MBTI in Agile Teams: Judging vs Perceiving in Retrospectives

Why Judging vs. Perceiving Plays a Role in Retrospectives

The team was stuck. Half of them wanted to create a detailed plan first, while the other half thought it was a waste of time. The discussion lasted longer than the retrospective itself… How do you ensure that both types feel heard and that the team moves forward? This is perhaps the least known MBTI preference, but one that frequently surfaces in IT.

In this fourth blog in the series on MBTI in retrospectives, I delve into the Judging vs. Perceiving preferences. How do these impact a team’s ability to learn? How can an Agile organization accommodate different personalities?

Judging vs. Perceiving

Differences between Judging and Perceiving preferences can be significant:

• Judging describes the preference for having a plan in advance and following the steps. This does not mean that nothing can change, but starting without a plan is not their natural instinct.
• Perceiving describes the preference to adapt to the situation at any moment. Planning makes this difficult and is therefore not the preferred approach. The goal will still be achieved, but in a much less structured way.

In previous blogs, we covered Introvert/Extravert, Intuition/Sensing, and Thinking/Feeling. With Judging and Perceiving as well, it is important to realize that these preferences should not be seen as a scale. It is about where a person’s first instinct lies. Over time, people develop all preferences and benefit from the flexibility to apply them.

Judging vs. Perceiving in Practice

This discussion often arises when building IT solutions. Can we plan everything in advance and follow it, or should we decide on short-term priorities as we go? Both extremes are unworkable. While working with a team handling multiple complex system integrations, we faced this challenge head-on. Some team members found it impossible even to set sprint goals and determine what to focus on in those two weeks. The other half struggled with this mindset—they saw the need to identify at least some key steps and needed a plan.

A similar discussion recently emerged between managers and Product Owners. A PO with a Perceiving preference saw no point in planning multiple years ahead. He said, “That’s complete nonsense! We’ll never get to that anyway!” The manager responded, “Yes, but my external stakeholders need to see a plan and know where we’re headed.” This tension proved difficult to resolve. Unfortunately, this organization was not yet accustomed to applying retrospectives at all levels. In a calmer moment, they were able to reflect better and realized that their positions were not working, which led them to compromise.

3 Practical Tips to Improve Your Retrospective

• Discuss different rights and responsibilities from the other perspective: Often, both sides feel it is their right to have freedom or their right to have a plan. Discuss these preferences and let team members write down the rights and responsibilities they have in the team. Reflect on this with MBTI types in mind: Who needs what? I recently wrote a blog about this for the MBTI Company. Read more about it here.
• Clarify expectations at the start: Some prefer a well-defined plan, while others are more associative during a retrospective. At the beginning of the session, clearly outline the format (Judging), but also indicate that there is room for additions during the session (Perceiving).
• Agree on how to conclude: Action points can feel too vague for some (Judging) or too rigid without room for adjustments (Perceiving). Discuss concrete expectations with the team and always assign an owner. Let the owner decide how concretely the action point needs to be defined at that moment.
• Use adaptable time-boxes: Recently, I saw how a TimeTimer helped a team structure discussions between planners and improvisers without anyone getting frustrated. Perceivers felt they had room to explore, while Judgers knew there was a limit. Use a TimeTimer that makes the remaining time visible to everyone. When the timer runs out, let the group decide whether more time is needed.

MBTI Workshop: Get More Out of Your Team

Do you recognize this dynamic in your team? Do you prefer a solid plan, or would you rather go with the flow? Understanding your own preference and those of your teammates helps build trust and foster collaboration. Would you like to better understand and leverage this dynamic within your team? Book an MBTI workshop and discover how your team can work together more effectively! Schedule a free online consultation!