Yes, personally and professionally. I was in an interview with a large communications and technology company for a financial analyst position last week and the managers I was interviewing with made the following comments.
Manger 1: “He is definitely a J”
Manger 2: (Laughing) “We all are J’s”
My dad is a senior director of a company’s IT department and he uses personality theory (not necessarily MBTI) in his hiring process. In his years of experience he has learned that he gets along well with certain types. He typically wants to hire these types if they are going to report directly to him. He doesn’t want to hire people who are going to conflict with him on a personal level because he has noticed it takes away from work. However, he then wants those reporting to him to hire those that he might have conflict with to make sure that there are people who have a different perspective than him. He just doesn’t want them directly reporting to him or dealing with them personally. It makes it so things get a thorough look through and get different ideas or views. It works, not every time but for the most part.
Personally, it’s helped in my family. My dad tests as INTJ or ISTJ. My mom is difficult because she has some personality disorders so she is all over the map. Pathological liar, narcissist, co-dependent and emotionally all over the map. So can’t really type her. My younger brother tests INTJ but he also was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and most people in my family test within the autism spectrum, including myself. So there is that.
However, knowing a bit about the personality types of my family has allowed me to understand and communicate with them better. My little sister (ESFJ) needs a lot more verbal confirmation. Just letting her know that I love her and appreciate her in my life. My younger brother doesn’t want to hear it, he wants to see it. My dad doesn’t care what we do or say just as long as we don’t bother him with our problems and are self-sufficient. He wants the best for us and gives great advice as well as help but you have to earn it. He isn’t going to pave the way in gold. He expects you to work your ass off for it. My other little sister is (ENTP) wants to be left alone for the most part but be acknowledged for her unique perspective on life.
You get the point, I could go on and on about other siblings but it does help with certain things. It makes me question my own motivations and reasons as well as acknowledge the perspectives of others. In short, it helps in getting a general idea of how someone works but each person is still unique. It just points you in the right direction as far as understanding them.