ISFJ Ability and Job Satisfaction Characteristics!

You are ISFJ, Introverted with Sensing, Feeling and Judging, with ISFJ ability, or you are interested in someone who is, and you are perhaps seeking information regarding how the ISfJ personality type and associated ISFJ ability gleaned from the Myers Briggs Test can perform optimally and at their very best in the workplace. You may also be seeking information as to how ISFJ ability can be maximally used in the workplace and how all this knowledge of ISFJ ability can increase workplace motivation and job satisfaction for you, and your organization.

You can also learn how knowledge of ISFJ strengths and weaknesses in the workplace, that is ISFJ ability, can insure that the ISFJ will not fall victim to job dissatisfaction which has been termed “Falsification of Type” and which is the core reason an estimated 70% of all the workers in the world dislike (or hate) their jobs!

ISFJ Workplace Strengths

ISFJ ability and strengths are many and would instinctively include the following:

• the ability to really think something over before committing, won’t act impulsively
• are reflective, quiet, and prone to consider before acting
• the ability to be naturally aware of organizational guiding principles and philosophies
• the ability to initially and instantly focus upon the facts of a situation, the specifics of current or past situations
• the ability to be “real” practical, they will work on what is and what is “right now”
• the ability to take things literally and at face value
• the ability to keep things “grounded” and based upon previous experience and reality
• the ability to naturally identify inconsistencies, deficiencies in plans and ideas
• are amiable and approachable; are sensitive to others, sometimes at the cost of being direct
• often want to spend some time getting to know others and build relationships before getting to the work at hand
• are naturally appreciative of people’s ideas and contributions
• believe that how a group works together is equally important as what is accomplished; expect the best ideas and solutions to emerge from cooperation; may experience give and take as disruptive arguments
• are sensitive to how others will react or be affected; promote harmony, conciliation, and well-being; seek win/win results
• urge actions that are congruent with individual values and the professed values of the organization
• the ability to commit and stick to plans, schedules
• the ability to focus, ponder, deliberate
• the ability to finish what they begin regardless of time constraints
• the ability to organize well
• the ability to administrate

Basically those jobs/careers that would allow the ISFJ to use the strengths listed above, ISFJ ability, as a natural part of doing the job would be the jobs/careers providing maximum workplace motivation for the ISFJ. With increased workplace motivation normally follows increased job satisfaction. Likewise, jobs/careers not allowing the ISFJ ability to be used will provide much less workplace motivation and consequently much less job satisfaction for the ISFJ personality type.

ISFJ Workplace Weaknesses

ISFJ personality and ISFJ ability would include a tendency toward the following workplace weaknesses:

• may need to be asked what you think or feel
• may view meetings as naturally negative events that cause more work than is accomplished by having them
• will have difficulty seeing the big picture
• may have difficulty multi-tasking without great stress
• sometimes insensitive to others
• want the work of a team to be realistic and doable, and are less interested in (and may be impatient with) discussions about vague, unrealistic, or “theoretical” possibilities
• will be uncomfortable to troubled proceeding without plans
• may initially see “new” things as immediately negative

Now take a few moments and consider how ISFJs behave and perform in the workplace from the following seven aspects:

What Others Might Observe First

• are war, friendly, good natured, unassuming, sensitive to others, and good listeners; may also be constrained and not communicate a lot, especially about themselves
• are hard working, steady, and dependable, and they have a strong sense of responsibility and duty
• are down-to-earth, practical, and realistic; they follow procedures and respect traditions and the way things are done
• are organized and good at organizing both people and things

Work Style

• prefer to plan the work and be prepared for the snares and obstacles that might be encountered, and are most comfortable getting organized before beginning a project
• are most drawn to work that is helpful and provides a tangible service to others
• prefer to work on one thing at a time, giving attention to one person or project without interruption
• want to know specifically what is expected of them

On Work Teams/In Groups

• seek to create a non-threatening, supportive environment; generally they are concerned and involved group members who need time to get to know others and begin to build solid working relationships
• favor establishing clear goals, objectives, schedules, milestones, etc., and are comfortable working within hierarchical structures
• expect everyone to do their share and pull their own weight (they themselves often do more than their share)
• do best when they are recognized for their contributions (especially when many of their accomplishments are less conspicuous)

Facing Change

• foster change that addresses people’s unmet needs and helps them develop and become “better persons”
• often respect experience and tradition so they prefer gradual change and may take a “don’t rock the boat” stance
• value fairness and want change to be fair and have similar impact on all
• bring a sense of stability by creating structure and order; do best when change can be well planned

During Conflict

• prefer and work best when there is harmony, support, and affirmation (lack of harmony-such as office feuds-can be upsetting and throw them off track) and may use gentle humor to try to create harmony
• tactful, kind, gentle, considerate, and aware of and responsive to what others are experiencing and feeling; may use the “I’ve been there” approach to help others resolve conflict
• very sensitive and may take negative feedback and “constructive criticism” personally
• under stress, may be uncharacteristically pessimistic and/or disorganized

Workplace Contributions

• focus on getting the job done and creating a supportive, positive environment
• show strong loyalty to the organization
• value follow-through and focus individual or group efforts on achieving what they set out to do; they themselves work quietly to make sure things run smoothly
• bring stability, calm, and organization and structure to projects or departments/teams

May Be Experienced As

• good with detail, patient, thorough and sometimes as “picky” about details, too structured, not spontaneous
• serious, deep and reserved, and sometimes as hard to read, taking longer to get to know
• communicating indirectly, “beating around the bush”
• concerned that things go well and sometimes as overly concerned “worriers”

The Myers Briggs Test can be looked upon sometimes as an ability and personality test. Once you have identified your personality type via the Myers Briggs Test and have some understanding of the associated strengths, weaknesses, abilities and behaviors of your type you can better determine the kind of work environment and associated factors that provide the maximum workplace motivation and job satisfaction for you. Again, view the results of the Myers Briggs Test concerning work as a kind of ability and personality test.

If you would like to study a different personality type link below and go back to the Personality and Work page to find links to the other 15 personality types, follow those links and enjoy!

If you have questions regarding your personality type in the workplace as it relates to using the Myers Briggs Test as an ability and personality test, please do not hesitate to use the Support/Contact Request form on the navigation bar to the left. We would enjoy hearing from you and will try to answer any questions you may have about the Myers Briggs Test and its uses and/or the Myers Briggs focused consultation services offered by Solid Rock Consulting Group, LLC.

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