Applying traits theory of leadership to project management

Organizations have long used personality tests to identify the skill potentials of its employees. Some have administered such tests to most advantageously place its personnel in positions that match and challenge their potentials. This article examines which Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality types are most closely aligned with the roles played by project managers. In doing so, it overviews studies on leadership traits, noting the theories that these studies inspired; it reviews the research on understanding the personality traits possessed by competent project managers, defining the six competency units--outlined in PMI's Project Manager Competency Development (PMCD) framework--that the author used to determine which of the 16 MBTI types were most closely inclined to competently perform the responsibilities associated with project management positions. It also explains how the MBTI system functions and lists which MBTI types possess a strong preference for project leadership positions.