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Different Personalities
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In the previous lesson, we discussed how different people process new learning differently. This fact relates directly to the fact that we have different personalities. Pastor Fetterhoff mentioned the Enneagram in passing. It is just one tool to help us understand each other and recognize that we are all wired differently.
Here are just a few of the different personalities that you might encounter in a Bible study. These roughly correspond to the personality components of what is called Myers-Briggs.
The Extrovert
This is the person who is charged by being around people. They will feed off a small group. They are often talkative. Pastor Fetterhoff suggests letting them do their thing in the first meeting or to part of the group. They will get things going. No need to call on people for their thoughts to get the ball rolling if there is an extrovert among you.
The Introvert
Some individuals will have to recharge after your meeting because of all the energy it takes for them to engage with the group. They may have great insights, but eventually, you may have to ask them to share them. It’s important to make them feel as welcomed and comfortable as possible because it may already be quite a task for them to come. Try not to put them on the spot too much.
The Big-Picture Person
There’s a type of person who is driven to connect what you’re discussing to everything else. How does this fit in the bigger picture? Why is this important? Does it conflict with other things I believe or with what I think the Bible says elsewhere?
The Detailed Person
Other people need to know the details. What does this actually look like in practice? How do I apply this learning? What does this detail of the text mean? This person may be more concrete in their thinking and approach, more practical.
The Logical Person
For some personalities, a lot of things don’t make sense. There is a right way to do things – the way that makes sense. These are logical and analytical people. The way others feel may at times almost seem irrelevant to them if the way they feel doesn’t make sense to them.
The Relational Person
On the other hand, other personalities don’t really care about the logic of something. If people get hurt, it’s bad. It doesn’t matter so much if it’s “right.” What matters is people and what is important.
The Structured Person
Some people need structure – some desperately. If you start a sentence, you had better finish it. If you start a thought, finish it. Have an agenda. Finish on time. Complete the passage you’re supposed to look at this week.
The Open-Ended Person
The opposite personality likes to keep exploring. They doubt that you can truly have final answers to your questions in many cases. No need to start or finish on time. No need to finish looking at the passage this week… or ever. Life is about the journey, not the destination.
Suffice it to say, when you get these people in the same room, they are potentially going to annoy each other. For us to get along, we first have to know that we are all different and that that’s ok. We balance out each other’s extremes. We illuminate each other’s blindspots. We strengthen each other’s weaknesses.