May 2012~ Matt McCombs

Greetings from UMANT!

I know, I know, it is nearly halfway through May before I’m getting to posting the May Newsletter.  However, I promise I have a good reason.

I had the occasion last week to be a part of the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia as part of Leadership ICMA.  Quick plug – ICMA is currently accepting applications for the L-ICMA class of 2014 on their website here.  The application deadline is June 30, and I can’t say enough about what an amazing experience it is.  It can be a bit pricey, but scholarships are available, and a large majority of organizations around the area have a strong commitment to professional development.  Ask and see what happens.

Anyway, at SEI last week, we participated in a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator profile.  For those who don’t know, Myers-Briggs is a test which tells you how you perceive the world and make decisions.  Each person has certain preferences which define their general psychological tendencies.  I won’t go into all the detail here, but if you’re interested in a broader understanding of the system, you can look take a look here.

Myers-Briggs, truthfully, changed my life.  I first stumbled upon MBTI in the summer of 2010, where a friend forwarded me a link to their own profile.  In it, I saw all of this friend's tendencies, drives, and inclinations expertly laid out in a very scientifically compelling fashion.  Enthralled, I searched for an archetype that fit my own.  (Read More)