Are you struggling to manage an INTJ in your workplace?
Do you find it difficult to communicate with them effectively or understand their unique personality traits?
If so, you’re not alone.
INTJs are a rare and exceptional personality type, making up only 4% of the population.
They possess a unique set of characteristics that can make them difficult to handle for those who are not familiar with their ways of thinking and working.
In this article, we’ll explore some tips and strategies for managing an INTJ successfully, including how to communicate with them effectively, how to provide them with the independence they need, and how to set clear expectations for their work.
So, if you’re ready to learn how to manage an INTJ like a pro, keep reading!
How To Manage An INTJ
1. Understand Their Communication Style
INTJs prefer to communicate in written form rather than face-to-face interactions. They tend to be direct and concise, so it’s important to avoid pulling them out of their comfort zone for longer than necessary. When possible, just discuss something via email.
2. Provide Them With Independence
INTJs thrive when they have the freedom to work independently and focus on their tasks without distractions. They prefer to work alone and may find team-building exercises or group outings to be distractions or even impositions on their time.
3. Set Clear Expectations
INTJs have high standards for themselves and others, and they expect competence from their team members. As a manager, it’s important to set clear expectations for their work and provide them with the resources they need to meet those expectations.
4. Give Them Time To Process Independently
INTJs need privacy and independence to function optimally. They require adequate time to process independently and recharge, so having multiple meetings back-to-back can be exhausting for them and can lead to inefficiencies.
5. Respect Their Logical Thinking
INTJs think logically and linearly, supporting their opinions and positions with empirical observations and data. They voice themselves assertively even if they have unpopular opinions or meet resistance. As a manager, it’s important to respect their logical thinking and encourage them to share their creative insights as well.
Understanding The INTJ Personality Type
To effectively manage an INTJ, it’s important to understand their personality type. INTJs are naturally reserved and logical. They tend to focus on discussing the bigger picture rather than dragging out the conversation by bringing up the details. They prefer to work alone and may find team-building exercises or group outings to be distractions or even impositions on their time.
INTJs have high standards for themselves and others, and they expect competence from their team members. They communicate in a logical and linear fashion that reflects their thought process, supporting their opinions and positions with empirical observations and data. They voice themselves assertively even if they have unpopular opinions or meet resistance.
INTJs also need privacy and independence to function optimally. They require adequate time to process independently and recharge, so having multiple meetings back-to-back can be exhausting for them and can lead to inefficiencies. It’s important to provide them with the freedom to work independently and focus on their tasks without distractions.
As a manager, it’s crucial to set clear expectations for their work and provide them with the resources they need to meet those expectations. Understanding their communication style, respecting their logical thinking, and giving them time to process independently can help prevent miscommunications and misunderstandings, ultimately improving efficiency in the workplace.
Effective Communication Strategies
Effective communication with an INTJ requires an understanding of their unique communication style. They prefer to focus on the big picture and logic, so it’s important to provide them with clear and concise information that fits into a larger future vision or framework. When communicating with an INTJ, it’s important to be authentic, respectful, and calm to gain their trust.
To gain their interest, give them a complex problem to solve or ask them for long-range strategies. Show appreciation for their insight and analytical skills. Avoid overwhelming them with a bunch of concrete details as they will first want to see the big picture. Don’t belittle their visionary, out-of-the-box ideas and be prepared for them to play devil’s advocate. INTJs may also find it difficult to communicate with representatives of the sensory/feeling group (SF) including ESFJ, ISFJ, ESFP, and ISFP personality types. Therefore, it’s best to keep communication based upon feelings, facts, and concrete sensations when communicating with SF people.
When communicating with people in the sensory/thinking group (ST) including ESTJ, ISTJ, ESTP and ISTP personality types, INTJs should mostly keep to communication based upon facts and the consequences directly proceeding from them. With people in the intuitive/feeling group (NF) including ENFJ, INFJ, ENFP, and INFP personality types, INTJs should mostly keep to communication based on ideas, concepts and theories. Communication between INTJs and representatives of this group often touches multiple aspects of the discussion and is beneficial to both sides.
It’s also important to understand that ISTPs and INTPs are introverted thinkers (Ti), making them especially tough to convince. To communicate with them better, ask probing questions to start figuring out how they think. Listen to their answers rather than convincing or attacking because they tend to become defensive or feel misunderstood. Providing reading material can also be helpful as it gives them time to mull over ideas and integrate them into their belief systems.
Providing Independence For INTJs
INTJs are highly independent individuals who value autonomy in their work. They prefer to work alone and may become frustrated with micromanagement or having to constantly ask for permission to make decisions. As a manager, it’s important to provide them with the independence they need to thrive.
One way to provide independence for INTJs is to give them the freedom to work on their tasks without distractions. They may find team-building exercises or group outings to be interruptions on their time and prefer to work independently. Providing them with a private workspace and the resources they need to complete their tasks will help them feel empowered and in control of their work.
Another way to provide independence for INTJs is to give them time to process information independently. INTJs require personal space and energy to effectively use their dominant function of Introverted Intuition (Ni) to form insights and ideas. Interruptions during this process can be incredibly frustrating for them, so it’s important to respect their need for privacy and allow them adequate time to think independently.
It’s also important to set clear expectations for INTJs’ work and provide them with the resources they need to meet those expectations. INTJs have high standards for themselves and others, and they expect competence from their team members. As a manager, it’s important to communicate clearly what is expected of them and provide them with the tools they need to succeed.
Finally, it’s crucial to respect INTJs’ logical thinking and encourage them to share their insights. INTJs are analytical thinkers who rely on empirical observations and data to support their opinions and positions. They may voice themselves assertively even if they have unpopular opinions or meet resistance. As a manager, it’s important to respect their logical thinking and encourage them to share their creative insights as well.
Setting Clear Expectations For INTJ Work
One crucial aspect of managing an INTJ is to set clear expectations for their work. INTJs have high standards for themselves and others, and they expect competence from their team members. Therefore, as a manager, it’s essential to provide them with a clear understanding of what is expected of them in terms of their work.
To start, it’s important to define the scope and objectives of the project or task they will be working on. This will help them understand what they need to accomplish and how their work fits into the bigger picture. Additionally, it’s crucial to establish clear deadlines and milestones for the project, so they can plan their work accordingly.
Another critical aspect of setting clear expectations is providing INTJs with the resources they need to meet those expectations. This includes access to necessary information, tools, and technology. INTJs value efficiency and productivity, so providing them with the right resources will help them achieve their goals more efficiently.
It’s also essential to communicate regularly with INTJs to ensure that they are on track with their work. However, it’s important to respect their independence and privacy. Therefore, it’s best to communicate through written forms such as email or instant messaging rather than face-to-face meetings unless necessary.
Finally, it’s important to provide constructive feedback regularly. As mentioned earlier, INTJs value competence and high standards for themselves and others. Therefore, providing feedback on their performance is essential for their growth and development. However, feedback should be clear and logical rather than emotional or vague.
Managing Conflict With INTJs
INTJs may not engage in conflict often, but when they do, they approach it with a direct and matter-of-fact attitude. They tend to take criticism well and don’t take things personally, but they can become irritated when others let their emotions get the better of them and behave irrationally. If you find yourself in a conflict with an INTJ, there are some strategies you can use to minimize conflict and resolve the issue effectively.
Firstly, it’s important to focus on active listening rather than trying to solve the problem right away. This may not come naturally to an INTJ, but it’s important to remember that sometimes people just need to vent their frustrations. Try to keep your opinions to yourself when others are in conflict and instead offer advice to help others communicate and see each other’s sides of the situation.
Secondly, try not to keep your emotions bottled up when in a conflict with an INTJ. It’s important to communicate your own emotions calmly and without anger. INTJs appreciate honesty and directness, so it’s important to be straightforward with them about how you feel.
Thirdly, understand that INTJs hate small talk but are highly stimulated by deep intellectual conversations. They appreciate when others make the effort to meet them at their level of competency. Don’t beat around the bush or engage in unproductive superficial conversations. Instead, ask deep questions that can help you both get on the same page.
Lastly, when working through a conflict with an INTJ, 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. When you make an effort to communicate with INTJs in a way that they like, you can build a better relationship, empathize with their perspective, and establish needed trust. Making simple adjustments to your communication style can mean a world of difference in understanding and working alongside each other.
Recognizing And Utilizing INTJ Strengths
INTJs have a unique set of strengths that make them valuable assets to any team. One of their greatest strengths is their ability to process and analyze information quickly and accurately. They are often referred to as “walking encyclopedias” due to their vast stores of knowledge. This makes them excellent problem solvers who can devise innovative solutions to complex problems.
Another strength of INTJs is their independence. They thrive when given the freedom to work on their own and focus on their tasks without distractions. This means they can be trusted to work autonomously and deliver high-quality work without constant supervision.
INTJs are also known for their logical thinking and assertive communication style. They are not afraid to voice their opinions, even if they go against the norm. As a manager, it’s important to recognize and utilize this strength by encouraging them to share their ideas and insights.
Finally, INTJs are excellent long-term planners who can define a compelling vision for the future. They are able to see the big picture and devise a plan to get there, making them valuable assets when it comes to strategic planning.
In summary, INTJs have a unique set of strengths that make them valuable assets to any team. By recognizing and utilizing these strengths, managers can help INTJs achieve their full potential and contribute meaningfully to the success of the team.
