on members’ verified types. TeamDynamics starts with participants’ observations of this team’s working patterns. Use MBTI to discuss preferences, and TeamDynamics when you want a shared description of updates, decisions, and plans.
Practical applications of TeamDynamics
Choose one current collaboration problem, such as an unclear handoff or a decision that keeps reopening. Use the Team Discussion Guide to hear examples from colleagues, agree one working change, name an owner, and set a review date. During onboarding, explain the team’s working agreements and invite questions; a result does not determine job suitability.
Give your team’s everyday habits a shared language
Already know everyone’s MBTI type? Explore the patterns your team creates together, then use TeamDynamics to agree how you’ll communicate, decide, and get work done.
Your next step
Discover how your team works. Build a plan to make it work better.
Spot what helps your team succeed—and what gets in the way. Get practical next steps for clearer communication, better decisions, and stronger teamwork.
Alternative #4: The Big Five Personality Traits (Five Factor Model)
The Big Five Personality Traits offer a comprehensive and nuanced view of individual personalities, making it a robust tool for understanding and optimizing team dynamics. It goes beyond the surface, providing insights into the core drivers of behavior, which are crucial for effective team building and management.
The Big Five describes five broad trait continua: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. It is used in personality research and by multiple assessment providers. Evaluate the evidence, intended use, and report for the specific instrument you plan to use.
In-Depth Insights with the Big Five
Think of the Big Five as a high-definition map of human personality. It doesn’t just skim the surface; it dives deep. This model helps you understand not just how team members act, but why they act that way. For example, someone high in Openness might be your go-to person for innovative ideas, while a team member with high Conscientiousness could be the one who keeps projects on track.
Big Five vs. MBTI
While MBTI categorizes individuals into 16 personality types, it can often feel limited and overly theoretical. The Big Five offers a broader, more detailed view of personality. It focuses on core traits that drive behavior in various situations, providing a wider lens that is invaluable for managers seeking to build well-rounded teams and foster an environment where everyone’s natural tendencies are acknowledged and utilized.
Want to use the Big Five Personality Traits with your team? Download our free Big Five team building workshop!
Applying the Big Five in Teams
Imagine planning a new initiative. You’ll want team members who score high in Extraversion to champion the project and those high in Agreeableness to ensure team harmony. The Big Five doesn’t just help in assigning roles; it helps in creating a team culture where everyone’s natural traits are respected and harnessed for collective success.
Alternative #5: Enneagram
Welcome to the world of the Enneagram, where understanding personalities goes beyond traits to uncover deeper motivations and fears. Unlike MBTI, which categorizes people into 16 types, the Enneagram offers nine distinct personality types, each providing profound insights into what drives behavior.
The Enneagram’s Deeper Insights
Think of the Enneagram as a psychological map that not only identifies how team members behave but also explains why they behave that way. For example, Type 3, the Achiever, is driven by a desire for success and recognition, while Type 9, the Peacemaker, seeks harmony and avoids conflict. This model helps you understand core motivations, leading to more empathetic and effective team management.
Enneagram vs. MBTI
While MBTI focuses on categorizing personality traits, it often feels static and superficial. The Enneagram, on the other hand, dives deeper into the core motivations and fears that shape behavior. It offers a dynamic framework that can evolve with personal growth, making it more adaptable and insightful for understanding team dynamics.
Want to use the Enneagram for team building? Try our free Enneagram team building workshop!
Practical Application of the Enneagram
Imagine you’re leading a team facing a challenging project. Knowing that a Type 6, the Loyalist, excels in creating contingency plans, or that a Type 7, the Enthusiast, brings creativity and enthusiasm, allows you to leverage these strengths strategically. The Enneagram helps you build a team where each member’s deeper motivations are understood and harnessed for collective success.
Comparing the Top 5 Alternatives to MBTI
So which of these alternatives to Myers-Briggs is the right solution for you and your team? Take a look at this comparison table to find out at a glance!
| Tool | Primary Focus | Pricing | Best For | Key Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StrengthsFinder (Gallup CliftonStrengths) | Individual Talents | Varies by report and provider | Individuals seeking actionable insights into strengths | 34 talent themes, practical for individual development |
| DiSC Assessment | Behavior and Communication Styles | Varies by report and provider | Individuals focused on communication and behavior insights | Clear, practical for workplace settings |
| TeamDynamics | Team Synergy | Pro: $39 per participant, one-time payment | Organizations focused on team performance and cohesion | Assesses entire team dynamics, focuses on collaboration |
| Big Five Personality Traits (Five Factor Model) | Comprehensive Personality Traits | Varies by report and provider | Individuals needing a scientific, detailed personality framework | 5 broad traits, reliable, great for team compatibility |
| Enneagram | Core Motivations and Fears | Varies by report and provider | Individuals focused on personal and professional growth | Nine personality types, deeper understanding of motivations |
Conclusion
Choose the assessment around the conversation you need to facilitate. Individual traits, preferences, talents, behavioral styles, and motivations offer different perspectives. MBTI, CliftonStrengths, and Everything DiSC also have team applications; review the report and facilitator support before deciding.
If the question is how this particular team works together, start with shared observations. End your session with an agreement about a live project and a date to review whether it helped.
TeamDynamics Pro costs $39 per participant as a one-time payment. Pro includes a Team Profile, individual CoDynamics, a Manager Report, and a Team Discussion Guide. Solo costs $29 once for one person’s view of the team, with Estimated TeamDynamics and Your CoDynamics. Compare the included reports, participant count, and any facilitation costs before purchase.
