INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion “Does it work?” to everythingfrom their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms.

I first took the Myers-Briggs personality test in the Navy, stationed at theDefense Threat Reduction Agency in New Mexico. I believe it was some sort ofHR project for the civilians on base that I worked with, and I was asked toparticipate as well. I was pleased with the results, and perhaps even a bitproud of the favorable description. Reading the results I found severalinstances where the profile matched or explained past behavior, but truthfullyI wondered if I had unconsciously steered the test in the way that I wanted itto go. Several months later, I took the test again, and again got the sameresults: INTJ.Satisfied after taking the test as honestly as possible, I moved on.

Personality tests attempt to generalize patterns of behavior. Since all peopleare unique in their experiences, not everything these tests say will beaccurate. Any attempt to explain behavior should be taken with a very largegrain of salt. Uniqueness is not something we humans like to have in our worldthough, so we love to group, categorize, and label people. It is a behavior welearned in middle school, and extends well into our adult life. Some peoplecannot understand others without some sort of grouping context to place themin, even if the context is grossly inaccurate. Personality tests can be a wayto avoid this conscious or unconscious categorization for managers who want tounderstand and effectively communicate with their employees. For individualsthough, and, particularly for me, the tests can provide insight into why I dothe things I do.

The other day Benjamin Brooks, from the excellent BrooksReview, tweeted the results from a personality testhe had taken. Brooks, like myself, is anINTJ. Thetweet made me wonder if my personality had changed over the years, and if Itook the test again if I would get the same result. So, I did and so… I am. Myresults did not change. The test still classifies me as an INTJ. The testresults were not nearly as important to me as reading portions of the profileto my wife. The profile embarrassed me by how well fit portions of my life,particularly in my relationships with friends and family.

The emotions of an INTJ are hard to read, and neither male nor female INTJsare apt to express emotional reactions. At times, INTJs seem cold, reserved,and unresponsive, while in fact they are almost hypersensitive to signals ofrejection from those they care for.

When I was a child, I was part of the “Gifted and Talented” project. As partof the project, I saw a counselor, who did several tests. The counselorpredicted that I would have few friends, but the friends I had would be veryclose. The prediction has been very accurate so far. I generally like people,and try very hard to be polite, but if the person is not deemed by my brain asbeing important or relevant somehow, I forget them almost immediately aftermeeting. I do not do it to be a jerk; it is just how my mind works. On theother hand, I still know where my best friend from high school is, and if heshowed up at my doorstep tonight, we would spend the rest of the night gettingcaught up.

Having the type of brain that I have makes me very good at some things, likebeing a systems administrator. I build and organize large, complex,intricately interwoven patterns of things. I have the ability to understandcomplex technological concepts, and am very good at explaining those conceptsto others. I am very good at teaching, mentoring, and talking with others oneon one. I know what I am good at, but more importantly, I know what I am notgood at. I am not good at informal group meetings or luncheons. I am not goodat the after work meet up at the local bar. I am not good at small talk aboutsports or hunting. When considering my interactions with others, it is notenough to just say, “I’m not good with people”, that is inaccurate. I am verygood with people, I am not good with informal social groups of people, becauseI do not understand the dynamics of how they work, or how I am expected tobehave. I much prefer a small, quiet coffee.

INTJs are analytical. Like INTPs, they are most comfortable working aloneand tend to be less sociable than other types. Nevertheless, INTJs areprepared to lead if no one else seems up to the task, or if they see a majorweakness in the current leadership. They tend to be pragmatic, logical, andcreative. They have a low tolerance for spin or rampant emotionalism. They arenot generally susceptible to catchphrases and do not recognize authority basedon tradition, rank, or title.

That last sentence might seem out of place for me, considering my militarybackground. My friends from the Navy would know that it hits the nail on thehead. There was more than one Chief I went toe to toe with, and since I wasoutranked, I usually lost. I was in the Navy, and I loved the travel andopportunities it gave me, but I never quite fit in the Navy. Some fit in theNavy like an old glove; I was more like forcing a round peg in a square hole.I needed the Navy in my life, and I am proud to have served for the elevenyears that I did, but I was also glad to leave.

It is good to know that even though I have changed over the years, the core ofmy personality has not. I still care deeply for my loved ones. I still keep myspace neat, clean, and organized. (As a side note, my parents never had totell me to clean my room. I kept it the way I liked it.) What I have learnedin the past few years is how to push myself outside of what I am good at, andinto things that make me uncomfortable or are simply not my strong point. Likeworking on home improvement and music, and even saying yes, every now andagain, when asked to go to lunch.

Personality tests are not gospel; they are not the be all and end all of whoyou are. However, if you are like me, by taking a test you might be able togain some insight into why you do what you do. The test might help you findyour strengths, and identify some weaknesses.

Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really wantpeople to make sense.

All quotes from this article were taken from the Wikipediapage on INTJ.