An overview of the 16 Myers-Briggs personality type's. These are very general descriptions of the Jungian archetypes and do not explain your personality in depth with all it's nuances, but the four-letter codes describe your dichotomy preference - which can then be summarized into these portraits.
These descriptions are meant to give general depictions of how these types typically show up to the world.
The short portraits in this article can be helpful for those still figuring out what their true personality type is since it is the case that the online tests can be highly inaccurate. If you are perhaps still deciding between two types - reading descriptions can be a good way to settle on one type that best fits you. This post is for those new to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator tool, Socionics and Jungian depth psychology.
It can tell us how you gain energy and what type of information you tend to value. It can tell us how you best make decisions, how you organize your time and even which environments or roles you would thrive in, and which would put you under stress. Your personality type can be a useful tool for assessing compatibility, improving relationships, conflict resolution, career planning and team-management
If you do not yet know what your personality types is, you can take a quick test by clicking here. Once you have completed the test and you have your result, we can begin unpacking the four-letter code that is your Myers-Briggs Type. This code describes your preference of Percieving (learning information and Judging (making decisions). It can tell us a lot about who you are and how you see the world differently from others.
THE 16 PERSONALITY TYPES
If you are looking for a much more comprehensive deep dive into understanding who you are, you should also look into your cognitive functions and their roles in your personality. This theory is over a century old and is based on the work of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. In this post, I do not go into cognitive functions, so it will probably not be as useful for personal development or for gaining any deep self-knowledge. If you are looking for a more comprehensive analysis of your type, to understand how your brain is uniquely wired or to use this information for personal growth - I would recommend you learn The 8 Cognitive Functions. Alternatively, you can book a Typing Session or Self-actualization Coaching, either with myself or another MBTI certified personality profiler and counselor.
THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS
THE GUARDIANS (SJs)
ISTJ - The Inspector
Introverted
Sensing
Thinking
Judging
Sensing
Thinking
Judging
The one word that best describes the ISTJ is dependable. Whether at home or at work, their focus on preservation and duty is extraordinary, particularly when it comes to keeping things in order. They are the ones who make sure that resources as well as structures are well-maintained for which people are responsible for.
In their quiet way, Inspectors see to it that rules are followed, laws are respected, and standards are upheld. ISTJs - who apparently make up as much as 13 percent of the general population - are the true guardians of institutions.
ISTJs pay attention to detail, and tend to prefer to learn in a step by step manner, and in the same way they have always been done. They are patient with their work and with the procedures within an institution, although not always with the unauthorized behavior of some people in that institution. Responsible to the core, Inspectors like it when people know their duties, follow the guidelines, and operate within the rules.
For their part, ISTJs will see to it that goods are examined and schedules are kept, that products are kept up to standards and delivered when and where they are supposed to be. And they would prefer that everyone be this dependable. Inspectors can be hard-nosed about the need for following the rules in the workplace, and do not hesitate to report irregularities to the proper authorities.
Because of this they are often misjudged as being hard-headed, or as having ice in their veins, for people fail to see their good intentions and their vulnerability to criticism. Also, because Inspectors usually make their inspections without much flourish or fanfare, the dedication they bring to their work sadly often goes unnoticed and unappreciated.
While not as talkative as Supervisor Guardians [ESTJs], Inspectors are still highly sociable, and are likely to be involved in some way in their community service organizations, such as Sunday School, church and old family traditions that can transmit those values to the young. Like all Guardians (SJs), Inspectors hold very dear to them their family social gatherings, ceremonies-weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries – although they tend to be shy if the occasion becomes too large or too public.
Generally speaking, ISTJs are not comfortable with anything that gets too fancy. Their words tend to be plain and down-to-earth, not showy or high-flown; their clothes simple and conservative rather than fashionable; and their home and work environments are usually kept neat, orderly, and traditional, rather than trendy or ostentatious. As for personal property, they usually choose standard items over models loaded with features, and they often try to find classics and antiques – Inspectors prefer the old-fashioned to the innovative every time.
ESTJ - The Supervisor
Extroverted Sensing Thinking Judging type
Comprising at least ten percent of the population, ESTJs enjoy and are good at making schedules, agendas, inventories, and so on, and they would much prefer the more traditional, tried and true ways of doing things over speculation and experimentation. Supervisors keep their feet firmly on the ground and would like those under their supervision to do the same, whether employee, subordinate, spouse, or offspring. ESTJs have no problem evaluating others and tend to judge how a person is doing in terms of his or her compliance with, and respect for, schedules and procedures.
ESTJs are unbelievably hard-working. Even as children they are industrious, and they usually respect their parents as authority figures. In school, Supervisors are often model students, dutifully following directions, doing all their homework, doing it thoroughly, and on time. Above all else, they wish to do what they are supposed to do, and they rarely question the teacher’s assignments, method of instruction, standards, or authority. And their industry and perseverance only becomes more important to them as they grow into adulthood and take on the responsibilities of a job and a family.
ESTJs approach human relations along traditional lines. Marriage and parenthood are sacred to them, and they tend to have a large circle of friends, with many friendships faithfully maintained over the years. Social gatherings and ceremonies have great meaning for them, and they look forward to holiday parties, club dances, weddings, class reunions, awards banquets, and the like. In social situations. ESTJs are friendly and talk easily with others. Though they can seem a bit formal in their manners, Supervisors are pretty easy to get to know. At ease in polite company, they tend not to confuse people by sending double messages about what their intentions are.
ESFJ - The Provider
Extroverted Sensing Feeling Judging type
ESTJs take it upon themselves to insure the health and welfare of those in their care, but they are also the most sociable of all the Guardians, and thus are the great nurturers of social institutions such as schools, churches, social clubs, and civic groups. Providers are very likely more than ten percent of the population, and this is fortunate for the rest of us, because friendly social service is a key to their nature. Wherever they go, ESTJ types happily give their time and energy to make sure that the needs of others are met, and that social functions are a success.
Highly cooperative themselves, ESTJs are skilled in maintaining teamwork among their employees, and are also tireless in their attention to the details of furnishing goods and services. They make excellent chairpersons in charge of dances, banquets, class reunions, charity fund-raisers, and the like. They are without peer as masters of ceremonies, able to speak publicly with ease and confidence. And they are outstanding hosts or hostesses, knowing everyone by name, and seemingly aware of what everyone’s been doing.
ESTJs love to entertain, and are always concerned about the needs of their guests, wanting to make sure that all are involved and provided for. Friendly, outgoing, neighborly – in a word, Providers are gregarious, so much so that they can become restless when isolated from people. They love to talk with others, and will often strike up a conversation with strangers and chat pleasantly about any topic that comes to mind. Friendships matter a great deal to these types, and their conversations with friends often touch on good times from years past. Family traditions are sacred to them, and so they carefully observe birthdays and anniversaries - often planning gifts for everyone they know way ahead of time.
In addition, ESTJs show a delightful fascination with news about their friends and neighbors. If we wish to know what’s been going on in the local community, school, or church, they’re happy to fill us in on all the details. Providers are extremely sensitive to the feelings of others, which makes them perhaps the most sympathetic of all the types, but which also leaves them somewhat self-conscious, that is, highly sensitive to what others think of them. Loving and affectionate themselves, they need to be loved in return. In fact, the ESTJ personality types can be crushed by personal criticism, and are happiest when given ample appreciation both for themselves personally and for the tireless service they give to others.
ISFJ - The Protector
Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging type
We are lucky that Protectors make up as much as ten percent the population, because their primary interest is in the safety and security of those they care about – their family, their circle of friends, their students, their patients, their boss, their fellow-workers, or their employees. Protectors have an extraordinary sense of loyalty and responsibility in their makeup, and seem fulfilled in the degree they can shield others from the dirt and dangers of the world.
Speculating or experimenting are practices that do not intrigue ISFJs, who prefer to make do with time-honored and time-tested products and procedures rather than change to new ones. At work, Protectors are seldom happy in situations where the rules are constantly changing, or where long-established ways of doing things are not respected. For their part, ISFJs value tradition, both in the culture and in their family. Protectors believe deeply in the stability of social ranking conferred by birth, titles, offices, and credentials. And they cherish family history and enjoy caring for family property, from houses to heirlooms.
Wanting to be of service to others, Protectors find great satisfaction in assisting the downtrodden, and can deal with disability and neediness in others better than any other type. They are not as outgoing and talkative as the Provider Guardians [ESFJs], and their shyness is often misjudged as stiffness, even coldness, when in truth ISFJs are extremely warm-hearted and sympathetic, giving happily of themselves to those in need.
Their reserve ought really to be seen as an expression of their sincerity and seriousness of purpose. The most diligent of all the types, ISFJs are willing to work long, hard hours quietly doing all the thankless jobs that others manage to avoid. Protectors are quite happy working alone; in fact, in positions of authority they may try to do everything themselves rather than direct others to get the job done. Thoroughness and frugality are also virtues for them. When Protectors undertake a task, they can be perfectionist due to their high attention to detail. However, as finisher types - they will complete the job if at all humanely possible.
ISFJs know better than any other type the value of a dollar, and they abhor the squandering or misuse of money. To save, to put something aside against an unpredictable future, to prepare for emergencies are actions near and dear to the Protector’s heart. For all these reasons, Protectors are frequently overworked, just as they are frequently misunderstood and undervalued. Their contributions, and also their economies, are often taken for granted, and they rarely get the gratitude they deserve.
ARTISANS (SPs)
ESTP - The Promoter
Extroverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving type
They are said to make up about 7% of the population, and for anyone lucky to have an ESTP in their lives - life is never dull around them. In a word, they are men and women of action. When an ESTP is present is when things begin to happen: the lights come on, the music plays, the games begin. Clever and full of fun, Promoters live with a theatrical flourish which makes even the most routine events seem exciting. Not that they waste much time on routine events. They are fast-paced, rebellious and seek to make the mosr out of every moment of their lives. In work and in play, ESTPs demand new activities and new challenges constantly - and therefore can get bored and restless quite easily.
Bold and daring at heart, and ever-optimistic that things will go their way, ESTPs will take tremendous risks to get what they want, and seem exhilarated by walking close to the edge of disaster. Because of this, they make the very best trouble-spot administrators and negotiators, and they can be outstanding entrepreneurs, able to swing deals and kick-start enterprises in a way no other type can.
Promoters also have a hearty appetite for the finer things of life, the best food, the best wine, expensive cars, and fashionable clothes. They are Alpha types - competitive yet very friendly and sophisticated in social circles, knowing many, many people by name, and knowing how to say just the right thing to most everyone they meet.
Charming, confident, and popular, ESTPs delight their friends and investors with their endless supply of stories and jokes. At the same time, these smooth operators are usually something of a mystery to others. While they live in the moment and lend excitement – and unpredictability – to all their relationships, they rarely let anyone get really close to them.
They have a low tolerance for authority and commitment, and are likely to leave situations where they are expected to toe the mark, or where they must play second fiddle. Promoters understand well the maxim, “He who travels fastest, travels alone,” although they are not likely to be lonely for long, since their boldness and sense of adventure tends to make them highly attractive to many other people.
ISTP - The Crafter
Introverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving type
The nature of the ISTP is most clearly seen in their masterful operation of tools, equipment, machines, and instruments of all kinds. While most of us use tools in some capacity, of course - Crafters (who make up as much as ten percent of the population) are the true masters of tool work, with an innate ability to command tools and to become experts at all the crafts requiring tool skills. Even from an early age they are drawn to tools as if to a magnet — tools fall into their hands demanding use, and they must work with them. They love to take things apart and learn the mechanics of the physical universe.
Like all the Artisans, ISTPs are people who love action, and who know instinctively that their activities are more enjoyable, and more effective, if done impulsively, spontaneously, subject to no schedules or standards but their own. In a sense, Crafters do not work with their tools, but play with them when the urge strikes them. They also seek fun and games on impulse, looking for any opportunity, and just because they feel like it, to play with their various toys: cars, motorcycles, boats, dune-buggies, hunting rifles, fishing tackle, scuba gear, and on and on...
ISTPs thrive on excitement, particularly the rush of speed-racing, water-skiing and surfing. And they are fearless in their play, exposing themselves to danger again and again, even despite frequent injury. Of all the types, Crafters are most likely to be the biggest risk takers, putting themselves, or their technique, against chance or odds. Perhaps this is because they tend to communicate through action, and show little interest in developing language skills. Their lack of expressiveness can isolate them at school and on the job, and even though they hang around with their own kind in play, they let their actions speak for themselves, and their actual conversation is sparse and brief.
ISTPs can be wonderfully generous and loyal to their friends, teammates, and sidekicks, often giving up their evenings or weekends to help with building projects or mechanical repairs-house remodeling, for example, or working on cars or boats. On the other hand, they can be fiercely insubordinate to those in authority, seeing rules and regulations as unnecessarily confining. Crafters will not usually go against regulations openly, but will simply ignore them. More than anything, ISTPs want to be free to do their own thing, and they are proud of their ability to do that with an artist’s skill.
ESFP - The Performer
Extroverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving type
ESFP types have the special ability, even among the Artisans, to delight those around them with their warmth, their good humor, and with their often extraordinary skills in music, comedy, and drama. Whether on the job, with friends, or with their families, Performers are exciting and full of fun, and their great social interest lies in stimulating those around them to take a break from work and worry, to lighten up and enjoy life.
ESFPs are plentiful, something over ten percent of the population, and this is fortunate, because they bring pleasure to so many of us. Performers are the people for whom it can truly be said “all the world’s a stage.” Born entertainers, they love the excitement of playing to an audience, and will quickly become the center of attention wherever they are. ESFPs aren’t comfortable being alone, and seek the company of others whenever possible — which they usually find, for they make wonderful playmates.
ESFPs are smooth, talkative, and witty; they always seem to know the latest jokes and stories, and are quick with wisecracks and wordplay - nothing is so serious or sacred that it can’t be made fun of. Performers also like to live in the fast lane, and seem always up on the latest fashions of dress, food, drink, and music. Lively and uninhibited, Performers are the life of the party, always trying to create in those around them a mood of eat, drink, and be merry.
The Performers’ talent for enjoying life is healthy for the most part, though it also makes them more subject to temptations than the other types. Pleasure seems to be an end in itself for them, and variety is the spice of life. And so ESFPs are open to trying almost anything that promises them a good time, not always giving enough thought to the consequences.
Like the other Artisans, ESFPs are incurably optimistic – “Always look on the bright side,” is their motto — and they will avoid worries and troubles by ignoring them as long as possible. They can also be the most generous of all the types, and second only to the Composer Artisans [ISFPs] in kindness. Performers haven’t a mean or stingy bone in their body - what’s theirs is yours - and they seem to have little idea of saving or conserving. They give what they have to one and all without expectation of reward, just as they love freely, and without expecting anything in return. In so many ways, they view life as an eternal cornucopia from which flows an endless supply of pleasures.
ISFP - The Composer
Introverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving type
More than the other Artisans, ISFPs are in tune with their senses, and so have a sure grasp of what belongs, and what doesn’t belong, in all kinds of works of art. While the other Artisans are skilled with people, tools, and entertainment, Composers have an exceptional ability-seemingly inborn-to work with subtle differences in color, tone, texture, aroma, and flavor.
Although ISFPs often put long, lonely hours into their artistry, they are just as impulsive as the other Artisans. They do not wait to consider their moves; rather, they act in the here and now, with little or no planning or preparation. Composers are seized by the act of artistic composition, as if caught up in a whirlwind. The act is their master, not the reverse. ISFPs paint or sculpt, they dance or skate, they write melodies or make recipes-or whatever-simply because they must. They climb the mountain because it is there.
This ability to lose themselves in action accounts for the spectacular individual accomplishments of some ISFPs, and yet on their social side they show a kindness unmatched by all the other types. Composers are especially sensitive to the pain and suffering of others, and they sympathize freely with the sufferer. Some have a remarkable way with young children, almost as if there were a natural bond of sympathy and trust between them. A similar bond may be seen between some ISFPs and animals, even wild animals. Many ISFPs have an instinctive longing for the wilds, and nature seems to welcome them.
ISFPs are just as plentiful as the other Artisans, say nine or ten per cent of the population, but in general they are very difficult to observe and thus greatly misunderstood. Very likely the difficulty comes from their tendency not to express themselves verbally, but through their works of art. Composers are usually not interested in developing ability in public speaking, or even in the art of conversation; they prefer to feel the pulse of life by touch, in the muscles, in the eyes, in the ears, on the tongue. Make no mistake, they are just as interested as other types in sharing their view of the world, and if they find a medium of non-verbal communication-some art form-then they will express their character quite eloquently. If not, they simply remain unknown, their quietness leaving their character all but invisible.
THE IDEALISTS (NFs)
ENFJ- The Teacher
Extroverted Intuitive Feeling Judging type
In whatever field they choose, ENFJ personality types consider people their highest priority, and they instinctively communicate personal concern and a willingness to become involved in the social group.. Warmly outgoing, and perhaps the most expressive of all the types, ENFJs are remarkably good with language, especially when communicating in speech, face to face. And they do not hesitate to speak out and let their feelings be known. Bubbling with enthusiasm, they will voice their passions with dramatic flourish, and can, with practice, become charismatic public speakers. This verbal ability gives ENFJs a good deal of influence in groups, and they are often asked to take leadership roles.
ENFJs like things settled and organized, and will schedule their work hours and social engagements well ahead of time — and they are absolutely trustworthy in honoring these commitments. Valuing as they do interpersonal cooperation and harmonious relations, Teachers are extraordinarily tolerant of others, are easy to get along with, and are usually popular wherever they are. ENFJs are highly sensitive to others feelings, which is to say their intuition tends to be well developed. Certainly their insight into themselves and others is unparalleled.
Without a doubt, they know what is going on inside themselves, and they can read other people with uncanny accuracy. ENFJs also identify with others quite easily, and will actually find themselves picking up the characteristics, emotions, and beliefs of those around them. Because they slip almost unconsciously into other people’s skin in this way, Teachers feel closely connected with those around them, and thus show a sincere interest in the joys and problems of their employees, colleagues, students, clients, and loved ones.
INFJ - The Counselor
Introverted Intuitive Feeling Judging type
INFJs have an exceptionally strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others, and find great personal fulfillment interacting with people, nurturing their personal development, guiding them to realize their human potential. Although they are happy working at jobs (such as writing) that require solitude and close attention, Counselors do quite well with individuals or groups of people, provided that the personal interactions are not superficial, and that they find some quiet, private time every now and then to recharge their batteries.
INFJs are both kind and positive in their handling of others; they are great listeners and seem naturally interested in helping people with their personal problems. Not usually visible leaders, Counselors prefer to work intensely with those close to them, especially on a one-to-one basis, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes.
INFJs are scarce, little more than 1.5% of the population, and can be hard to get to know, since they tend not to share their innermost thoughts or their powerful emotional reactions except with their loved ones. They are highly private people, with an unusually rich, complicated inner life. Friends or colleagues who have known them for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that Counselors are flighty or scattered; they value their integrity a great deal, but they have mysterious, intricately woven personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.
INFJs tend to work effectively in organizations. They value staff harmony and make every effort to help an organization run smoothly and pleasantly. They understand and use human systems creatively, and are good at consulting and cooperating with others. As employees or employers, INFJs are concerned with people’s feelings and are able to act as a barometer of the feelings within the organization.
Blessed with vivid imaginations, INFJs are often seen as the most poetical of all the types, and in fact they use a lot of poetic imagery in their everyday language. Their great talent for language-both written and spoken-is usually directed toward communicating with people in a personalized way. Counselors are highly intuitive and can recognize another’s emotions or intentions – good or evil – even before that person is aware of them. INFJs themselves can seldom tell how they came to read others’ feelings so keenly. This extreme sensitivity to others could very well be the basis of the their remarkable ability to experience a whole array of psychic phenomena.
ENFP - The Champion
Extroverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving type
More than any of the other types, ENFPs consider intense emotional experiences as being vital to a full life. Champions have a wide range and variety of emotions, and a great passion for novelty. They see life as an exciting drama, pregnant with possibilities for both good and evil, and they want to experience all the meaningful events and fascinating people in the world. The most outgoing of the Idealists, ENFPs often can’t wait to tell others of their extraordinary experiences.
The ENFP can be tireless in talking with others, like fountains that bubble and splash, spilling over their own words to get it all out. And usually this is not simple storytelling; Champions often speak (or write) in the hope of revealing some truth about human experience, or of motivating others with their powerful convictions. Their strong drive to speak out on issues and events, along with their boundless enthusiasm and natural talent with language, makes them the most vivacious and inspiring of all the types.
Fiercely individualistic, ENFPs strive toward a kind of personal authenticity, and this intention to always be themselves is usually quite attractive to others. At the same time, Champions have outstanding intuitive powers and can tell what is going on inside of others, reading hidden emotions and giving special significance to words or actions. In fact, ENFPs are constantly scanning the social environment, and no intriguing character or silent motive is likely to escape their attention. Far more than the other Idealists, Champions are keen and probing observers of the people around them, and are capable of intense concentration on another individual. Their attention is rarely passive or casual. On the contrary, ENFPs tend to be extra sensitive and alert, always ready for emergencies, always on the lookout for what’s possible.
ENFPs are good with people and usually have a wide range of personal relationships. They are warm and full of energy with their friends. They are likable and at ease with colleagues, and handle their employees or students with great skill. They are good in public and on the telephone, and are so spontaneous and dramatic that others love to be in their company. Champions are positive, exuberant people, and often their confidence in the goodness of life and of human nature makes good things happen.
INFP - The Healer
Introverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving type
INFPs present a calm and serene face to the world, and can seem shy, even distant around others. But inside they’re anything but serene, having a capacity for personal caring rarely found in the other types. Healers care deeply about the inner life of a few special persons, or about a favorite cause in the world at large. And their great passion is to heal the conflicts that trouble individuals, or that divide groups, and thus to bring wholeness, or health, to themselves, their loved ones, and their community.
INFPs have a profound sense of idealism that comes from a strong personal sense of right and wrong. They conceive of the world as an ethical, honorable place, full of wondrous possibilities and potential goods. In fact, to understand the INFP, we must understand that their deep commitment to the positive and the good is almost boundless and selfless, inspiring them to make extraordinary sacrifices for someone or something they believe in. Set off from the rest of humanity by their privacy and scarcity, Healers can often feel even more isolated in the purity of their idealism.
Also, INFPs might well feel a sense of separation because of their often misunderstood childhood. Healers live a fantasy-filled childhood-they are the prince or princess of fairy tales-an attitude which, sadly, is frowned upon, or even punished, by many parents. With parents who want them to get their head out of the clouds, INFPs begin to believe they are bad to be so fanciful, so dreamy, and can come to see themselves as ugly ducklings. In truth, they are quite OK just as they are, only different from most others-swans reared in a family of ducks.
At work, INFPs are adaptable, they are quick to welcome new ideas and new information, are patient with complicated situations, but impatient with routine details. Healers are keenly aware of people and their feelings, and relate well with most others. Because of their deep-seated reserve, however, they can work quite happily alone. When making decisions, INFPs follow their heart and not their head, which means they can make errors of fact, but seldom of feeling.
They have a natural interest in scholarly activities and demonstrate, like the other Idealists, a remarkable facility with language. They have a gift for interpreting stories, as well as for creating them, and thus often write in lyric, poetic fashion. Frequently they hear a call to go forth into the world and help others, a call they seem ready to answer, even if they must sacrifice their own comfort. INFPs are happiest when they venture forth and travel, seeking adventure and not only leaving it to the realm of fantasy.
THE RATIONALS (NTs)
ENTJ - The Fieldmarshal
Extroverted Intuitive Thinking Judging type
Of the four aspects of strategic analysis and definition it is the marshaling or situational organizing role that reaches the highest development in the ENTJ. As this kind of role is practiced some contingency organizing is necessary, so that the second suit of the ENTJs intellect is devising contingency plans. Structural and functional engineering, though practiced in some degree in the course of organizational operations, tend to be not nearly as well developed and are soon outstripped by the rapidly growing skills in organizing. But it must be said that any kind of strategic exercise tends to bring added strength to their engineering as well as organizing skills.
Hardly more than 4% of the total population, ENTJs are bound to lead others, and from an early age they can be observed taking command of groups. In some cases, they simply find themselves in charge of groups, and are mystified as to how this happened. But the reason is that they have a strong natural urge to give structure and direction wherever they are – to harness people in the field and to direct them to achieve distant goals. They resemble Supervisors in their tendency to establish plans for a task, enterprise, or organization, but Field-marshals search more for policy and goals than for regulations and procedures.
They cannot not build organizations, and cannot not push to implement their goals. When in charge of an organization, whether in the military, business, education, or government, ENTJs more than any other type desire (and generally have the ability) to visualize where the organization is going, and they seem able to communicate that vision to others. Their organizational and coordinating skills tends to be highly developed, which means that they are likely to be good at systematizing, ordering priorities, generalizing, summarizing, marshaling evidence, and at demonstrating their ideas.
Their ability to organize, however, may be more highly developed than their ability to analyze, and the ENTJ leader may need to turn to an ENTP (Inventor) or INTP (Architect) to provide this kind of input. ENTJs will usually rise to positions of responsibility and enjoy being executives. They are tireless in their devotion to their jobs and can easily block out other areas of life for the sake of their work. Superb administrators in any field – medicine, law, business, education, government, the military – ENTJs organize their units into smooth-functioning systems, planning in advance, keeping both short-term and long-range objectives well in mind.
For the ENTJ, there must always be a goal-directed reason for doing anything, and people’s feelings usually are not considered a sufficient reason for action. They prefer decisions to be based on impersonal data, want to work from well thought-out plans, like to use engineered operations – and they expect others to follow suit. They are ever intent on reducing bureaucratic red tape, task redundancy, and aimless confusion in the workplace, and they are willing to dismiss employees who cannot get with the program and increase their efficiency.
Although Fieldmarshals are tolerant of established procedures, they can and will abandon any procedure when it can be shown to be ineffective in accomplishing its goal. ENTJs root out and reject ineffectiveness and inefficiency, and are impatient with repetition of error.
INTJ - The Mastermind
Introverted Intuitive Thinking Judging type
All Rationals are good at planning operations, but INTJs are head and shoulders above all the rest in contingency planning. Complex operations involve many steps or stages, one following another in a necessary progression, and Masterminds are naturally able to grasp how each one leads to the next, and to prepare alternatives for difficulties that are likely to arise any step of the way. Trying to anticipate every contingency, INTJs never set off on their current project without a Plan A firmly in mind, but they are always prepared to switch to Plan B or C or D if need be.
INTJs are rare, comprising no more than one to two percent of the population, and they are rarely encountered outside their office, factory, school, or laboratory. Although they are highly capable leaders, Masterminds are not at all eager to take command, preferring to stay in the background until others demonstrate their inability to lead. Once they take charge, however, they are thoroughgoing pragmatists.
INTJs are certain that efficiency is indispensable in a well-run organization, and if they encounter inefficiency — any waste of human and material resources — they are quick to realign operations and reassign personnel. Masterminds do not feel bound by established rules and procedures, and traditional authority does not impress them, nor do slogans or catchwords. Only ideas that make sense to them are adopted; those that don’t, aren’t, no matter who thought of them. Remember, their aim is always maximum efficiency.
In their careers, Masterminds usually rise to positions of responsibility, for they work long and hard and are dedicated in their pursuit of goals, sparing neither their own time and effort nor that of their colleagues and employees. Problem-solving is highly stimulating to INTJs, who love responding to tangled systems that require careful sorting out. Ordinarily, they verbalize the positive and avoid comments of a negative nature; they are more interested in moving an organization forward than dwelling on mistakes of the past.
INTJs tend to be much more definite and self-confident than other Rationals, having usually developed a very strong will. Decisions come easily to them; in fact, they can hardly rest until they have things settled and decided. But before they decide anything, they must do the research. Masterminds are highly theoretical, but they insist on looking at all available data before they embrace an idea, and they are suspicious of any statement that is based on shoddy research, or that is not checked against reality.
ENTP - The Inventor
Extroverted Intuitive Thinking Perceiving type
ENTPs begin building gadgets and mechanisms as young children, and never really stop, though as adults they will turn their inventiveness to many kinds of organizations, social as well as mechanical. There aren’t many ENTPs, estimated at about 3% of the population, but they have great impact on our everyday lives. With their innovative, entrepreneurial spirit, Inventors are always on the lookout for a better way, always eyeing new projects, new enterprises, new processes. Always aiming to “build a better mousetrap.”ENTPs are keenly pragmatic, and often become expert at devising the most effective means to accomplish their ends. They are the most reluctant of all the types to do things in a particular manner just because that’s the way they have been done.
As a result, they often bring fresh, new approaches to their work and play. They are intensely curious and continuously probe for possibilities, especially when trying to solve complex problems. ENTPs are filled with ideas, but value ideas only when they make possible actions and objects. Thus they see product design not as an end in itself, but as a means to an end, as a way of devising the prototype that works and that can be brought to market. Inventors are confident in their pragmatism, counting on their ability to find effective ways and means when they need them, rather than making a detailed blueprint in advance.
A rough idea is all they need to feel ready to proceed into action. ENTPs often have a lively circle of friends and are interested in their ideas and activities. They are usually easy-going, seldom critical or carping. Inventors can be engaging conversationalists, able to express their own complicated ideas and to follow the ideas of others. When arguing issues, however, they may deliberately employ debate skills to the serious disadvantage of their opponents.
ENTPs are usually non-conformists in the workplace, and can succeed in many areas as long as the job does not involve too much humdrum routine. They make good leaders on pilot projects that test their ingenuity. And they are skilled at engineering human relationships and human systems, quickly grasping the politics of institutions and always wanting to understand the people within the system rather than tell them what to do. No matter what their occupation, however, Inventors display an extraordinary talent for rising to the demands of even the most impossible situations. “It can’t be done” is a challenge to an ENTP and elicits a reaction of “I can do it.”
INTP - The Architect
Introverted Intuitive Thinking Perceiving type
INTPs need not be thought of as only interested in drawing blueprints for buildings or roads or bridges. They are the master designers of all kinds of theoretical systems, including school curricula, corporate strategies, and new technologies. For INTPs, the world exists primarily to be analyzed, understood, explained – and re-designed. External reality in itself is unimportant, little more than raw material to be organized into structural models. What is important for Architects is that they grasp fundamental principles and natural laws, and that their designs are elegant, that is, efficient and coherent.
INTPs are fairly rare – about four or five percent of the population – and show the greatest precision in thought and speech of all the types. They tend to see distinctions and inconsistencies instantaneously, and can detect contradictions no matter when or where they were made. It is difficult for an INTP to listen to nonsense, even in a casual conversation, without pointing out the speaker’s error.
In any serious discussion or debate INTPs are devastating, their skill in framing arguments giving them an enormous advantage. Architects regard all discussions as a search for understanding, and believe their function is to eliminate inconsistencies, which can make communication with them an uncomfortable experience for many.
Ruthless pragmatists about ideas, and insatiably curious, INTPs are driven to find the most efficient means to their ends, and they will learn in any manner and degree they can. They will listen to amateurs if their ideas are useful, and will ignore the experts if theirs are not. Authority derived from office, credential, or celebrity does not impress them. Architects are interested only in what make sense, and thus only statements that are consistent and coherent carry any weight with them.
INTPs often seem difficult to know. They are inclined to be shy except with close friends, and their reserve is difficult to penetrate. Able to concentrate better than any other type, they prefer to work quietly at their computers or drafting tables, and often alone. Architects also become obsessed with analysis, and this can seem to shut others out. Once caught up in a thought process, INTPs close off and persevere until they comprehend the issue in all its complexity. Architects prize intelligence, and with their grand desire to grasp the structure of the universe, they can seem arrogant and may show impatience with others who have less ability, or who are less driven.
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