One’s Personality Type
The results of the Jung Typology Test indicated that one’s personality type is the Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging (ISTJ) type . The ISTJ type is aptly described using the following adjectives: inspectors with a “keen sense of right and wrong, especially in their area of interest and/or responsibility. They are noted for devotion to duty” . In addition, the ISTJ type is also expounded to focus on “one character trait which puts them at a definite advantage in terms of career success - Perseverance. An ISTJ can do almost anything that they have decided to do” . Likewise, the following traits were noted to be dominant for people exhibited ISTJ personality type: loyal, faithful, stable, down-to-earth, natural leaders, family oriented, sets high standards, dependable, structured, organized, and orderly, among others . In addition, in terms of relationships, the ISTJ type was reported to manifest honoring commitments faithfully . As emphasized, ISTJs “take their vows very seriously, and once they have
said "I do", that means they are bound to the relationship until ‘death do us apart’” . More importantly, it was appreciative to have acknowledged that “the ISTJ holds
the gold medal of all the personality types for Effort. They will put forth tremendous
amounts of effort to accomplish goals which are important to them” .
Agreements about the Personality Type
Upon discovering the traits, relationships, and functional analysis of the ISTJ type, one definitely agreed on the following descriptions which were deemed to fit one’s personality to a perfect match: structured and most at home with the facts, frustrated by inconsistencies, usually keeps feelings to oneself unless asked (or in one’s case, even when asked), and is usually drawn to professions calling for public service . Moreover, in terms of the evaluation that ISTJ types manifest extraverted thinking, one also significantly agrees with the description asserting that “silence is golden. ISTJs seem to have a few favorite forms (the tried and true) which may serve for most occasions” . One affirms that there is value in keeping one’s silence through thoughts that have been formed in one’s mind. As such, the value of having arrived at certain perspectives were rationalized as worthiest and beneficial for one’s personal advantage; rather than sharing these contentions to others.
Disagreements about the Personality Type
As one got to learn more about the ISTJ type, there were some statements and descriptions that one disagreed with. According to Butt (2005), “ISTJs often give the initial impression of being aloof and perhaps somewhat cold. Effusive expression of emotional warmth is not something that ISTJs do without considerable energy loss” (p. 1). One disagrees with the contention since one does not have problems expressing one’s emotions, especially to those one got to interact with on a regular basis. In general, it is believed that initial impressions of aloofness could also be perceived in other personality types since people have tendencies to put a formal stance especially with others who one is not familiar with – for safety and security reasons. In addition, the statement indicating that people with the ISTJ personality type have tendencies to exhibit conformity to duties even at the expense of one’s own health is not particularly applicable to one’s context. As noted, Butt (2005) indicated that “once a new procedure has proven itself (i.e., has been shown "to work,") the ISTJ can be depended upon to carry it through, even at the expense of their own health” (p. 1). In truth, one regards health as a paramount concern and that no amount of duty or responsibility should take precedence to ensuring that safety and health are strictly observed. One strongly believes that to be able to conform and abide by expected duties and responsibilities, one needs to ensure that sustaining good health is taken into serious accountability to look beyond what one could do within a short span of time.
Finally, in terms of the explanation on the extraverted intuition aspect, one also disagrees with the contention that the intuition function seemed not to serve the ISTJ types well . For one, stereotyping is not usually done and that there is an inner trust established with people, unless some condition prods breaking this trust.
Why an Understanding of Personality Type Important to Managers and Leaders
An understanding of personality types is important to managers and leaders for various reasons. For one, since it is within the function of managers to develop motivational programs or incentives that aim to influence followers into attaining organizational goals in the most efficient manner, understanding of various personality types would reveal the inner drives and needs of the subordinates. As such, awareness of these driving forces and needs that are revealed from these personality types would enable managers to develop and design the most appropriate motivational programs which fit and match the subordinates needs and which would facilitate attainment of explicitly defined goals.
Moreover, understanding of personality types would also provide managers with the essential information pertaining to strengths and weaknesses of subordinates. As such, the information could be used for training and development programs to address the weaknesses and to capitalize on the strengths. For instance, for ISTJ types, one learned that “as an ISTJ, you have gifts that are specific to your personality type that aren't natural strengths for other types. By recognizing your special gifts and encouraging their growth and development, you will more readily see your place in the world, and be more content with your role” . For managers, the information would assist in tapping the strengths of character in subordinates exemplifying the ISTJ type and develop incentive programs, as well as training and development programs, that would emphasize the strengths and assist in interacting with others. For instance, the strengths that were identified included: “desire to execute known systems against concrete facts makes them happy to chunk through large amounts of routine work” . As such, these types of tasks or endeavors could be assigned to ISTJ personality types without much resistance.
Finally, from the lessons learned from taking the test and acknowledging one’s strengths and weaknesses, it is affirmed that awareness of the various personality types actually explain various attitudes and behavior of people. As such, this information would be most valuable in work settings and could be beneficial in designing policies, procedures, guidelines, codes of conduct, motivational programs, as well as training and development programs. Finding out the strengths and weaknesses of subordinates in the work setting would assist managers and leaders in facilitating professional growth and in achieving the overall goals of the organization in the most efficient and effective manner.
References
Butt, J. (2005, February 27). Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging. Retrieved from typelogic.com: http://typelogic.com/istj.html
Heyward, R. (n.d.). Portrait of an ISTJ - Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging. Retrieved from utah.gov: https://dhrm.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/ISTJ.pdf
Humanmetrics Inc. (2016). Jung Typology Test. Retrieved from humanmetrics.com: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
