So we’re doing personality profiles in my boss’ workgroup, this time working with Myers-Briggs. In keeping with past testing, I came up with an INTJ combo — which happens to be the same as the Boss Man (which may be good, may be bad).
Now, Myers-Briggs (MBTI) gets a lot of flack, mostly because people consider it some sort of magic oracle (“it slices, it dices, it tells you everything you need to know about someone!”). That’s silly, but I still find it fascinating to do just because it does seem to come up with some interesting insights into both me and those around me.
I’m a very strong “I” (Introverted, rather than Extroverted), which is probably no surprise. I hate interruptions and enjoy privacy. I can compensate and chit-chat and socialize if need be, especially with friends — but I always need a lot of recharging afterwards. About half of Boss Man’s group is I (including Boss Man).
On the next one — Sensing vs iNtuition — I’m usually a very weak “N.” Practicality, explicit instructions, enjoying the familiar, being a traditionalist and a “pencil pusher” wars just a scosh unsuccessfully against telling the overall story, recognizing the gestalt, running off on tangents, and being a “big picture” guy. Most of the Boss Man’s group is also an “N,” many of them stronger than me.
In Thinking vs Feeling I’m a fairly strong “T” — as is everyone else in the Boss Man’s group (IT people — go fig). Working off of principles and rules, worrying about precedents, using logic and analysis. trying to fix problems rather than understand them, being more prone to knee-jerk criticism than appreciation … yeah, for better and worse. I always did like Mr Spock more than Dr McCoy. No wonder the HR department, “The Land of ‘F’,” as Margie calls it, is always driving me batty.
In the last quadrant, Judgment vs Perception, I am a moderate “J” (as is half of the Boss Man’s group_. I tend toward planning and order and an organized lifestyle, having my life under control, with clear limits and categories. On the other hand, I’ve grown more accepting of flexbility and spontaneity in some circumstances (my vacation planning tends to be a lot less anal than it once was). Still, though I don’t always get things done before deadlines, I worry about them a lot.
So, INTJ … close to an ISTJ, maaaaybe a bit of ISTP. Looking at the descriptions for those, a lot of it fits me. Which, being known by my peers and boss (and vice-versa), maybe means I can work with them better. That’s the plan, anyway.
Sorry, but the thought of you being a “INTJ” makes me laugh. But maybe I just know the hardcore ones.
So in what way am I lacking in the InTj-ness? No, honestly curious. “O wad sum pow’r” and all that.
Think BD (others, but you don’t know the ones I know).
You suffer fools FAR too lightly to be INTJ. I mean, you actually try to see things from their perspective! Pfft.
Lee’s brother Mike is another big one. He’s a lawyer. A tax lawyer. A tax lawyer for the IRS. His teeth sharpen to points when he causally, off-handedly mentions some his cases (carefully withholding details).
Yeah, that seems to be a common thread with some others, too. “Fools r NOM NOM NOM.”
Mostly, yep, but I bounce between INTJ and ISTJ….always big on the J. =P
Is “suffering fools” is more of a T vs F thing?
The J in my case,comes from organization, desire for things being under control, clear limits and expectations, etc. I’m actually a weaker J than I used to be — my vacation planning used to be a lot more anal than it is today, for example.
~has enough vacation planning anal to share~ =P
I think it’s a T + J thing.
Heh. The thought of Mike, etc. being spontaneous during a vacation also cracks me up.
Mike: \Okay, the most efficient way to house 2 adults with 2 kids over 2 days with relative proximity to your apartment is at this rooming house. We can also cook our own meals there…\
Significant Other: \We are NOT cooking on vacation.\
\But…\
Heh …
First vacation to the UK I took (first wife), I went to the library, Xeroxed off eleventy-dozen tour book pages, cross-referenced them to various maps, and had a stapled travel package with us that guided us step-by-step with highlights and notes of interest along the way.
Now it’s more like, “Hmmm, yeah, I’ll do some reading and come up with a few places I want to go, but I actually don’t want to be over-scheduled. That’s too much work for a vacation.”
Though, that said, I am not a “sit around and lounge” sort of vacationer.
Hmmm. Given that J is looking simply looking for key expectations to be met and have the perception of life being under control — I’m willing to let others (to some degree) control the agenda, as long as some particulars of mine are addressed. So perhaps it’s more a matter of becoming lazy in my dotage.
I am failing to see anything wrong here.
Whereas I have only recently begun to acknowledge that a loose itinerary can make life more enjoyable, as in “well, if we don’t see anything fun, let’s have xyz as a backup.” Or “if I plan ahead, someone else might go with me.” Or, “if I pretend I’m trying to fill a schedule and ask if anyone knows of any weird places to stop, people will tell me about places I wouldn’t have found on my own.”
Although YT will go, “COFFEE SHOP WITH PANDA BEARS IN THE WINDOW!!!” and cross three lanes of traffic without signaling every time.
Joke, joke, I always use my turn signal…
Heh.
So, for example, for the Walt Disney World trip forthcoming, Margie is doing most of the research, which is cool. I trust her and am willing to let her deal with our itineraryin more detai than I care to.
Actually, the biggest trick in that context is (for both of us) being sure that we express and share and (as need be) negotiate our expectations over such things. Many, many arguments and sulks and grumps ensue when that doesn’t happen …