ENTJ: Extravert-iNtuitive-Thinker-Judger
- Extraverts are outgoing, energetic and action-oriented. They are enthusiastic and expressive
- iNtuitives pay more attention to information that is imaginative and original. iNtuitives focus on the future.
- Thinkers make decisions using logic and impersonal analysis. They think with their heads rather than their hearts.
- Judgers prefer a lifestyle that is decisive, planned and orderly. They like a life that is organized and controlled.
An ENTJ at a glance
ENTJs are natural born leaders. This motivation is so powerful that they may find it difficult not to take the lead. Their natural place is at the head of the crowd, marshalling everyone together and moving the group forward. ENTJs are rarely content to stand quietly in the background. They set high standards for themselves and others. They are continually creating a mental list of things they want to learn, accomplish and master.
ENTJs are keenly analytical. Being logical, dispassionate and objective is as natural to them as breathing air. Problems invigorate them – they enjoy resolving them using logic and objective critical thinking – strong points of their personality. ENTJs decisive and positive actions leaves others in the dust. They have little patience with uncertainty, inefficiency or confusion. They are not afraid to make tough-minded decisions and take hard actions.
Their probable contributions to an organization
Each personality type has a different set of skills, talents and attributes that they bring to an organization, group or relationship. Here is a list of those most commonly associated with personality types like ENTJ.
- Is a take-charge kind of person.
- Readily and joyfully tackles confusion and inefficiencies.
- Radiates confidence to all with whom he/she comes into contact.
On a team
Some people work well on teams, others work best on their own. Understanding the personality types of team members provides information about how individuals are likely to carry out their work and interact with each other. Given the personality preferences of an ENTJ, the following are the strengths (and possible weaknesses!) they will most likely bring to a team:
- Leadership, pure and simple.
- Brings total dedication to a project.
- Contributes by being goal-oriented, organized and by delivering results.
ENTJ leadership style
Each personality type has its own leadership style, strengths and blind spots. The following highlights an ENTJ approach to leadership, provides clues as to how an ENTJ will act in a leader role, and pinpoints some of the leadership qualities.
- Cannot not lead – leading is like breathing.
- Generates energy and enthusiasm for work.
- Objectively approaches situations, goals and the necessary tasks at hand.
Communications style
Effective communication is composed of two elements: how well you listen, and how you express yourself. Good communication skills are at the heart of success. Being aware of how we communicate, how others communicate and how we prefer others to communicate with us, is a significant step in achieving this objective. Your personality style has its own communication strategies that are more effective for you than other’s communication styles.
- Is direct and pragmatic.
- Speaks with decisiveness and authority.
- Speaks with passion and commitment.
Problem solving
Different people solve problems in different ways. Based on the ENTJ personality type, ENTJ’s will probably use the following methods and skills in problem solving:
- Knows that where there is a will, there is a way- and an ENTJ will find it.
- Asks questions of others to help sort out his/her own thoughts.
- Asks if there are other ways to seek solutions.
Stress Profile
Stress plays a significant factor in our abilities to be effective at work and have healthy sustainable relationships. The greater the stress, the harder it becomes to maintain quality work and quality relationships. Each personality type has strengths and blind spots. Under stress, blind spots emerge and people rely on their least favourite functions to operate.
Stress triggers
- A prized principle has been ignored, compromised or transgressed.
- Accused of being cold, uncaring, or too harsh with someone.
- Surprising expressions of strong emotion from someone they care about.
Stress profile characteristics
- Loses their visionary, intuitive, take-charge and tough-minded abilities.
- May be easily fatigued and find it difficult to maintain their logical thinking.
- Taking effective action becomes hard to do.
Motivators
People are usually most effective when their environment matches their preferences and work style. When a good match is not present, it will be more difficult to achieve results. Below are some of the ENTJ’s work preferences and key characteristics that ENTJ’s look for in work, or try to avoid. These key characteristics also indicate how an ENTJ would typically like to be managed or related to.
- Prefers situations where he/she can be in charge.
- Prefers situations where his/her vision can be implemented.
- Seeks efficient systems and people, or the opportunities to create such.
ENTJ Learning style
For many years it has been known that different personality types have different ways of learning. Knowing how a person learns is a big advantage for structuring on-the-job training or classroom instruction. The ENTJ learning style is as follows:
- Finds learning to be a turn-on and a major way to move a career forward.
- Looks for action and variety in the classroom; avoids boredom.
- Likes tools that reflect his/her organizational abilities such as outlines, charts, diagrams and graphs.
Opportunities for Growth
As we grow and mature, it is important to pull back from our favourite ways of doing things and build skills in the areas of our least favourite preferences. We thereby become a more balanced and versatile individual. The following suggestions address some of the ENTJ more obvious blind spots and are areas to pay attention to.
- Slow down and back off once in a while- mistakes may occur with quick decisions.
- Be sensitive to the needs and imperfections of human beings- sometimes others perceive you as arrogant or so task-focused that they feel slighted.
- Learn to exercise patience with other people’s work habits and time frames- you can be an intimidating, formidable force.
