ESTJ at Work

Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash

ESTJs show clear and consistent tendencies, and these are especially visible in the workplace. Whether subordinates, colleagues, or managers, people with the ESTJ personality type create order, follow the rules, and work to ensure that their work and the work of those around them is completed to the highest standards. Cutting corners and shirking responsibility are the quickest ways to lose ESTJs’ respect.

ESTJ Subordinates

ESTJs are hardworking and do things by the book. Though sometimes stubborn and inflexible, especially when presented with ideas that haven’t been fully developed, ESTJ personalities are open to new methods that can be demonstrated to be better. However, ESTJs are unlikely to do much experimenting on their own — adhering to stated responsibilities and fulfilling their duties is their primary concern.

ESTJs are also well-known for their loyalty and dedication, but in some ways, this is contingent on their respect. People with this personality type are willing to voice their opinions, especially in deciding what is and is not acceptable — if provided with sensible responses that address their concerns, they are often satisfied with that. If ESTJs view their managers as illogical, dishonest or cowardly in their methods, they can be uncomfortably honest, if still calm and level, in voicing their opinions on that as well.

ESTJ Colleagues

ESTJs enjoy the hustle and bustle of well-organized workplaces. Honest, friendly, and down-to-earth, ESTJ personalities are great networkers who enjoy connecting with others to get things done. Abusing this for advancement is unlikely, and is in fact something ESTJs frown upon. Shortcuts are irresponsible, and people with the ESTJ personality type lose respect quickly for those who try to push forward by showing off or promoting bold but risky ideas, making relationships with more inspiration-oriented colleagues a challenge.

ESTJs like to feel like they are a part of the team and a part of the greater organization that they work for. To make sure this happens, ESTJs are nearly always willing to accept criticism that can help to improve their effectiveness, and always keep an eye on their surroundings to make sure they and their team deliver the results that are expected of them.

ESTJ Managers

ESTJs take genuine pleasure in organizing others into effective teams, and as managers, they have no better opportunity to do so. While sometimes overbearing, even micromanaging, ESTJs’ strong will also serve to defend their teams and principles against diversions and cutbacks, regardless of who brings them. Laziness and bad work ethic are not tolerated by ESTJs under any circumstances.

ESTJs project natural authority, but they sometimes expect this authority to be abided unconditionally, resisting change and demanding that things be done by the book. Whether ESTJs’ own book or the existing rules and traditions are used is subject to circumstances, but they do tend to rest on the security of tradition and precedent. Regardless, ESTJs’ expectations are clearly expressed, leaving little room or tolerance for deviation from the agenda.

ESTJs are built to project manage, which is why they are often found in Operations type roles, quickly weighing up the situation, setting targets, and marshaling the resources to make sure the job is done — on time and within budget. The ESTJ has a strong work ethic and this includes loyalty to the cause — whatever that cause is. This desire to get things done may mean that they ignore the niceties, the softer issues as they tend not to be so well-tuned into how other people are feeling. There is a strong competitive edge to the ESTJ, and a need to assume control and this can often make it difficult for others to deflect them from their chosen course of action. The ESTJ simply wants to get on and get things done. Formal and structured ESTJ works best when everyone is clear as to the ground-rules, (the ESTJ will happily create them if they are lacking). Practical planners, ESTJs are factual, accurate, detailed, and process-driven the ESTJ will bring order, structure, and focus to their environment.

Their ability to jump in and take charge can, however, become a weakness as the ESTJ will follow the traditional, tried-and-tested route, and may want to dive in quickly, get their hands dirty and ignore the advice of those who may want to reflect or try a different approach. This can mean the ESTJ will be traditional and often quite conservative in their approach, preferring the known to experimenting or trying a more novel, creative approach so they may not always adapt well to change, and indeed if pushed hard can make formidable opponents to any new order. For the ESTJ change must make logical sense and ‘if it ain’t broke then why fix it?’ ESTJs thrive on order and continuity. ESTJs are traditional and hierarchical, they exude work ethic. Power, position, and prestige should be worked for and earned. Laziness is viewed with scorn and the credo is ‘If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!’

The desire to ‘do’ can also make the ESTJ very present-focused and so they may not necessarily appreciate how such present actions may impinge on the future nor do they excel at predicting or anticipating future trends or forecasting as they are keen to make quick decisions and are built to get to closure as quickly as possible in order to get the job done. So, the ESTJ may rush in without stopping to consider the full range of options open as their prime focus will be to get on with it and as such, they may be difficult to budge. They plan with logic and objectivity, relying on empirical evidence and data rather than emotions. If something needs to be planned, organized followed through then the ESTJ is the person to do it.

ESTJs are factual, accurate, detailed and process-driven the ESTJ will bring order, structure, and focus to their environment. Being extraverted, their focus involves the organization of people, tasks, processes, etc which all translates into “management.” While ENTJs enjoy organizing and mobilizing people according to their own ideas, ESTJs are content to enforce ‘the rules,’ often dictated by tradition or handed down from a higher authority, if a job needs to be done, (‘done’ being the operative word), then leave it to an ESTJ. The extrovert side also means they will have little trouble letting everyone know exactly where they stand. They tend to dislike sloppiness or mess and engender order and discipline within projects, teams, and situations. Emotional arguments or pleading won’t work as only hard facts and logical reasoning ‘compute’ with the ESTJ.

Best Work Environments

ESTJs are more traditional, factual, and detailed types and so are best suited to more established, stable, and traditional roles and organizations that value hard work, attention to detail, adherence to known rules and protocols, and where they can have tangible outcomes. The ESTJ will need or will create, consistency and environments where there is a constant change or a need for innovation will not play to their strengths. ESTJs are about improvement, sure, but coming up with new ideas is not their best attribute as they excel at bringing order to chaos, bringing the process to creativity. Their traditional nature and desire for clarity and fact mean the ESTJ will fit best where the norms are clear, the culture is performance-driven and where there is a place for everything and everything is in its place. They prefer working with facts, details, and the known, where the product or service is tangible rather than conceptual and there are clear lines of responsibility and a planning process. They do not like to ‘wing it’ or take risks without being in possession of the facts and having thought things through.

Worst Work Environments

The ESTJ will be less well suited to environments that are unclear, constantly changing, or which require constant ideas and innovation as ESTJs need structure and predictability (or the facility to create these) and so they prefer the known, no surprises, and no deviation. They will operate better with a tangible product or service as they like things they can ‘get their arms around.’ The ESTJ feels safer with processes and protocols as this structure provides the basis and impetus for them to gather up the people, point them in the right direction and drive forward for closure, sticking to the plan and delivering on time and as agreed. A robust, fast-paced environment with little ambiguity, the chance to build teams and make them effective and efficient is necessary for the ESTJ to thrive and so an ever-changing landscape where the norms are unclear or there is ambiguity will make the ESTJ feel insecure unless they can change it. Therefore, they make great managers of people and projects but will feel stifled if they can’t make a difference or if they perceive things as woolly or inconsistent.

Best Careers

The ESTJ likes to take charge, understand what needs to be done and then devise a plan, marshal the troops and drive for unambiguous closure. They need or will create, stability and security. Roles, which actually require complete flexibility or which require constant change, will not be for them. Production Manager, Plant Manager, Project Manager, Health and Safety, Auditing, Administration, Process Control type roles will all suit the ESTJ as they are primarily ‘doing’ roles with an emphasis on managing people and getting the best out of people.

ESTJs/Sales

ESTJs are energetic, task-oriented, and organized, making them suitable for most jobs out there in the marketplace. They are also very comfortable with a high level of social interaction with colleagues and partners in the course of their work.

With their natural drive to succeed, most ESTJs do well in most ESTJ roles in traditional organizational settings. These jobs could include:

• Sales agent
• Pharmaceutical sales representative
• Underwriter
• Budget analyst
• Regulatory officer
• Government employee
• Personal financial adviser

Specialized Crafts

ESTJs enjoy working with their hands and tinkering with various kinds of objects. In fact, they may prefer working with objects than with people. Their attention to detail and focus to follow through makes them great craftsman. They can consider jobs like:

• Engineer
• Farmer
• General contractor
• Construction worker
• Technical trainer
• Clinical technician

Management

ESTJs make great managers because of their organizational ability and decisiveness. They respect organizational hierarchies and expect others to do the same as well. They are comfortable taking charge of a situation and in making a logical, fair, and objective assessment and decision.

ESTJ managers are known to be tough but fair. Jobs in management include:

• Project manager
• Factory supervisor
• Management consultant
• Bank manager
• Credit analyst
• Property manager

Professional

ESTJs are suited for most kinds of professional work. However, they shine in fields where the use of clear, objectively applied reasoning is recognized and rewarded. Professional work that deals with facts, details, and concrete evidence will appeal to most of the ESTJs; and could include:

• Dentist
• Stockbroker
• Judge
• Teacher
• Lawyer

That’s all the suitable career for ESTJ. However, don’t let this determine your decision in selecting your best career. Just follow your passion and purpose in life.

See you in the next article.

Love,

Fristy

References

16 Personalities. (2013, August 1). Workplace habits | Executive (ESTJ) personality. https://www.16personalities.com/estjs-at-work

Personality at Work. (2022). ESTJ Characteristic at Work. Personality At Work. https://personalityatwork.co/personality-type/estj

Personality Central. (2018). ESTJ at Work. https://personality-central.com/personality_types/estj-at-work/