Sixteen Months of Type — INTJ

This is the ninth post in our 16 Months of Type series and we focus here on INTJ. To remind you, we are using our material on managing life transitions with psychological type (formerly available through CPP as Introduction to Type® and Reintegration and now available on CareerPlanner.com) as the jumping off point for each piece and then connecting this material to the self-discovery process that frequently accompanies life-changing events (LCEs). Read on!

INTJ, Introversion, Intuition, Thinking and Judging When facing an LCE, INTJs typically want an approach that is objective and universally applicable. If your preferences are for INTJ, you tend to suspend judgment while seeking additional pertinent information. Those who prefer INTJ also tend to be very independently minded, seeing meaningful connections between disparate ideas that others may overlook. If you prefer INTJ you most likely feel most at ease when you have the opportunity to examine an idea in its entirety before deciding whether to move forward with it, in part or in whole. As a rule, INTJs tend to guard their “processing time” carefully and will resist being rushed into action until they feel satisfied that they have constructed a complete and thorough plan that accounts for any and all possible negative consequences. INTJs tend to cautious and have as their ideal philosophy, “measure twice, cut once.” This tendency can be especially magnified during times of change. Those who want to learn by doing, trying things out as they go will need to be patient with the INTJs measured approach. INTJs prefer to avoid surprises and the necessity to retool their design midstream.

When INTJ preferences are overdone, people who prefer INTJ may be so intent on pursuing a long term goal and crafting an overarching strategy to meet it that they fail to see small steps that could be taken today to improve their quality of life. The usual INTJ desire for all data to be examined from every angle and for the “right” target to be selected out of all the myriad possibilities can go into overdrive. This can mean they miss opportunities already present and available in their immediate environment. This drive for analytical perfection can keep them from simple, practical, and concrete strategies that could begin improving conditions immediately. When INTJs remain focused on outcomes that are theoretically possible but extremely unlikely, they can waste time and energy that might be better spent understanding and working with their new circumstances rather than trying to force reality into their vision of how things should or could be. During times of ambiguity, INTJs can become fixated on remaining detached to manage anxiety. When taken too far, this can cause them to neglect to consider the impact of their decisions on their own emotional well-being as well as on the well-being of their significant others.

When facing an LCE, INTJs typically need an insightful companion to mentor, guide, and support them on their transition journey. Since those who prefer INTJ enjoy debate, discussion and challenging the conventional wisdom, they seek companions who can spar with them and hold up under repeated rounds of questioning. They tend to see their situation as unique and therefore they want a companion who can inspire them to devise a far-reaching and innovative solution that is as individual as they are. A discriminating companion will respect the high standards to which people with preferences for INTJ hold themselves while assisting them in determining which are worthy holding onto with their usual tenacity. This guidance can also help them see which standards, if maintained, could actually prevent them from attaining that ideal future state that they seek to achieve. Finally, wise counsel can assist INTJs in remembering that life by definition is a mystery and not everything can be anticipated or planned. With encouragement, most INTJs will recall people, events, and occurrences from their past that although unexpected, were of tremendous benefit – assuming a curiosity mindset creates room for more such unforeseen gifts.

When such a companion is not present in the life of people who prefer INTJ, they may reject common sense plans and believe that there is little benefit to asking others for advice. Without reminders of their shared humanity — including possessing a physical body with physical needs — they may assume that their situation is somehow so exceptional that the wisdom and practical experience they might glean from others simply doesn’t apply. In addition, without a companion to help them avoid seeing any failures as their sole and personal responsibility, INTJs may struggle to take effective action in the here and now to alter their future for the better. This lone wolf tendency may cut them off from rewarding, interesting, and even fun experiences with those that are seeking to collaborate or help if only they would be allowed to do so. In the absence of a practically minded companion who reminds INTJs to utilize the knowledge and experience of others and helps them clarify their immediate priorities, people who prefer INTJ can get hung up on waiting for a flash of insight that signals the perfect plan and suffer unnecessarily without support. A perceptive companion can reassure them that getting going on implementing a “good enough” plan, that is, one that eases their suffering and allows trusted others to participate, will make them better off in both the short and the long term.

Self-Discovery Tool Number 79
If you prefer INTJ (or you have someone in your life with this four-letter type code), the following questions may help as you process a life-changing event.

  1. How can you find ways to enrich your experience by connecting with others and reaching out to share stories, time, and strategies?
  2. How can your past experiences be a guide to what might help you manage things more successfully now?
  3. How can you assess the impact of your actions on those you care about?
  4. How can you build flexibility into your goals and plans to take advantage of learning opportunities as they appear?

 

Sixteen Months of Type — ENTP

This is the eighth post in our 16 Months of Type series and we focus here on ENTP. To remind you, we are using our material on managing life transitions with psychological type (formerly available through CPP as Introduction to Type® and Reintegration and now available on CareerPlanner.com) as the jumping off point for each piece and then connecting this material to the self-discovery process that frequently accompanies life-changing events (LCEs). Read on!

ENTP, Extraversion, Intuition, Thinking and Perceiving
When facing an LCE, ENTPs typically want an approach that that has few restrictions and allows for questions. If your preferences are for ENTP, you tend to do best in times of change when there are opportunities to ask probing questions, debate concepts, and explore multiple options for moving forward. You want to brainstorm with others as well as try things out. ENTPs tend to prefer to keep things fluid, allowing for improvisation and adaption as new data become available. Sticking to a plan just for the sake of it can be a recipe for frustration, boredom, and loss of energy for ENTPs. After all, who knows when new information will come along requiring a complete rethink from the ground up?!

When ENTP preferences are overdone, people who prefer ENTP may be so focused on what might coming up next and how they can make it happen more quickly, that they tend to overlook the present moment, both specific facts and their feelings about these facts. This future and action-oriented approach can mean that they fail to attend to important details — including practical necessities and their own and others’ current physical and emotional needs — and thus inadvertently create more work in the long term. When things are done in a less than careful manner, they will most likely need to be reworked or reexamined later. Those who prefer ENTP may also withdraw their participation if things seem too routine or mundane, not recognizing that a little time spent in the necessary “grunt work” of reviewing genuine limiting factors will add veracity and strength to their vision as well as engender the support of more cautious folks.

When facing an LCE, ENTPs typically need a creative companion to mentor, guide, and support them on their transition journey. Since those who prefer ENTP are usually curious and enthusiastic, they seek companions, whether friends, colleagues or helping professionals, who aren’t afraid to question the status quo, look at things critically as well as playfully, and enjoy robust banter. No topic should be off limits and spirited and vigorous discussion is paramount. ENTPs are usually open to all kinds of information and a source’s expert status due to rank or title holds little weight with them. Any companion helping ENTPs on their journey needs to be broad-minded as well – information has to be good in and of itself, and something that is traditionally seen as true is not enough to convince ENTPs of its value.

When such a companion is not present in the life of people who prefer ENTP, they may struggle to keep up their motivation when things feel slow, dull, or tedious. A clever companion can help ENTPs see that those around them might need things to evolve more slowly and judiciously and encourage the ENTP to be patient with those who are less action-oriented and spontaneous. Without this forthright and sage feedback, people who prefer ENTP may assume that others are trying to thwart the change process when instead they most likely just require a more measured approach. Having a companion who can challenge them to recognize the differing needs of others can also act as a springboard for ENTPs becoming better able to identify their own feelings and needs. Together they can brainstorm ways to get these needs met during the rough spots, stuck points and “doldrums” periods common to all transitions (and remind them that these will not last forever) while at the same time understanding that others may need more in the way of specifics or reflection time to the appreciate the future potential that ENTPs see so readily.

Self-Discovery Tool Number 79
If you prefer ENTP (or you have someone in your life with this four-letter type code), the following questions may help as you process a life-changing event.

  1. How can you find time to check-in with yourself and discover what matters most – in people terms as well as in terms of the bottom line?
  2. How can your past experiences be a guide to what might help you manage things more successfully now?
  3. How can you assess the impact of your actions on those you care about?
  4. How can you create plans, schedules or routines to help you manage your new way of living more easily?

 

Sixteen Months of Type — ENFP

This is the sixth post in our 16 Months of Type series and we focus here on ENFP. To remind you, we are using our material on managing life transitions with psychological type (formerly available through CPP as Introduction to Type® and Reintegration and now available on CareerPlanner.com) as the jumping off point for each piece and then connecting this material to the self-discovery process that frequently accompanies life-changing events (LCEs). Read on!

ENFP, Extraversion, Intuition, Feeling and Perceiving
When facing an LCE, ENFPs typically want an approach that makes it possible for them to stretch and grow. If your preferences are for ENFP, you most likely see a life-changing event as a time to embrace change and do things differently. People who prefer ENFP tend to do best if they have ongoing, informal opportunities to share and discuss ideas as they arise and when plans are kept flexible, imaginative, and expansive. Limiting options or codifying procedures before ENFPs have had the chance to try things out or play with new concepts typically dampens their enthusiasm and motivation. ENFPs tend to be drawn to strategies that feel nontraditional and fun, and those that include a variety of people and circumstances. They often have an uncanny ability to draw the greatest resources of talent from these interactions and in doing so, make it so that the most may benefit from the changes taking place.

When ENFP preferences are overdone, there can be a tendency for them to overextend themselves at the risk of jeopardizing their health and/or neglecting practical concerns. In their zest for devising creative strategies, people who prefer ENFP may not fully consider whether their inventive plans can realistically be enacted. Further, because ENFPs generally enjoy change, when facing an LCE they may too quickly dismiss those things that have worked in the past in favor of starting everything anew. Embarking on a complete “do-over” may inadvertently make things tougher by creating more work for themselves and others. In addition, the ENFP’s typical optimism and desire to see everyone happy may also mean that debates are curtailed or critical facts are not thoroughly discussed for fear of provoking conflict when such conversations may be both helpful and necessary to avoid mistakes.

ENFPs typically need an imaginative companion to mentor, guide, and support them on their transition journey. The support of such a mentor is particularly important when it comes to brainstorming the possibilities that LCEs bring. Since people who prefer ENFP typically get their best insights when talking over their ideas, they desire companions who can use metaphors and imagery to help them visualize options and who will understand and honor the importance of imagination. These companions can also assist those who prefer ENFP in formulating ways to manage their time and energy in order to establish conditions that are sustaining to their practical and physical needs. This helps ENFPs conserve stamina for developing the big picture—their favorite part of the process and usually the best use of their gifts.

When such a companion is not present in the life of people who prefer ENFP, they may feel isolated, with the sense that they are missing out on opportunities to make things better because their ideas are not valued or fully explored. Without the benefit of an imaginative companion, they may lose motivation and not fully participate in plans and strategies that they deem too staid or conventional. This is a loss for them and others, as their unique approach may offer the fine-tuning needed to make existing policies better. A resourceful companion can help ENFPs creatively position their ideas in practical terms, which helps traditionalists and non-traditionalists alike accept, appreciate and utilize the ENFPs’ contributions.

Self-Discovery Tool Number 77
If you prefer ENFP (or you have someone in your life with this four-letter type code), the following questions may help as you process a life-changing event.

  1. How can you find time to check-in with yourself and discover what matters most – in terms of the bottom line as well as in people terms?
  2. How can your past experiences be a guide to what might help you manage things more successfully now?
  3. How can you take an objective inventory of the pressing facts as they relate to the transition taking place?
  4. How can you incorporate a few plans, schedules, or routines to help you manage your time and energy more easily?

Sixteen Months of Type — ISTP

This is the fifth post in our 16 Months of Type series and we focus here on ISTP. Things have changed since our April post and we are excited to be developing a new platform on which to release our material on managing life transitions with psychological type (formerly available through CPP as Introduction to Type® and Reintegration) so that it is more helpful, accessible and user friendly, in order to better reach those who could benefit.

As a result, we are in the process of getting this material to a wider audience and this blog will remain one of our methods. Stay tuned for news of our next move and read on to hear our thoughts on the self-discovery process that frequently accompanies life-changing events (LCEs).

ISTP, Introversion, Sensing, Thinking and Perceiving
When facing an LCE, ISTPs typically want an approach that is tactical and economical. If your preferences are for ISTP, you most likely want to evaluate plans in terms of their feasibility and need to have a reason to engage in new tasks or try out new behaviors, especially if these are unfamiliar. ISTPs generally require time to assess personally any new situation that presents itself. This time is essential for ISTPs in order to get their own, direct read on how things have changed and how things are. ISTPs may need others to be patient, understanding that outside reports are likely to seem irrelevant or unimportant until this first, individual survey is completed. If this internal review shows action is warranted, ISTPs can usually be counted on to get going on tackling the challenge at hand. ISTPs tend to be energized by troubleshooting; applying their problem-solving abilities to uncover which possibilities can most readily be made concrete and actionable.

When ISTP preferences are overdone, ISTPs may focus on what strategy seems easy and straightforward at the expense of what might be most meaningful to them and to others long term. If they can’t see a way to make an immediate impact, they may withdraw their participation. They may also get so caught up in the perceived inconsistencies or lack of logic of the new circumstances that they miss opportunities to connect and collaborate with others who could help them sift through the facts to determine what matters and what doesn’t. In stressful conditions such as these, isolated from corrective feedback, they may fail to acknowledge that life is full of situations that are frustratingly nonsensical. Opening up to outside input can help ISTPs regain their typically more pragmatic view of how the world operates and allow them to be more present for – and even enjoy – the help being offered and those offering it.

ISTPs typically need a matter-of-fact companion to mentor, guide and support them on their transition journey. Such a companion can encourage them to share thoughts and feelings by offering detailed stories and anecdotes drawn from personal experience. Honest and direct conversation like this can stimulate ISTPs to apply their adaptive approach to the emotional as well as the logistical demands of LCEs. These companions can also assist those who prefer ISTP to look at things from a standpoint of curiosity, awakening the creative and analytic skillfulness typically present in ISTPs approach to problem solving. Such companions also serve ISTPs by helping them to distinguish between areas where improvisation will be fruitful and those where a more considered, deliberate approach will be required.

When such a companion is not present in the life of people who prefer ISTP, they may see no other way forward than to go it alone. However, the solo activities they relied on in less demanding times may no longer be enough to help them relax and regain perspective. By their nature, LCES tend to create understandable concerns about competence, reduce confidence and bring up feelings of vulnerability. Without a trusted companion who can put things in matter-of-fact terms and normalize such feelings, emotions may overwhelm ISTPs to such an extent that fail to activate their typical interest in and expertise at puzzling their way out of dilemmas and challenges. A straight talking companion can remind them that these emotional impacts – on ISTPs and on the significant others in their lives – also have practical implications which, if attended to, can be managed for the benefit of all.

Self-Discovery Tool Number 76
If you prefer ISTP (or you have someone in your life with this four-letter type code), the following questions may help as you process a life-changing event.

  1. How can you find ways to enrich your experience by connecting with others and reaching out to share stories, time, and strategies?
  2. How can you find ways to see this transition as an opportunity to expand your perspective in order to approach things more optimistically and enthusiastically?
  3. How can you assess the impact of your behavior on those significant to you and what do you need to ask for from others?
  4. How can you create plans, schedules, or routines to help you manage your new way of living more easily?

Sixteen Months of Type — ISTJ

This is the fourth post in our 16 Months of Type series and we focus here on ISTJ. To remind you, we are using material on managing life transitions with psychological type (formerly available through CPP as Introduction to Type® and Reintegration and now available on CareerPlanner.com) as the jumping off point for each piece and then connecting this material to the self-discovery process that frequently accompanies life-changing events (LCEs). Read on!

ISTJ, Introversion, Sensing, Thinking and Judging
When facing an LCE, ISTJs typically want an approach that is realistic, step-by-step and logical and makes sense within traditional frameworks they understand well. If your preferences are for ISTJ, you most likely require time alone to research and reflect on what is happening. Wherever possible, investigating connections between your current situation and what you already know can help fuel the desire to solve new problems. In order to move forward most effectively, ISTJs tend to prefer a plan that approaches change carefully and incrementally; rushing or pursuing change for change’s sake feels uncomfortable and can be a great source of stress. ISTJs need others to respect their need for a measured policy.

When ISTJ preferences are overdone, there can be a tendency toward delaying action to avoid change and an undervaluing of new data or methods in favor of what’s customary because it’s customary rather than due to its inherent superiority. In addition, people who prefer ISTJ may be unable to envision positive outcomes and therefore imagine a worst-case scenario because they are facing a situation with which they have no prior experience. Furthermore when stressed, their tendency to turn inward, which usually serves them well, may cause them to fail to share their concerns with others. In such cases their private thoughts may get the better of them, allowing their worries to multiply unchecked.

ISTJs typically need an experienced companion to mentor, guide, and support them on their transition journey. By sharing his/her knowledge in plain language and in specific, commonsense terms, the support of such a mentor can ease confusion. These companions can provide the benefit of their experience, offering useful examples of related and relevant situations that can give the ISTJ a better sense of what to expect. They can furnish an outline of what has worked for others in similar circumstances and what milestones to look for to feel more certain that they are on the right track. Someone who has “been there” can remind them that transitions are hard for everyone and that everyone handles change a little differently. Experienced companions can also remind ISTJs that when things settle into a “new normal,” their typical style of carefully thinking things through can be of great help in crafting useful, new, fresh traditions, standards, and procedures.

When such a companion is not present in the life of people who prefer ISTJ, they may fail to see the big picture, get mired in details, and cling to notions from the past that are no longer relevant, and without realizing it, frustrate those around them. Left to their own devices, ISTJs may also fail to recognize that their pace and the pace of others during change may be different. Thus they may shy away from temporary compromises in speed and accuracy believing that the only good solution is one that can be made permanent. A seasoned companion can encourage them check in with others to benefit from their experience and to learn how they are seeing things. With this help and additional information, ISTJs can then employ their keen data gathering and data analysis skills. Thus prepared, they can more confidently determine where compromises may need to be made and if their private worries are warranted or are more related to a fear of the unknown than to objective facts.

Self-Discovery Tool Number 75
If you prefer ISTJ (or you have someone in your life with this four-letter type code), the following questions may help as you process a life-changing event.

  1. How can you find ways to enrich your experience by connecting with others and reaching out to share stories, time, and strategies?
  2. How can you find ways to see this transition as an opportunity to expand your perspective in order to approach things more optimistically and enthusiastically?
  3. How can you assess the impact of your behavior on those significant to you?
  4. How can you build flexibility into your goals and plans to take advantage of learning opportunities as they appear?

Sixteen Months of Type — ENFJ

This is the third post in our 16 Months of Type series and we focus here on ENFJ. To remind you, we are using our material on managing life transitions with psychological type (formerly available through CPP as Introduction to Type® and Reintegration and now available on CareerPlanner.com) as the jumping off point for each piece and then connecting this material to the self-discovery process that frequently accompanies life-changing events (LCEs). Read on!

ENFJ, Extraversion, Intuition, Feeling and Judging
When facing an LCE, ENFJs typically want an approach that highlights people’s strengths and is aligned with values. If your preferences are for ENFJ, you most likely see a life-changing event as an opportunity to involve others and find a solution that enhances your relationships. People who prefer ENFJ often use their own transitions as the inspiration to become leaders of community organizations or groups that support others facing similar challenges. ENFJs seek to balance the need for immediate action and a desire for group harmony, so they typically strive to craft plans that promote the greatest common good in the hope that such plans will be embraced readily by all concerned so that good will can restored as quickly as possible.

When ENFJ preferences are overdone, there can be a tendency overcommit to helping others, often at the expense of self-care. Moreover, in their drive for action and interaction, people who prefer ENFJ may not take the time to examine their motives and as a result may substitute keeping busy for a careful investigation of their own and others’ true needs and values. In addition, because they generally want to be agreeable, when ENFJs are in a position of needing care and validation, they can find it challenging to express anger or disappointment at a significant other’s inability to provide support during an LCE. Further, the ENFJ’s desire to see the best in people can also mean that even after this sort of distressing experience they may fail to prune such relationships even when they are no longer sustaining, thus leaving themselves open to be hurt again.

ENFJs typically need an encouraging companion to mentor, guide, and support them on their transition journey. The support of such a mentor is particularly important when it comes to exploring the emotional impacts of an LCE. Since people who prefer ENFJ typically feel comfortable sharing thoughts and feelings openly, they desire companions who will validate their displays of emotions, both positive and negative. These companions can also assist those who prefer ENFJ to use their insights into emotional states to discern which relationships feel reciprocal, which might be better dissolved and when they might require downtime to regroup and re-energize.

When such a companion is not present in the life of people who prefer ENFJ, they may fail to grapple with the conflict between how they actually feel and how they believe that someone in their position should be feeling. Without the benefit of a reassuring companion, they may avoid or repress what they deem to be socially unacceptable feelings, inadvertently adding more stress to what is already a tough situation. In addition to the loss of integrity this creates, suppression of such thoughts and feelings can create a snowball effect, turning what were initially small concerns into bigger issues. An uplifting companion can get them back on track by helping them to look inside for the sources of their worth and value; reminding them that strong character is built upon grappling with difficult emotions.

Self-Discovery Tool Number 74
If you prefer ENFJ (or you have someone in your life with this four-letter type code), the following questions may help as you process a life-changing event.

  1. How can you find time to check-in with yourself and discover what matters most – in terms of the bottom line as well as in people terms?
  2. How can you explore the larger meaning of your experiences in order to discover new ways of proceeding that might help you to manage your transition more successfully?
  3. How can your past experiences be a guide to what might help you manage things more successfully now?
  4. How can you build flexibility into your action plan to take advantage of learning opportunities as they appear?