ISTJ Ability and Job Satisfaction Characteristics!

You are ISTJ, Introverted with Sensing, Thinking and Judging, with ISTJ ability, or you are interested in someone who is, and you are perhaps seeking information regarding how the ISTJ personality type and associated ISTJ 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 ISTJ ability can be maximally used in the workplace and how all this knowledge of ISTJ ability can increase workplace motivation and job satisfaction for you, and your organization.

You can also learn how knowledge of ISTJ strengths and weaknesses in the workplace, that is ISTJ ability, can insure that the ISTJ 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!

ISTJ Workplace Strengths

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

• the ability to really think something over before committing, won’t act impulsively
• the ability to speak up naturally, they typically won’t “shrink” from a potential confrontation
• 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
• the ability to easily engage in debate, give and take, even constructive argument/criticism
• the ability to step back and be very impersonal
• 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 ISTJ to use the strengths listed above, ISTJ ability, as a natural part of doing the job would be the jobs/careers providing maximum workplace motivation for the ISTJ. With increased workplace motivation normally follows increased job satisfaction. Likewise, jobs/careers not allowing the ISTJ ability to be used will provide much less workplace motivation and consequently much less job satisfaction for the ISTJ personality type.

ISTJ Workplace Weaknesses

ISTJ personality and ISTJ 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
• may seem distant and unapproachable
• sometimes insensitive to others
• don’t allocate much time toward building relationships
• will be uncomfortable to troubled proceeding without plans
• may initially see “new” things as immediately negative

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

What Others Might Observe First

• are organized, dependable, persistent, and do what’s sensible
• are quiet and less engaged with others so they may seem impersonal or detached
• have a strong sense of duty and responsibility; they do not waste time, money, or other resources, and they follow procedures and rules that have a logical purpose (and expect others to do the same)
• are attentive to details and bring a vast array of facts and data to bear on their work

Work Style

• are methodical, like as much information as possible about the task before proceeding, plan their work, and strive to stick to the plan (usually they are not comfortable figuring it out as they go along)
• like responsibilities and rewards to be clear, objectives to be tangible and measurable, tasks to be well defined, and instructions to be specific
• use standard and established techniques to complete work, work within existing frameworks, and get work done right and on time
• prefer to work on one thing at a time and not to be pulled in too many directions, don’t mind working alone, and don’t like interruptions

On Work Teams/In Groups

• are often relied on for accurate information (e.g., up-to-date figures, complete notes or minutes)
• are task-oriented so their first concern is to get the work done and they may be less attentive to the group’s process and the “goings on” of the team (especially when attending to process seems to take too much energy from the work)
• like having a clear structure (or chain of command), and want the team to establish clear objectives, schedules and deadlines
• want the team to be moving toward its objectives and may be impatient with protracted deliberations and mulling over of multiple options

Facing Change

• bring realism and have a clear notion of what seems feasible
• are stabilizers who are cautious and naturally conservative
• are most comfortable with and most supportive of incremental change that preserves and builds on what has been shown to work
• because of these views, may be experienced as resistant to change

During Conflict

• project calm-often do not appear bothered by conflicts which are upsetting others (though they may have internalized them)-and propose sensible, matter-of-fact solutions
• try to remain rational, reasonable, and objective about everything including emotions; not necessarily comfortable with emotions and may regard it as inappropriate to bring them into workplace deliberations and issues
• seek the support of someone with whom they are close to confide in
• under stress, may be particularly pessimistic, seeing only “worst case” possibilities, and may start to doubt themselves

Workplace Contributions

• bring the historical perspective, may be the team or organizational memory or historian
• emphasize productivity and efficiency-getting the job done while making good use of both human and material resources
• strong allegiance to individuals and organizations
• precision, objectivity, and thoroughness

May Be Experienced As

• determined-establishing objectives and doing what it takes to reach them-and sometimes as so determined that they seem set in their ways, stubborn, and not open to considering other alternatives
• hard working and productive and sometimes as too serious and proper
• noticing and pointing out things which are inconsistent with standard practices or seem to them to be “unfair”
• hard to get to know, removed

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 relatets 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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