We are taught to describe ourselves: “I’m an ‘Introvert’ which explains my discomfort working in big teams,” or “My co-worker is a ‘Judger’ which explains why she is so critical.” We have the impression that if we just “know” ourselves and others better our work together will be more collaborative and productive.
But labeling doesn’t impact our ability to manage the behavior of others (or ourselves for that matter). The environment is the context of all we do. It is a multitude of present realities and artifacts of past events that our brain has to navigate and engage with. After labeling, we may feel enlightened, but the environment doesn’t change and we end up acting the same way as in the past as the environment dictated. Nothing changes.