Leadership Series (Part 3): Know Who You Are — Personality Awareness as a Leadership Skill

Introduction

In the previous article, we explored self-awareness leadership and why understanding our emotions, values, strengths, and blind spots is the foundation of effective leadership.

However, self-awareness does not end with reflection and feedback alone.

To deepen personality awareness leadership, leaders must also understand their behavioral patterns—how they naturally think, decide, communicate, and interact with others. One practical way to do this is through personality frameworks.

In this article, I’ll discuss how personality awareness—using MBTI as an example—can support leadership development, career growth, and relationship management, especially in scientific and professional environments.

Why Personality Awareness Matters in Leadership

Leadership is not defined only by skills or intelligence.

It is shaped by patterns of behavior, especially under pressure.

Personality awareness leadership helps you understand:

• how you process information

• how you make decisions

• how you respond to stress and conflict

• how others experience your leadership style

When leaders lack personality awareness, their natural tendencies may unintentionally create friction, miscommunication, or mistrust.

When leaders develop personality awareness, those same tendencies become tools rather than obstacles.

Personality Tests as Leadership Tools (Not Labels)

One of the most widely known personality frameworks is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which describes 16 personality types based on four dimensions.

While the official MBTI assessment is a paid tool, platforms such as 16Personalities provide free and accessible versions that are useful for self-exploration.

It is important to emphasize:

Personality tests do not define who you are. They reveal how you tend to operate.

In leadership development, personality awareness is valuable only when it is used to increase flexibility, not to limit growth.

Why Do Leaders Need Personality Awareness?

Because leadership is fundamentally relational.

Our personality traits strongly influence how we:

• build trust

• handle disagreement

• give and receive feedback

• collaborate across cultures and disciplines

Over time, we encounter different types of relationships that shape our growth as leaders:

• The Container — people who create safety and stability

• The Twin — people who share similar styles or values

• The Adversary — people who challenge our assumptions

• The Mirror — people who reflect our blind spots

• The Mystic Friend — people who understand us intuitively

• The Conscious Partner — people who grow alongside us

Developing personality awareness leadership allows us to manage these relationships intentionally rather than reactively.

The Four Dimensions of Personality Awareness (MBTI Framework)

MBTI describes personality preferences across four dimensions. Each represents a tendency—not a limitation.

1. Mind: Where You Direct Your Energy

• Extraversion (E): Energized by interaction, discussion, and external engagement

• Introversion (I): Energized by reflection, depth, and focused work

Leadership insight:

Introverted leaders often excel in listening, strategic thinking, and clarity—qualities essential for modern leadership.

2. Energy: How You Take in Information

• Sensing (S): Focus on facts, details, and practical reality

• Intuition (N): Focus on patterns, possibilities, and long-term vision

Leadership insight:

S–N differences are a frequent source of tension in teams, especially between operational and visionary roles.

3. Nature: How You Make Decisions

• Thinking (T): Decisions based on logic, consistency, and objectivity

• Feeling (F): Decisions based on values, people, and impact

Leadership insight:

Strong personality awareness leadership integrates logic with empathy, regardless of preference.

4. Tactics: How You Approach the World

• Judging (J): Structured, planned, decisive

• Perceiving (P): Flexible, adaptive, open-ended

Leadership insight:

J–P differences often surface around deadlines, expectations, and project execution.

From Personality Types to Leadership Awareness

By combining these four dimensions, MBTI describes 16 personality types, often grouped into four broader roles:

• Analysts (NT) — strategic, systems-oriented thinkers

• Diplomats (NF) — values-driven, relationship-focused leaders

• Sentinels (SJ) — reliable, structured, execution-focused contributors

• Explorers (SP) — adaptable, action-oriented problem solvers

Each role brings leadership strengths—and predictable blind spots.

Personality awareness leadership is not about changing who you are, but about leading consciously within your natural style.

A Personal Example: Using Personality Awareness for Leadership Growth

My own MBTI type is ENTJ-A (Commander).

Reading the description highlighted both strengths and uncomfortable truths:

• Strengths in vision, decisiveness, and structure

• Challenges with impatience, emotional distance, and stubbornness

Instead of rejecting these insights, I used them as leadership feedback.

By developing personality awareness, I learned to:

• slow down decision-making when needed

• invite emotional perspectives intentionally

• communicate purpose and context more clearly

This did not change my personality—it changed how others experienced my leadership.

How to Apply Personality Awareness Leadership in Practice

Personality frameworks are most effective when leaders ask:

• Where does my natural style support my team?

• Where might it unintentionally create tension?

• When should I stretch beyond my default tendencies?

The most effective leaders are not those with the “best” personality type.

They are those who can adapt behavior without losing authenticity.

Conclusion: Personality Awareness Strengthens Leadership

Understanding your personality is not about placing yourself in a box.

It is about understanding the box you start in—so you can step outside it when leadership requires.

Self-awareness helps you recognize internal patterns.

Personality awareness leadership gives that recognition structure and language.

Together, they enable clearer communication, stronger relationships, and more effective leadership.

What’s Next in the Leadership Series

In the next article, we will explore:

• Self-Regulation Leadership — managing emotions and behavior under pressure

• Organizational Awareness Leadership — understanding culture, power, and invisible rules

Both build directly on self-awareness and personality awareness.

Want to Go Deeper in Your Leadership and Career Growth?

Developing personality awareness leadership is not just about understanding frameworks like MBTI.

It’s about learning how to apply that understanding intentionally—in your career decisions, communication style, and leadership presence.

I work with scientists, engineers, and professionals in 1:1 career coaching to help them:

• build leadership skills without needing a title

• gain clarity in career direction

• improve communication and influence in cross-functional teams

• navigate U.S. workplace culture more effectively

• turn self-awareness into confident action

If you’re interested in accelerating your leadership and career growth, feel free to reach out.

📘 My Book: A Practical Guide to Career and Leadership Growth

I also share deeper frameworks, practical strategies, and real-world examples in my book, covering topics such as:

• leadership mindset for scientists and professionals

• career strategy and positioning

• influence without authority

• cross-cultural communication

• turning self-awareness into career momentum

If this leadership series resonates with you, the book expands on these ideas with actionable tools.

About the Author

Jason Yen-Chun Lu, Ph.D.

Biomedical scientist, career coach, and founder of LuTra Studio and the platform Taiwanese Scientist in the U.S.

With experience across academia, biotech startups, and cross-functional teams in the U.S., Jason focuses on helping scientists and professionals develop leadership, clarity, and long-term career impact.