Personal Improvement
The richest understanding of personality type and the MBTI® framework comes from exploring the dynamic interaction of all four preferences within one type. This is known as type dynamics.
Personal Improvement for the 16 MBTI® Types
Select a type:
istj
isfj
infj
intj
istp
isfp
infp
intp
estp
esfp
enfp
entp
estj
esfj
enfj
entj
ISTJ
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Potential Pitfalls
- May overlook the long-range implications in favor of day-to-day operations
- May neglect interpersonal niceties
- May become rigid in their ways and thought of as inflexible and less open to innovation
- May expect others to provide the same level of detail and conform to the same operating procedures
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to pay attention to wider, future ramifications of problems in addition to present realities
- May need to consider the human element and communicate deserved appreciation
- May need to try fresh alternatives to avoid ruts
- May need to develop patience for those who communicate differently or who bypass standard operating procedures
ISFJ
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Potential Pitfalls
- May be overly cautious, especially about the future
- May act in a manner that is not sufficiently tough-minded
- May be undervalued because of their quiet, self-effacing style
- May rely too much on their own experience and not be as flexible as the situation or others require
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to work at taking calculated risks and seeing the future in positive, global terms
- May need to develop more assertiveness and be more direct
- May need to learn to publicize and spotlight their own accomplishments
- May need to work at remaining open to other ways of doing things
INFJ
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Potential Pitfalls
- May notice their ideas being overlooked and underestimated
- May not be forthright with criticism
- May be reluctant to intrude on others and thus keep too much to themselves
- May operate with single-minded concentration for what they believe is best for the future
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to develop political savvy and assertiveness skills to help them present their ideas
- May need to learn to give constructive feedback to others on a timely basis
- May need to solicit feedback and suggestions along the way
- May need to relax and be more open to the present situation
INTJ
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Potential Pitfalls
- May appear so unyielding that others are afraid to approach or challenge them
- May keep their ideas to themselves for too long, believing others see things the same way
- May have difficulty letting go of impractical ideas
- May be so task focused that they pay scant attention to others’ contributions
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to solicit feedback and suggestions on both their personal style and their ideas
- May need to communicate with and involve others in their ideas and strategies early on
- May need to face reality when the data do not support their ideas
- May need to make sure that others’ contributions are encouraged and acknowledged
ISTP
-
Potential Pitfalls
- May keep important things to themselves and thereby appear unconcerned
- May lack follow-through, moving on before their prior effort bears fruit
- May conserve efforts, be overly expedient, and take shortcuts
- May appear indecisive, lacking in interest, energy, and follow-through
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to open up and share concerns and information with others
- May need to develop perseverance or communicate changes in direction
- May need to plan and put in the effort necessary to achieve desired results
- May need to devise methods of setting and meeting goals
ISFP
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Potential Pitfalls
- May be too trusting and unwilling to question
- May avoid conflict by not critiquing others when needed
- May focus only on the present reality, missing things in their fuller context
- May be overly self-critical and too easily hurt
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to develop more skepticism in analyzing others’ information
- May need to learn how to give corrective feedback to others and manage conflict
- May need to develop a wider and more future-oriented perspective
- May need to be more assertive with others and more appreciative of themselves
INFP
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Potential Pitfalls
- May delay completion of tasks because of perfectionism
- May try to please too many people at once
- May not adjust their ideals to the facts and logic of the situation
- May spend more time in reflection than in action
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to learn to work with what is rather than search for an ideal response
- May need to develop more tough-mindedness and a willingness to say no
- May need to factor in facts and logic along with their personal values
- May need to develop and implement action plans
INTP
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Potential Pitfalls
- May be too abstract and therefore unrealistic about necessary follow-through
- May overintellectualize and become too theoretical in their explanations
- May pay too much attention to minor inconsistencies at the expense of teamwork and harmony
- May turn their critical analytical thinking on people and act impersonally
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to focus on practical details and develop concrete steps for implementation
- May need to state things more simply
- May need to yield on minor points in order to gain the needed cooperation of others
- May need to learn more about others and express appreciation of them
ESTP
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Potential Pitfalls
- May appear demanding, blunt, and insensitive when acting quickly
- May focus too much on the immediate and miss the wider implications of their actions
- May sacrifice follow-through by moving on to the next problem
- May get caught up in off-work activities, such as sports and other hobbies
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to curb their task focus and factor in the feelings of others
- May need to look beyond the quick fix, plan ahead, and consider the wider ramifications
- May need to complete the tasks at hand
- May need to keep work and play in the proper perspective
ESFP
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Potential Pitfalls
- May overemphasize subjective data in an effort to maintain harmony
- May jump into things without first reflecting on what is at hand
- May spend too much time socializing and neglect tasks
- May not always finish what they start
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to include logical implications in their decision making in order to depersonalize conflict
- May need to plan ahead when managing work
- May need to balance task and socializing time
- May need to work on project and time management skills
ENFP
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Potential Pitfalls
- May want to move on to new ideas or projects without finishing what they’ve already started
- May overlook relevant facts and details
- May overextend themselves and try to do too much
- May procrastinate while searching for the best possible answer
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to set priorities based on what is most important and then follow through
- May need to pay attention to key details and then stay focused on them
- May need to screen tasks and say no rather than try to do them all, no matter how appealing they may sound
- May need to use project- and time-management skills to meet goals
ENTP
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Potential Pitfalls
- May become lost in the model, forgetting about current realities and details
- May be competitive and unappreciative of others’ input
- May overextend themselves to the point of burnout
- May resist standard procedures
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to pay attention to the here and now and the essential facts
- May need to acknowledge and validate others’ contributions and value as people
- May need to set realistic priorities and time lines and know when to stop
- May need to recognize the value of procedures and traditions
ESTJ
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Potential Pitfalls
- May decide too quickly and pressure others to do so too
- May not see the need for changing things that they believe are already working
- May overlook the interpersonal niceties in getting the job done
- May be overtaken by their emotions when they ignore their own feelings and values for too long
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to consider all sides before deciding, including factoring in the human element
- May need to prod themselves to look at the benefits of what others want to change
- May need to make a special effort to show appreciation to others
- May need to take time away from their work to reflect on and identify their feelings and values
ESFJ
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Potential Pitfalls
- May avoid conflict and pretend problems don’t exist
- May ignore their own priorities because of a desire to please others
- May prescribe what they assume is best for others or the organization
- May not always take the time to step back, be objective, and see the bigger picture
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to pay attention to disagreements and manage conflict
- May need to factor in their personal needs and wants
- May need to listen more objectively to what is really needed
- May need to consider the logical, global implications of their decisions
ENFJ
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Potential Pitfalls
- May idealize others and suffer from blind loyalty
- May pretend problems don’t exist when in conflict
- May ignore tasks in favor of relationship issues
- May take criticism personally and be overly self-critical
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to recognize people’s limitations and guard against unquestioning loyalty
- May need to learn to manage conflict productively
- May need to pay as much attention to the details of the task as to the people involved in the task
- May need to suspend self-criticism and listen carefully to objective information
ENTJ
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Potential Pitfalls
- May overlook people’s needs and contributions in their focus on the task
- May discount pragmatic considerations and constraints
- May decide too quickly and appear impatient and domineering
- May ignore and suppress their own and others’ feelings
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Suggestions For Development
- May need to factor in the human element and appreciate others’ contributions
- May need to check the practical, personal, and situational resources available before plunging ahead
- May need to take time to reflect and consider all sides before deciding
- May need to learn to identify and value feelings in both themselves and others