ISTJ

工作

这种人一丝不苟、认真负责,而且明智豁达,是坚定不移的社会 维护者。他们讲求实际、非常务实,总是孜孜以求精确性和条理性,而且有极大的专注力。不论干什么,他们都能有条不紊、四平八稳地 把它完成。

对这类人而言,满意的工作是技术性的工作,能生产一种实实在在的产品或有条理地提供一种周详服务。他们需要一种独立的工作环 境,有充裕的时间让自己独立工作,并能运用自己卓越的专注力来完 成工作。

 
详尽、精确、系统、勤劳,关注细节。致力于改善组织程序与过程,无论组织处在发展的顺境还是逆境,都对组织保持忠诚。

对组织的贡献
Ø 平稳地、按计划完成组织任务
Ø 重视细节并慎重处理
Ø 做事力尽完美
Ø 重信用,并具有坚持性
Ø 在组织里工作倍感舒适

领导模式
Ø 以事实和经验做决定
Ø 建立可靠、稳定、持续的工作绩效
Ø 尊重传统和等级制度
Ø 奖励遵循规则完成任务的员工
Ø 关注组织的即时性和实际性需要

学习模式
Ø 具体、有序的学习方式
Ø 对目前有实际应用的学习模式

倾向性顺序
(1)感觉,(2)思维,(3)情感,(4)直觉

解决问题模式
Ø 喜欢完全依据事实在逻辑框架里进行分析
Ø 为获得理想结果,需考虑对人们的影响,然后寻找更多的可能性和其它含义

工作环境倾向性
Ø 喜欢与现实、工作努力、关注事实和结果的人共事
Ø 能长期提供安全性的环境
Ø 奖励稳步发展和按期完成任务的环境
Ø 使用系统性工作方法的环境
Ø 任务型定向和鼓励坚定意志的环境
Ø 提供安静、整齐设施的环境
Ø 环境中允许有不被打扰工作的个人空间

潜在的缺点
Ø 因受惠于日常工作而忽视具有长远意义的目标
Ø 可能忽视人际交往的细节
Ø 工作方法刻板、不灵活,对变革较少开放态度
Ø 期望他人和自己一样,同样注意细节和服从管理程序

发展建议
Ø 除了关注现实问题,需关注更深远的、定向于未来的问题
Ø 需考虑人的因素,向他人表达其应得的赞赏
Ø 为避免陈规,尝试寻找新的选择
Ø 需培养耐心,应付那些需要用不同方式沟通或忽视规则和程序的人

ISTJ: 审计员、后勤经理、信息总监、预算分析员、工程师、技 术作者、电脑编程员、证券经纪人、地质学者、医学研究者、 会计、 文字处理专业人士。   

生活

对ISTJ人来说,最重要的是能为别人服务,负责任,并努力工作。所以,别人经常称之为检查员。他们有强烈的是非感,尤其是在他们的利益和职责范围内的事。他们也因此以热爱工作而著名。"一丝不苟"是对ISTJ人的最好的描述。很多秘书、办事员、商人都是ISTJ人。

往往,ISTJ人给人的最初印象是冷淡,或许有点冷漠。除非是很费力的事,否则ISTJ人很少表现出热情。

问题不能顺利解决时,只有ISTJ是最乐观的。当使用按部就班的方法解决问题时,ISTJ人有最高的效率。一旦一个新方案被证实,ISTJ人就会坚定不移地把它推行下去,即使以牺牲自己的健康为代价也在所不惜。

ISTJ人很容易因为别人的言行不一,尤其当对方食言毁约时而感失望。但他们的这种情绪并不轻易表露,只有当被问及时,他们才会毫不掩饰的、直率表达出来,因为事实胜于雄辩。ISTJ人所从事的职业中,最厉害的要算运动项目的裁判员,司法部门或任何一个要求高并需长期坚持的职位上。

对ISTJ人的描述:
文静谨慎;实际务实;细致严谨;诚实但通情达理;喜循成规,不思变化;工作努力,责任心重。

爱情

按部就班的公务员型(ISTJ)

若你是一个公务员型

你是那种把文明的碎片粘合在一起的胶水。你的注册商标是任务、纪律、责任和组织。没有你忠心的付出,很多现存的成功企业、组织和团体都会瓦解成碎片。

当你恋爱时

你是所有恋爱类型中最务实的一员,你对于过度的浪漫举动并不会有太多感动。你也不需要约会中持续的刺激。你会满足于一顿在家中的晚餐、一部有趣的影片和爱人的陪伴。

谈到男女角色的定位时,你的价值观也是很传统的。你仍然认为一个丈夫应该挣钱养家,而一个妻子应该负责维系一个整洁有条理的家。

你对安全感的强烈需求,使你避免开始一段感情的风险。你通常会和你已经认识很久的人发展恋情:同事、家族的朋友或同学。因为你是最终的“筑巢者”,在你让未来伴侣更靠近你之前,你要非常确定他是一个可以照顾你和养家活儿的人。

你期望另一半拥有的特质,是忠诚、安全感和责任感。对于另一半提出的未来或崇高的理想你并不会特别感动;你要知道的是对方现在可以为一段认真的感情带来什么。

你的最佳恋爱类型

若你是一个女性公务员型

你会喜欢男性公务员型、很有成就的大男人型(ESTJ)或能给你情感支柱的照顾者型(ISFJ)。

若你是一个男性公务员型

你和女性公务员型或照顾者型(ISFJ)会有不错的感情关系。女性公务员型有规矩且经常具有责任感个性,可以完美地补足你对一个传统家庭的渴望。而照顾者型则是以她慈爱的方式,和“标准妈妈”的个性,来帮你建立梦想中家庭的女人。

托尼如何找到他的完美情人

托尼是一个公务员型,他在结婚10年后丧妻。虽然他只不过40岁,却已经放弃了能够再遇到另一个像他前妻一般美好的女人。托尼觉得很孤单,但他却不知道该如何去面对这种情绪。

在阅读了一本关于恋爱类型系统的手册后,托尼尝试把里面的方法应用到他当地的单身者俱乐部中,但他却有非常不愉快的经验。他总是把那些关于恋爱类型的问题混淆,而且他也没有办法准确地将那些女人分类。幸运的是,托尼那位单身的弟弟—乔治—对恋爱类型系统颇有经验,他可以帮托尼辨识那些女人的类型。

通过乔治的帮忙,托尼遇上了莉奥诺拉,一个温柔的33岁教师,她正好就是他的理想恋爱类型—照顾者型。

在他们第一次约会的时候,莉奥诺拉为托尼做了一个很好吃的樱桃派。第二次约会,她帮他整理阁楼。他们一起工作,把托尼过去10年中累积的垃圾全部丢弃,托尼则帮她修剪草坪并为她的车子打蜡。

很快地他们住在一起了,他们一起建筑他们的新家。他们决定共度余生,成为一生的伴侣。

若你的理想情人是一个公务员型

在哪里可以遇到一个公务员型情人?

公务员型是安静、不爱出风头的人。事实上,他们总是如此安静,安静到你几乎不会察觉他们的存在。因为他们通常喜欢隐居幕后,要找到他们最好的地方是在远处的角落,当他们独自一人的时候。

在餐厅或夜总会里可以找到那位静默独处的他或她,那位拥抱黑暗角落的人。另一个很准确的方式:找寻那个经常被朋友叫去拿饮料或出钱的忠诚人儿。忠心的、稳定的公务员型永远是一个可以被依赖的朋友,当没有人愿意伸手援助的时候,他会。

公务员型通常会被有任务、工作和责任的活动、组织或场所所吸引。你可以试试参加为邻居街坊维持治安和清洁的社区团体、慈善募款团体、家教协会会议、爱国组织、专业相关团体、政府机关、保龄球俱乐部、商业评议会和军队特别事件如空军表演和*等等。(公务员型常常是很杰出的军事要员,因为他们非常忠贞、勤奋,同时很愿意配合命令。)

如何与一个公务员型情人约会?

让他们觉得被需要,或和他们一起为一个值得的目标努力,这样你就可以有一个冠冕堂皇的理由和他们认识。

到图书馆去,并在那可爱的图书馆员帮你登录你借出去的书本时和他聊天。参加某次家教协会会议—那里通常都会有一些单亲父母—询问公务员型关系他们最感兴趣的儿童教育问题。

你可以自愿参加一场政治活动,或参加睦邻计划的守夜活动,你会在过程中遇见很多任务意识很高的热心公务员型。

你可以问一个公务员型关于一个很实务性的问题—如何计划或整理家里?如何修补某件东西?如何照顾小孩?或是如何填定表单?这个很负责任的公务员型会愿意帮助你的。一旦一个公务员型同意帮助你,这就是一个很好的开始。

如何赢得公务员型情人的爱?

在你开始追求的时候,花些时间和你的公务员型在安静的地方相处,一个你们可以在一起,却不需要说太多话的地方。公园、月光海岸或电影院都是很好的选择。也可以尝试在家中安静的约会,一面品尝着外卖佳肴,一面欣赏着怀旧电影。

记得这件重要的事:在你一开始与一个公务员型约会的同时,他或她很可能已经在考虑你可以成为一位怎么样的丈夫/妻子和父亲/母亲。公务员型的个性中有一项非常重要的特点,他很强烈地希望拥有成功的婚姻和家庭生活,这会造成他对约会对象的主要考量。要赢得公务员型的人,他必须相信你会成为未来家庭中一个很好的家庭支柱或照顾家庭者。

*恋爱锦囊之一:强调你个性中的传统面,例如:

男人:谈谈你在事业上的抱负,可以为你的家庭赚进多少钱,和以后想要拥有什么样的家。表达你要成为一位第一流的父亲和建立一个安全、富裕的家庭的愿望。

女人:强调你家居生活的技巧或本事,例如厨艺、清理和缝纫。若你没有任何做家事的经验,现在是时候好好看看书或参加课程。谈谈你对小孩、安全感和传统的期望。

注意:男性公务员型并不适合所有女人,但如果你准备接受一些老式的价值观,他对家庭生活稳定、保守的观念就会非常吸引你。

*恋爱锦囊之二:迎合公务员型对守时、整洁和组织的渴望。

当你和公务员型约会时,永远要记得准时;对他而言,浪费时间和浪费食物一样糟糕。当你在他身旁时,请随时保持整洁,让喜爱整洁的公务员型留下良好印象。另外,若你打算邀请你的公务员型情人回家,请确定你的屋子一定要干净整齐。

*恋爱锦囊之三:帮忙公务员型情人打扫住处或请他帮你清理住处。

若你真的想要捉住你的公务员型的心,为了迎合他对整洁和井然有序的欲望,你可以提出帮助他打扫住处的建议。你也可以请公务员型帮你打扫清理并且整理你的住处。若对方同意,准备一些零食和音乐,让那一天变成愉快的一天。

警告:请确定当那个公务员型带着拖把、吸尘器和抹布抵达时,你的住处已经有相当程度的整洁。尽管他是来帮你整理住处的,他并不想看到真正的一团糟乱。

一旦你的屋子合乎标准(以你的观点),便可以邀请对方前来。当你的公务员型情人用惊人的清洁技巧,把你的屋子变成一般人难以达到的整洁标准时,让他自由发挥。

如何和公务员型情人拥有美好的性关系?

和一位公务员型典型的性关系是缓慢进展的。不要期待能和一位公务员型情人立即产生火花;当谈论到性和爱情时,他是所有恋爱类型中最保守谨慎的。

**锦囊:在轻松的对话中先介绍一种新的姿势或技巧。

在聊天当中,强调那种新技巧将如何地增进你们的感情,且会让两人更紧密地在一起。然后保持安静,让你的公务员型情人消化一下你刚才所讲的话。作为一个内向的理性者,公务员型情人需要时间考虑他取得的新信息。

**锦囊:制订一份*时间表。

为了帮助你的公务员型情人对新的性活动觉得安全,制订一份*时间表。虽然有一些恋爱类型会觉得这种有计划的方式很扫兴,但很多公务员型如果确实知道伴侣的期待(和何时发生),会觉得舒服和安全。

格拉迪斯是一个日间照护所主人,拥有强烈的性需求。但她的新男友彼得是一个会计师,他是一个公务员型,并不是那种无拘束式的情人。虽然如此,他却是她的标准绅士—有礼且聪明,同时是一张可靠的“饭票”。

格拉迪斯在知道彼得多么重视逻辑和可预期性之后,她创造了一张他们*的书面时间表,同时每周安排一晚作为他们的“实验时间”。在这个时间里,他们各人都会写下他们的性幻想,然后试验地去做做看。

虽然格拉迪斯对这样一个不自然的计划是否可以成功也很怀疑,她却很惊喜地发现彼得很喜欢这样。有一份固定的时间表,以及一份他可以在床上尝试的事件清单,彼得觉得比较舒服且安全。最棒的是,他觉得更加自在,并且让他自己和格拉迪斯都很愉快。

如何和公务员型情人维持一段长久的关系?

公务员型相信婚姻的“必然性”和“应当性”:“男人和女人应该结婚”和“一旦结婚,丈夫和妻子应当一辈子在一起,直到死亡把他们分开”。

根据研究结果,公务员型倾向于拥有较长久的婚姻,仅次于主人型(ESFJ)。他们有组织、有逻辑和务实的个性让他们具备维持一段婚姻的条件,也就是长期性的实际付出。

一旦公务员型和你结婚,他会坚定且常久地支持你。若你有兴趣拥有传统的婚姻—和一位传统的男性或女性角色,公务员型会是绝佳的选择。

综述

The Duty Fulfiller

As an ISTJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in via your five senses in a literal, concrete fashion. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things rationally and logically.

ISTJs are quiet and reserved individuals who are interested in security and peaceful living. They have a strongly-felt internal sense of duty, which lends them a serious air and the motivation to follow through on tasks. Organized and methodical in their approach, they can generally succeed at any task which they undertake.

ISTJs are very loyal, faithful, and dependable. They place great importance on honesty and integrity. They are "good citizens" who can be depended on to do the right thing for their families and communities. While they generally take things very seriously, they also usually have an offbeat sense of humor and can be a lot of fun - especially at family or work-related gatherings.

ISTJs tend to believe in laws and traditions, and expect the same from others. They're not comfortable with breaking laws or going against the rules. If they are able to see a good reason for stepping outside of the established mode of doing things, the ISTJ will support that effort. However, ISTJs more often tend to believe that things should be done according to procedures and plans. If an ISTJ has not developed their Intuitive side sufficiently, they may become overly obsessed with structure, and insist on doing everything "by the book".

The ISTJ is extremely dependable on following through with things which he or she has promised. For this reason, they sometimes get more and more work piled on them. Because the ISTJ has such a strong sense of duty, they may have a difficult time saying "no" when they are given more work than they can reasonably handle. For this reason, the ISTJ often works long hours, and may be unwittingly taken advantage of.

The ISTJ will work for long periods of time and put tremendous amounts of energy into doing any task which they see as important to fulfilling a goal. However, they will resist putting energy into things which don't make sense to them, or for which they can't see a practical application. They prefer to work alone, but work well in teams when the situation demands it. They like to be accountable for their actions, and enjoy being in positions of authority. The ISTJ has little use for theory or abstract thinking, unless the practical application is clear.

ISTJs have tremendous respect for facts. They hold a tremendous store of facts within themselves, which they have gathered through their Sensing preference. They may have difficulty understanding a theory or idea which is different from their own perspective. However, if they are shown the importance or relevance of the idea to someone who they respect or care about, the idea becomes a fact, which the ISTJ will internalize and support. Once the ISTJ supports a cause or idea, he or she will stop at no lengths to ensure that they are doing their duty of giving support where support is needed.

The ISTJ is not naturally in tune with their own feelings and the feelings of others. They may have difficulty picking up on emotional needs immediately, as they are presented. Being perfectionists themselves, they have a tendency to take other people's efforts for granted, like they take their own efforts for granted. They need to remember to pat people on the back once in a while.

ISTJs are likely to be uncomfortable expressing affection and emotion to others. However, their strong sense of duty and the ability to see what needs to be done in any situation usually allows them to overcome their natural reservations, and they are usually quite supporting and caring individuals with the people that they love. Once the ISTJ realizes the emotional needs of those who are close to them, they put forth effort to meet those needs.

The ISTJ is extremely faithful and loyal. Traditional and family-minded, they will put forth great amounts of effort at making their homes and families running smoothly. They are responsible parents, taking their parenting roles seriously. They are usually good and generous providers to their families. They care deeply about those close to them, although they usually are not comfortable with expressing their love. The ISTJ is likely to express their affection through actions, rather than through words.

ISTJs have an excellent ability to take any task and define it, organize it, plan it, and implement it through to completion. They are very hard workers, who do not allow obstacles to get in the way of performing their duties. They do not usually give themselves enough credit for their achievements, seeing their accomplishments simply as the natural fulfillment of their obligations.

ISTJs usually have a great sense of space and function, and artistic appreciation. Their homes are likely to be tastefully furnished and immaculately maintained. They are acutely aware of their senses, and want to be in surroundings which fit their need for structure, order, and beauty.

Under stress, ISTJs may fall into "catastrophe mode", where they see nothing but all of the possibilities of what could go wrong. They will berate themselves for things which they should have done differently, or duties which they failed to perform. They will lose their ability to see things calmly and reasonably, and will depress themselves with their visions of doom.

In general, the ISTJ has a tremendous amount of potential. Capable, logical, reasonable, and effective individuals with a deeply driven desire to promote security and peaceful living, the ISTJ has what it takes to be highly effective at achieving their chosen goals - whatever they may be.

成长

What does Success mean to an ISTJ?

People with the ISTJ personality type are serious, methodical, analytical, and hard-working. They store knowledge gained from their experiences, and use this knowledge to tackle new problems and ideas. They will work a problem through to its identified conclusion. They work towards defined goals; their analytical objectivity gives them the tendency to make goal-oriented decisions that are not waylaid by the concerns of individuals. They're uncomfortable with ideas that are completely new to them, or that are totally theoretical in nature. Since they have no direct experience with the new concept, they have no tools for knowing how to deal with it or what to think about it. They need to get the framework for a new concept before they're able to deal with it. An experienced ISTJ is usually a very capable person, and makes an excellent manager. ISTJs have great value for the "tried and true" approach, and are reluctant to adopt new systems until direct experience proves the validity of the new system. They internalize and value the rules and structure of the society in which they live, and disapprove of behaviors that go against these rules. ISTJs highly value the cornerstone institutions of society such as Family, Work, and Church. Their hard-working, dedicated nature is especially well-suited for holding up such institutions. An ISTJ's feeling of success depends upon being able to use their experience for the benefit of an institution, and also upon the level of structure and lack of chaos in their life, and in the health and welfare of their family or other social structure.

Allowing Your ISTJ Strengths to Flourish

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.

Nearly all ISTJs will recognize the following characteristics in themselves. They should embrace and nourish these strengths:
 
  • Their desire to execute known systems against concrete facts makes them happy to chunk through large amounts of routine work.
  • With their respect for rules and order, they value honesty and integrity and seek to live with these ideals.
  • An ISTJ has a "stick to it" attitude. They're not afraid of hard work, and will put forth a great deal of effort towards something that they are interested in. This persistence will help the ISTJ to achieve any identified goal.
  • The ISTJ's value for social structure makes them more interested in being social than is true for many Introverts.
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    ISTJs who have developed their Extraverted Thinking will complement their interest in their inner world of concrete data with an interest in the welfare of the rest of the world, especially with regards to upholding social systems and traditions. These ISTJs enjoy these very special gifts:
     
  • They will move beyond an expectation that others should follow rules into a dedication and willingness to work hard to uphold standards themselves.
  • They show a dedication to maintaining personal relationships that lends them a respect for individual differences.
  • They will use their inner store of facts for the benefit of an institution or society in general, rather than to satisfy their own interests.
  • The more they develop their Extraverted Thinking, the better they will become at strategizing. They will be able to brainstorm multiple possible solutions to problems.
  • ISTJs are often uncomfortable with decisions based on values rather than on objective criteria, but the more they develop their Extraverted Thinking, the more likely they will become able to use Introverted Feeling as a positive force rather than strictly a negative one. This will allow them to understand a value judgement that is based on personal perspective rather than social obligation.
  • Potential Problem Areas

    With any gift of strength, there is an associated weakness. Without "bad", there would be no "good". Without "difficult", there would be no "easy". We value our strengths, but we often curse and ignore our weaknesses. To grow as a person and get what we want out of life, we must not only capitalize upon our strengths, but also face our weaknesses and deal with them. That means taking a hard look at our personality type's potential problem areas.

    Most of the weaker characteristics that are found in ISTJs are due to their dominant Introverted Sensing function controlling the personality to the point that all other functions are being used to defend Sensing demands, rather than for their more balanced purposes. In such cases, an ISTJ may show some or all of the following weaknesses in varying degrees:
  • Excessive love of food and drink
  • Lack of interest in other people, or in relating to them
  • Occasional inappropriate emotional displays
  • General selfish "look after oneself" tendencies
  • Uses judgement to dismiss other's opinions and perspectives, before really understanding them
  • May judge others rather than themselves
  • May look at external ideas and people with the primary purpose of finding fault
  • May become slave to their routine and "by the book" ways of doing things, to the point that any deviation is completely unacceptable
  • May have difficulty communicating their thoughts and feelings to anyone
  • Explanation of Problems

    Nearly all of the problematic characteristics described above can be attributed in various degrees to the common ISTJ problem of Introverted Sensing overtaking the ISTJ's personality to the point that all other functions become slaves to Introverted Sensing. A more "whole" personality needs to have a good balance between its dominant and auxiliary functions. For an ISTJ, the dominant Introverted Sensing needs to be well-supported by the auxiliary Extraverted Thinking function. If Extraverted Thinking exists only to support the desires of Introverted Sensing, than neither function is being used to its potential.

    Introverted Sensing is a personality function that constantly gathers data and stores it in a sort of informational database to be accessed at will in the future. As the dominant player in a personality, it has the effect of constantly bombarding the psyche with facts to store. As something new is perceived, it is added to the vast warehouse of Introverted Sensing data. Introverted Sensing does not in itself analyze this data for meaning or connection--it just takes it in as information. In order to sort through and make use of this information, a judging function must be applied. It is the judging function that does the analysis and ordering of the data.

    When Introverted Sensing is too dominant, or Extraverted Thinking is not developed sufficiently, we see the ISTJ using Extraverted Thinking to order the individual's world in such a way that Introverted Sensing can reign without interference. This may include dismissing the importance of relationships, or pushing away anything that threatens the ISTJ's highly introverted way of life. In this manner, Extraverted Thinking is used against the external world, rather than against the ISTJ's internal data. It is a defensive shield, rather than a useful filter.

    The better, more "whole" use of Extraverted Thinking for the ISTJ would be to use it to order and evaluate its own rich store of data, and therefore generate useful solutions to problems and efficient systems. Like all types, most ISTJs will show some signs of this kind of weakness. This does not mean that they're hopelessly flawed. The real problems occur when an ISTJ personality has become so imbalanced that its owner is extremely selfish and unable to consider the importance or validity of anyone else's perspective.

    Solutions

    To grow as an individual, the ISTJ needs to focus on applying their judgement against information that they have gathered, rather than against single facts or ideas coming from others. Before judging, put all new data into the context of existing facts. Working with all of the facts at your disposal will greatly improve your ability to judge effectively, and will reduce the likelihood that you will become offensively reactionary and isolationist.

    An ISTJ who is concerned with personal growth will pay close attention to the subject of ther judgments, and their motivations for making judgments. Are they judging something external to themself, or are they judging something within the context of their stored knowledge? Is the motivation for judging something to be able to understand its usefulness in the world, or to dismiss it? Too often, an ISTJ will judge something without properly understanding it, and with the intention of dismissing it. Seek first to understand, then to judge.

    Living Happily in our World as an ISTJ

    People of all personality types sometimes experience problems dealing with specific aspects of civilization and human interaction. For the ISTJ, problems are generally associated with being unable to tolerate behaviors that go outside perceived norms, and with not putting forth effort to meet others' emotional needs. These problems stem from building up the importance of the ISTJ's inner world and diminishing the importance of the external world. ISTJs who recognize that their knowledge and experience can be enriched by the synergy of other people's knowledge and experience will find that they can be committed to their internal worlds and still have satisfying relationships with others. The key to accomplishing this is development of their highest extraverted function, Extraverted Thinking.

    An ISTJ who uses Extraverted Thinking to find fault externally rather than internally may become so strongly opinionated that they form rigid and unreasonable expectations of others. Their hyper-vigilant judgments about the rationality and competence of others may be a very effective way of keeping themselves at an emotional distance from others. This will preserve the sanctity of the ISTJ's inner world and lifestyle, but will reduce a lot of valuable input, arrest the development of their social character, and stagnate the development of the ISTJ's rich store of experiential data. In extreme cases the ISTJ may find him or herself quite alone and lonely.

    More commonly, the ISTJ will run into trouble when they try to order and structure the outer world, rather than their inner world. Trying to structure people into a predefined, acceptable system is problematic. The personality types who value the unique individual will be offended by the apparent lack of respect for their person, and people with personality types who follow social values will want to be honoring their own system, rather then being forced to follow yours. Many people experience being controlled or manipulated as a form of suppression, and resist it. Eventually, they may harbor serious resentment against the suppressor.

    Specific suggestions:

    • Take care to listen to someone's idea entirely before you pass judgment on it. Ask questions if necessary. Do whatever it takes to make sure that you understand the idea. Try not to begin judging anything until you understand the details.
    • Try to identify the personality type of everyone you encounter frequently in your life. Remember that Intuitives often have a wandering style of expression. Try to exhibit tolerance for this.
    • Before you being talking to another person, pause for a moment and look at that person. Take in that person's attitude and feelings at that moment. Be aware of the person with whom you are speaking.

    Ten Rules to Live By to Achieve ISTJ Success

    1. Feed Your Strengths! Do things that allow your excellent organizational and logical abilities to flourish. Explore the worlds of business management, accounting, and medicine.
    2. Face Your Weaknesses! See your weaknesses for what they are, and seek to overcome them. Especially, strive to use your judgment against your internal store of knowledge, rather than as a means of disregarding other people's ideas.
    3. Talk Through Your Thoughts. You need to step through your vast amount of information in order to put things into perspective. Give yourself appropriate time to do this, and take advantage of discussing ideas with others. Some find that externalizing your thoughts is a valuable exercise, as is expressing your ideas clearly in writing.
    4. Take in Everything. Don't dismiss ideas prematurely because you don't respect the person generating the ideas, or because you think you already know it all. After all, everybody has something to offer, and nobody knows everything. As Steven Covey says, "Seek first to understand, and then to be understood."
    5. Quench Your Desire to Control Others. Remember that most people do not want to be controlled. Again, turn your controlling tendencies inwardly rather than outwardly. You can only really control yourself.
    6. Be Aware of Others. Take time to notice where others are coming from. What is their personality type? How are they currently feeling?
    7. Be Accountable for Yourself. Don't blame the problems in your life on other people. Look inwardly for solutions.
    8. Be Gentle in Your Expectations, and judge yourself at least as harshly as you judge others.
    9. Assume the Best. Don't distress yourself and others by dwelling on the dark side of everything. Just as there is a positive charge for every negative charge, there is a light side to every dark side. Remember that positive situations are created by positive attitudes, and vice versa. Expect the best, and the best will come forward.
    10. There is Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself. Sometimes it's necessary to take a risk to initiate change. Don't be afraid to do so when that time comes. In most cases, the obstacles and burdens standing in the way of your goal are not really there--they just exist in your perspective. Change your perspective--change your life.