Alternative to MBTI —
A More Modern, Actionable Approach
Looking for an Alternative to MBTI?
The MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) is one of the most popular personality tools in the world. Based on four dichotomies (e.g. introversion vs. extraversion), it assigns people to one of 16 fixed types.
While MBTI can be insightful, more and more professionals are seeking a tool that goes beyond personality traits and helps them develop real strategic capabilities.
That’s where the Big 5 of Strategy comes in.
What is MBTI?
MBTI is based on Carl Jung’s psychological types and categorizes people along four axes:
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Extraversion (E) / Introversion (I)
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Sensing (S) / Intuition (N)
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Thinking (T) / Feeling (F)
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Judging (J) / Perceiving (P)
The result is a four-letter personality type (e.g. ENFP, ISTJ), often used in:
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Team-building and communication
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Career counselling
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Personal reflection
Why Look for an Alternative to MBTI?
MBTI remains widely used, but has important limitations:
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Fixed type logic: once assigned, your type doesn’t change, even if you grow and evolve.
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No development track: it tells you who you are, not how to improve or succeed strategically.
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Not workplace-specific: it doesn’t assess how someone performs under pressure, leads change, or delivers results.
Big 5 of Strategy vs. MBTI
Feature | MBTI | Big 5 of Strategy |
|---|---|---|
Development path | None | Built-in and practical |
Evidence base | Contested | Research-backed (1,200-person study) |
Use cases | Awareness, reflection | Strategy, leadership, growth |
Relevance | General-purpose | Designed for modern work challenges |
Output | One of 16 static types | Custom strength profile |
Model Type | Personality typology | Strategic capability framework |
Who is the Big 5 of Strategy For?
Unlike MBTI, which focuses on personality traits, the Big 5 of Strategy measures how you operate in complex environments and how you can grow over time.
It’s designed for:
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Professionals navigating change or career growth
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Leaders needing strategic insight and delivery capability
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Coaches and HR teams focused on development, not typing
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Organizations building capability in times of transformation
Why the Big 5 of Strategy is a Better Fit Today
Work today demands more than personality awareness. It requires adaptability, clarity, decision-making, and the ability to lead through complexity.
The Big 5 of Strategy helps you:
Shape the future
Move systems forward
Deliver results
Adapt to change
And it does so through a structured, research-backed framework you can apply immediately.
Grasp the present
