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Is there an ESTJ in your life?

Is there an ESTJ in your life?

By Donna Dunning

ESTJ motto: “Let’s get to work.”

In one of my MBTI ® certifying workshops, a participant with ESTJ preferences was excited to share one of her work accomplishments. After only a few months as the new manager of a department she had streamlined the work processes so effectively that her group was able to reduce its human resources needs to 17 instead of 18 people. She was proud of achieving this major improvement in efficiency.

When she finished sharing her accomplishment, a participant with NF preferences commented. “That’s a great success story, but what happened to the person you didn’t need?”

How ESTJs prefer to relate

This example highlights the responsible, matter-of-fact, task-oriented approach commonly used by an individual with ESTJ preferences. They naturally focus their energy on taking charge of situations by managing, organizing and coordinating resources to accomplish practical results. Preferring to keep work and personal life separate, they will often avoid small talk or disclosing of personal information on the job.

Quick to share their opinions and to question ideas and facts, an ESTJ will engage in discussions and debates with the goal of improving how things work. Although willing to engage in conversations, they often see a best way to accomplish a goal and will be impatient with inefficiency, incompetence, distractions, or redesigning something that is already working.

How to relate to an ESTJ

A person with ESTJ preferences usually prefers communications that are brief and to the point. They generally trust tried-and-true methods so if you expect them to change, include practical, proven evidence that the new way is better. They will want to know why a change is necessary.

If you are giving them instructions, be precise and detailed. Avoid being vague, ambiguous, or unrealistic. Make sure your facts are accurate and your reasoning is logical. Share timelines, deadlines, and schedules with them so they can set goals and plan. Avoid using personal arguments or presenting information in an overly emotional manner. Above all, demonstrate your competence in an area before expecting them to listen to what you have to say.

Visit the Expeditor personality type page for more information about ESTJ preferences.

Share your experiences and insights

Do you have any other ideas, tips, or stories to share about interacting with people who have ESTJ preferences?

Do you have ESTJ preferences? Visit the Expeditor career success stories and strategies page to share your experience.

More information about communication and personality type can be found in Introduction to Type and Communication.

Resources

Want to learn more about personality type and how to use it to understand yourself and others?

Introduction to Type and Communication describes in detail how personality preferences influence communications.

Introduction to Type and Communication is now available in PDF format.

Introduction to Type and Learning can help you find your motivation for learning and help you learn more effectively.

If you live in the USA, Introduction to Type and Learning is also available on Kindle.

Looking for a practical resource to help you plan your ideal career? Check out my book, What’s Your Type of Career?: Find Your Perfect Career By Using Your Personality Type

Want to use your personality type to excel at your career? Check out 10 Career Essentials: Excel at Your Career by Using Your Personality Type

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 at 9:21 am and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “Is there an ESTJ in your life?”

  1. Christy says:

    I believe there are three in my immediate family, though none of them has taken the MBTI and I doubt any of them would be interested in taking it. There are differences: they all have a good dose of I, at least two of them have good doses of N, and at least one of them has a good dose of F. Living and working with them is….interesting, coming from an INFJ/INTP standpoint.

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