What is ESTJ in The MBTI Personality Types?

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In 1917, Katharine Cook Briggs began her research into personality together with her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers. They successfully developed their own personality theory based on Carl Jung’s concept in 1944 by publishing their own book titled Briggs Myers Type Indicator Handbook.

Myers and Briggs proposed that there were four key dimensions that could be used to categorize people:

1. Source of energy (Extraversion Vs Introversion)
2. How they gather information (Sensing Vs Intuition)
3. How they make decisions (Thinking Vs Feeling)
4. How they prefer to live their life (Judging Vs Perceiving)

Now, what is ESTJ?

ESTJ is people whose dominant preferences are Extrovert, Sensing, Thinking, Judging.

Even from these four words, maybe you can guess what kind of people they are. They are:

• Rational thinkers
  This type is one of the most left-brainers among MBTI types
• Lil bit heartless
  It’s because they will do anything to keep the organization operate in an efficient and effective manner, and sometimes they do not hesitate to use a way that seems mean or heartless for others
• Natural leader
  ESTJs are good at long-range planning, and they can often see exactly what actions need to be taken to get results.
• Organizer and manager
  This commitment to truth and clear standards makes ESTJs capable and confident organizers and managers. ESTJs can oversee the chaotic system, then organize it into a well-functioning efficient system instead.
• The best employee type
  Due to their strong commitment, dedication, integrity, and dignity, ESTJ sometimes can be categorized as The best employee type
• Strong-willed,
  Their focus on the goals and target can be exemplary. They also defend their ideas and principles relentlessly, thus ESTJ won’t give up their beliefs because of simple opposition.
• Direct and honest,
  ESTJs have no problems letting you know exactly how they feel. This trait that makes the ESTJ so reassuringly assertive can be seen as conceited or aggressive in some situations.
• Loyal, Patient and Reliable,
  ESTJs work to exemplify truthfulness and reliability, considering stability and security very important. When they say they’ll do something, they keep their word, making them very responsible members of their families, companies, and communities.
• Enjoy Creating Order,
  ESTJs strive to create order and security in their environments by establishing rules, structures, and clear roles.
• Able to manage resource efficiently to achieve the goals
  ESTJs are resourceful people. They have natural gifts in managing resources for their organization to achieve their goals

However, due to their natural traits, ESTJs have some weaknesses. There are:

• Judgmental,
  ESTJs have strong convictions about what is right, wrong, and socially acceptable. This makes them become judgmental about things and ignoring the possibility that there are two right ways to get things done.
• Uncomfortable with emotions,
  As a left-brainer, ESTJs have difficulties in dealing with their or other people’s emotions.
• Workaholism,
  Their work ethics, high standard, and natural leadership sometimes push them into workaholism.
• Stubborn and inflexible,
  For ESTJs, everything is opinion until proven, and they are reluctant to trust an opinion long enough for it to have that chance. This tendency makes them stubborn and inflexible.
• Too Focused on Social Status,
  They really care about what others think of them because they take pride in the respect of their friends, colleagues, and community.
• Difficult to Relax,
  Their workaholism sometimes makes them difficult to just relax and enjoying life.
• Difficulty Expressing Emotion
  ESTJs tend to get so caught up in the facts and most effective methods that they forget to think of what makes others happy, or of their sensitivity.

Okay, we have learned about the characteristics of ESTJs. Their strengths and their weaknesses. Then, how to deal with them?

Dealing with ESTJs basically dealing with your stubborn, workaholic managers or bosses. Therefore, to deal better with them, you can do some of these actions:

• Accept the roles they give you, even if it’s just for a specific task
• Try not to take on the ESTJ’s stress
• Accept their dedication to systems and goals
• Encourage them to relax

How was it? We really hope you guys can deal with your tough ESTJ Managers or bosses by understanding their characters and traits better.

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Fristy

References:

Strengths & weaknesses | Executive (ESTJ) personality | 16Personalities. (2013, August 1). 16Personalities. https://www.16personalities.com/estj-strengths-and-weaknesses

4 personality types you meet in every office (And how to handle them). (2020, January 21). Truity. https://www.truity.com/blog/4-personality-types-you-meet-every-office-and-how-handle-them