People who type as Feelers in the Myers and Briggs personality system make for truly special friends and partners. That’s because they’re able to connect emotionally, communicate their thoughts and feelings, and empathize when appropriate. These types are very tuned into their emotions, which can be an essential tool to navigating the world.
ISTJs are aptly described as the “Inspectors” of the Myers and Briggs personality system and if you can remember that, everything else makes perfect sense.
Our thought process, our behaviors, our decisions, all come from a place that looks at the world as a whole and constantly places individual pieces into their logical positions therein. In general, we inspect things in order to improve and maintain them.
Being “nice” is undoubtedly one of the most virtuous personality traits you can have. After all, people who show a high level of agreeableness on the Big 5 personality test are empathetic, helpful, get along with others and demonstrate an ability to understand other people’s pains and struggles.
A close friend of mine told me once that, though I claim not to have any “best” friends, everyone thinks they are mine. Why? Because I’m an ENFP. And when I’m with you, I’m WITH you. If you’re hurt, I’m hurt. If you’re celebrating a victory, I’m the first one clinking glasses to cheer you on. My language is smiles and compliments and they flow effortlessly, bringing people into me like moths to a flame.
INFPs, the compassionate, idealistic, “healers” of the Myers and Briggs personality system, have many positive traits that make us great friends, employees, and colleagues. We’re good at tuning into others’ feelings and putting ourselves in their shoes. We pick up on subtle cues others miss, and we’re creative and imaginative.
Personality isn’t something we change; it’s something we embrace. It’s a tricky proposition though, if we let the stereotypes of others define us instead of using our own personal understanding of ourselves to remind us who we are.
Regardless of personality type, we all have a sixth sense that makes us do, feel or say something that we already know. It might be a physical sensation, like sweaty hands or a knot in the stomach that alerts us to some kind of danger. Or it might be a deep conviction that something is ‘right’, even if we’re not sure why it’s right or what led us to that conclusion.
How often have you heard someone say that body language makes up 90 percent of communication? The number may or may not be true, but we definitely know that our words are only one avenue of communication. Body language conveys information about thoughts, perceptions, moods, and emotions, which other people pick up on either consciously or subconsciously.
Are you shy and think this is a weakness? You may be looking at shyness the wrong way. According to the latest research, somewhere between 40 and 60 percent of all adults report being shy. And while it’s easy to get down on yourself when you are shy or socially anxious, there are times when it’s a trait of real strength.
Within our structured and fast-moving society, where organization and the ability to perform under pressure are prized, Thinker-Judgers excel. These are the quick-thinking, competitive, closure-seeking personalities of the 16-type system. They operate with the same efficiency as a Swiss watch.
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