Do you have so many interests that you literally do not know what to do with your life? Or perhaps you have a woefully low boredom threshold and are sure that, whatever you are obsessed with now, you'll eventually lose interest and let it go—so that you can start something new and totally unrelated instead?
If so, you're not alone.
One of the biggest sources of workplace conflict shows up in differences on the fourth dimension of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - Judging versus Perceiving. A person whose style is "J" will schedule things in advance, organize their work with attention to deadlines and keep their eyes firmly on the goal. A "P" on the other hand, is pretty loose and free wheeling. They like to work on multiple projects simultaneously and to keep their options open until the very last minute, rather than forming a plan ahead of time.
There's no shortage of guidance about how to respond to negative feedback. Whether the criticism comes as a shock or is entirely expected, the same advice is consistently touted: Listen carefully, don't get defensive, and act on the feedback to improve your performance.
Inspired by a similar post about Extraverts, I'm here to talk about the mistakes that Introverts—myself very much included—may be making without realizing it. Some of them are more obvious than others, but these are some that I've only recently caught myself doing.
What does it mean to be an INFP? Some might call you a starry-eyed idealist, a perfection-seeker, a wearer of rose-tinted spectacles. Others might recognize your tolerance, your adaptability, your wise counsel or your endless empathy with the underdog.
While all educators are susceptible to burnout, the introverted teacher is fighting a unique battle. They are willingly immersing themselves in an environment designed to exhaust themselves.
As an introverted teacher, I quickly realized I was in over my head. It wasn’t the teaching itself that really got to me; it was the constant external stimulation that accompanies the world of education. Between busy hallways, loud noises, and bright lights I would, inevitably, be left utterly exhausted by mid-week.
Ah, the open plan office. It's to the 21st century what the cubicle farm was to the 1980s - everywhere. Today's employers are tearing down walls as a business imperative and with them, the barriers to communication and idea flow. Even freelancers are leaving their solitary kitchens and coffee shops. Formal co-working spaces, which offer pay-per-desk access to a community of like-minded individuals, are a mega-trend among the self-employed.
Ambition isn't a problem for most INFPs - it's anxiety. A highly sensitive, compassionate and emotional creature, you have a low tolerance for conflict and a strong need to please. As such, going to work can feel like walking on eggshells. You don't want to say or do the wrong thing so you might not say much of anything - and this paralysis can have a detrimental effect on your career.
Career fears can read like a list of deadly sins for the ambitious INFP. Here are the seven common job worries you might face, and what you can do about them.
When asked to describe a great leader, which type of person springs to mind? The all-guns-blazing, exuberant networker? Or how about the dominant visionary who flips tradition on its head? Certainly not the understated loner who listens more than they speak, right?
Freewheeling, independent-spirited INFPs don’t just want any job. If you've scored as INFP on a personality test, you know that you want to do something you care deeply about. You want a career that ignites your passion, expresses your values and contributes something good to the world. And you want to do it all on your own terms.
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