By Donna Dunning
ESTJ Practical Expeditor: Direct and Decide
“Let’s get to work.”
8.7 % of the population
Type Dynamics for the ESTJ
Dominant (TE): Outwardly logically decisive, focused on accomplishing tasks.
Auxiliary (SI): Inwardly attuned to the facts and details of the immediate situation.
Tertiary (N): As they mature, consider long-term implications as well as current realities.
Inferior (FI): Developmental challenge is considering personal factors when deciding.
My previous blogs – Understanding Type Dynamics: Dominant Functions, Understanding Type Dynamics: Auxiliary Functions, and Taking Personality Type Beyond Your Preferences have more information on type dynamics.
The ESTJ Preferred Mode
Practical Expeditors use Extraverted Thinking (Te) as their core approach to work and living. This outward, decisive, results-oriented approach tends to accomplish results effectively.
Practical Expeditors thrive in situations where they can take control and solve practical problems efficiently. They often take on and enjoy supervisory roles. If you are a Practical Expeditor, you are likely at your best when you are taking charge, delegating, and getting tasks accomplished.
Adding a Secondary Approach
To avoid moving down the wrong path or making inaccurate decisions, Practical Expeditors are internally thinking about and incorporating data into their plan. They consider what worked in the past and pay attention to the facts, details, and realities of the situation to make sure they are working as efficiently as possible.
Development Pathway
ESTJs will likely be convinced to develop the non-preferred parts of their personality when they can see practical, logical reasons to do so.
As Practical Expeditors develop, they learn to look more at long term as well as immediate implications and consequences when deciding. For example, a young ESTJ may make a “quick fix” to complete a project. A more mature ESTJ may strategically decide to replace or re-configure something rather than simply get it “up and running”. They will be motivated to do this when the more strategic change is logically necessary and will save time, resources, and energy.
Over time Practical Expeditors can also learn to place more emphasis on how people will interpret and be affected by decisions. They will be motivated to do this when it serves their preferred mode of operating. For example, an ESTJ can be convinced to use more small talk and develop additional empathic skills when they see how these actions help them get tasks accomplished more efficiently.
Developmental Tips for the Practical Expeditor
- Consider several options before deciding.
- Look at long as well as short-term implications and consequences of your decisions.
- Ask people how a decision will affect them and take this information into consideration.
- Listen carefully to people. Hear their concerns without trying to solve their problems.
- Give positive feedback and encouragement when you see something done well.
You will find an overview of the two types of Expeditors, their career success stories and strategies, and occupations that attract them on the Expeditor main page.
What’s Your Type of Career? includes a section on career and life development strategies for Expeditors.