Are you an INTJ looking to improve your personal and professional life?
As an INTJ, you may have a natural inclination towards efficiency and productivity, but there are always areas for growth and development.
In this article, we will explore some tips and strategies to help you become the best version of yourself. From managing emotions in the workplace to seeking input from others, we will delve into ways to improve your interpersonal relationships and work-life balance.
So, let’s dive in and discover how you can reach your full potential as an INTJ.
How To Improve As An INTJ
1. Seek Input From Others
As an INTJ, you may be used to finding the best solutions within your own mind. However, it’s important to seek input from others to gain new perspectives and uncover blind spots. This can help improve your ideas and plans, and ultimately lead to better outcomes.
2. Cultivate Humility and Compassion
INTJs tend to focus internally on their ideas and abstract concepts, but may avoid introspection when it comes to their emotional state. Cultivating humility and compassion can help you become more in touch with your own blind spots and character defects, and improve your relationships with others.
3. Strive for Work-Life Balance
It’s easy for INTJs to become consumed with work or projects they have devised. However, it’s important to strive for better work-life balance to avoid negative consequences for personal wellbeing and relationships in the long run. Take time to examine your emotions and responses, even if it doesn’t come naturally.
4. Pick Your Battles
INTJs may feel compelled to argue every single point due to their perfectionistic hyper-logical nature. However, it’s important to understand that sometimes it’s necessary to let the small things go in order to accomplish bigger goals in the long run.
5. Resist the Desire for Constant Improvement
INTJs may have a tendency to always want to be fixing and improving everything around them. However, not everyone wants to be fixed and not all companies want greater efficiency. It’s important to recognize when something is working well and resist the urge for constant improvement.
Managing Emotions In The Workplace
As an INTJ, managing emotions in the workplace can be a challenge. However, there are several strategies you can use to improve your emotional intelligence and create a more positive work environment.
1. Develop an Emotional Vocabulary
If you struggle to identify and express your emotions, start by developing an emotional vocabulary. This means finding words that accurately describe how you feel, such as “frustrated,” “elated,” or “anxious.” When you can pinpoint your emotions, you can better manage them and communicate them to others.
2. Label Your Emotions
Research has shown that labeling your emotions can actually make them less intense. When you put your feelings into words, you activate the prefrontal region of your brain and see a reduced response in the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for setting off biological alarms to protect you from perceived threats. So, take the time to label your emotions and put them into words to help you manage them more effectively.
3. Find Ways to Diminish Sensory Stimuli
As an INTJ, sensory details and stimulation can trigger grip reactions and stress. To find equilibrium and relief from stress, find ways to diminish sensory stimuli. This may include laying in bed with the lights off, going to a dark room and shutting the door, or closing your eyes and taking deep breaths.
4. Take Time to Think Things Through
While group feedback is important, INTJs work best when they have separate time to think things through uninterrupted. If they don’t accept your ideas, don’t take it personally. They are genuinely trying to figure out the best solution in an objective manner.
5. Avoid Overly Emotional Language
When working through conflict, focus on clearly addressing the root of the problem from your perspective while avoiding overly emotional language. Work through the problem analytically and step by step to find the best possible solution.
By implementing these strategies for managing emotions in the workplace, INTJs can improve their emotional intelligence and create a more positive work environment.
Seeking Input From Others
As an INTJ, it’s important to recognize that constantly relying on your own internal processing can lead to missing important details and potential blind spots. Seeking input from friends, family, and colleagues can breathe new life into a stale approach and provide valuable insights that you may not have considered.
While it’s important to have confidence in your own abilities, conferencing with others can help you improve your ideas and plans. It may be uncomfortable at first to open yourself up to outside perspectives, but it can ultimately lead to better outcomes.
To seek input from others, consider scheduling brainstorming sessions or seeking feedback on specific projects or ideas. It’s important to actively listen to the feedback you receive and consider it objectively, even if it challenges your initial thoughts or plans.
Remember that seeking input from others doesn’t mean you have to compromise your own values or ideas. It’s simply a way to gain new perspectives and improve your approach. By incorporating the insights of others, you can become a more well-rounded and effective INTJ.
Developing Interpersonal Relationships
Developing strong interpersonal relationships can be a challenge for INTJs, but it is an important skill to have. One way to improve in this area is to give generous compliments. Compliments act as a gateway to new relationships and can naturally lead to conversations and a two-way dialogue flow. INTJs may struggle with receiving compliments, so practicing this skill can help them feel more comfortable in social situations.
Another way to improve interpersonal relationships is to seek out input from others. INTJs are used to finding the best solutions within their own minds, but gaining new perspectives and uncovering blind spots can lead to better outcomes. This can also help build stronger connections with others by showing that you value their opinions and ideas.
Cultivating humility and compassion is also important for improving interpersonal relationships. INTJs tend to focus internally on their ideas and abstract concepts, but taking the time to examine their emotions and responses can help them become more in touch with their own blind spots and character defects. This can lead to better communication and understanding with others.
Finally, it’s important for INTJs to pick their battles. While it may be tempting to argue every point, sometimes it’s necessary to let the small things go in order to accomplish bigger goals in the long run. This can help avoid unnecessary conflicts and improve relationships with others.
Balancing Work And Personal Life
One of the biggest challenges for INTJs is balancing work and personal life. As natural problem-solvers, INTJs can find themselves consumed with work or projects they have devised, leaving little time for relaxation or personal relationships. Here are some tips to help achieve better balance:
1. Set Boundaries
It’s important to set boundaries between work and personal life. This can mean creating a schedule or allocating specific times for work and leisure activities. By setting boundaries, INTJs can avoid becoming consumed with work and ensure they have time for personal relationships and hobbies.
2. Prioritize Self-Care
INTJs may neglect self-care in favor of work or projects they have devised. However, taking care of oneself is crucial for maintaining physical and emotional wellbeing. This can include regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and practicing mindfulness or meditation.
3. Make Time for Relationships
INTJs may struggle with social interactions, but it’s important to make time for personal relationships. This can mean scheduling regular outings with friends or family members, or joining social groups that align with personal interests.
4. Learn to Delegate
INTJs may feel that only they can do a job correctly, but learning to delegate tasks can help alleviate stress and free up time for personal pursuits. Delegating tasks can also provide opportunities for others to grow and develop new skills.
5. Practice Flexibility
INTJs may have a tendency to stick rigidly to plans or schedules, but practicing flexibility can help achieve better balance between work and personal life. This can mean being open to new experiences or adjusting plans as needed to accommodate unexpected events or opportunities.
By implementing these tips, INTJs can achieve better balance between work and personal life, leading to improved overall wellbeing and success in both areas of life.
Finding Creative Outlets
As an INTJ, finding creative outlets can be a challenge, but it’s important for personal growth and wellbeing. One way to do this is by exploring nature. Being alone in nature can be extremely relaxing and allow you to focus on sensory details, helping you manage stress and access intuition.
Another way to tap into your creativity is by seeking out consulting roles, which allow you to use your analytical thinking and communication skills to solve problems with people who have different perspectives. This career path also allows you to take initiative on projects and find ways to help your clients succeed.
If you’re struggling to unlock your inner muse, try experimenting with different processes that speak to your interests, whether that be art, technology, or something else entirely. Don’t be afraid to push your work boundaries by using your own methods without asking permission, or persistently seeking permission to try your own ideas using logical arguments and reasons to justify your proposed methods.
Lastly, it’s important to embrace whatever creative outlets your work provides and savor any chance to exercise your creativity in a mindful way. Remember that success takes time and effort, so take the time to enjoy it before looking ahead to the next opportunity. By finding creative outlets, you can improve as an INTJ and become a more well-rounded individual.
Embracing Flexibility And Adaptability
As an INTJ, you may be used to having a plan and sticking to it. However, embracing flexibility and adaptability can lead to greater success and growth. Here are some tips for embracing flexibility and adaptability:
1. Embrace Change
Change can be difficult for INTJs, as they prefer predictability and routine. However, embracing change can lead to new opportunities and growth. Take time to process the change and all its implications before making a decision.
2. Minimize Distractions
As an INTJ, you may be easily distracted by new ideas or projects. However, it’s important to prioritize and stay focused on the task at hand. Minimizing distractions can help you stay on track and accomplish your goals.
3. Be Open-Minded
INTJs may have strong opinions and beliefs, but it’s important to remain open-minded to new ideas and perspectives. This can lead to greater creativity and innovation.
4. Seek Feedback
INTJs may be confident in their abilities, but seeking feedback from others can help improve their ideas and plans. This can also help them identify blind spots and areas for improvement.
5. Embrace Imperfection
As perfectionists, INTJs may struggle with embracing imperfection. However, it’s important to recognize that perfection is not always attainable or necessary. Embracing imperfection can lead to greater flexibility and adaptability.
By embracing flexibility and adaptability, INTJs can improve their problem-solving skills and achieve greater success in both their personal and professional lives.
