ISTJ
the responsible realist
ISTJs and careers
ISTJs at work
ISTJs tend to appreciate jobs with structure, routine, and dependability. They don’t particularly crave excitement or change in the workplace. Instead, they like to learn all there is to know about their job, and are often adept at absorbing and storing this information. For someone with preferences for ISTJ, becoming an expert in their field is a measure of success.
ISTJs enjoy a good balance of teamwork and privacy in the workplace, so they don’t typically favor start-ups or other open-plan or novelty office spaces. Most of all, they appreciate the reliability that certain career paths afford—such as the steady pay, the benefits, and the potential for advancement.
Career trends for ISTJs
ISTJs are drawn to careers that emphasize the bottom line. They don’t typically like jobs that are conceptual or ambiguous, which is why you’ll find a lot of ISTJs in the fields of health care, business, finance, insurance, and the military.
Leadership style of ISTJs
More than 15% of global leaders have ISTJ preferences.
ISTJs absorb information from their own experiences. They tend to take note of what worked well or didn’t work in the past; then they apply these lessons to managing a team or running a business.
ISTJs tend to be kind and considerate without being too personal. However, they might appear rigid under stress.
ISTJs on a team
ISTJs are good team players, provided they know their role and what is expected of them. They prefer clear, concise instructions and direct communication between team members. Their main priority is to get the job done well.
While they appreciate the social elements of teamwork, ISTJs dislike too much small talk. They tend to be hard on others it they suspect them of slacking or not pulling their weight.
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