Mastermind (INTJ) – Type Description

INTJ is one of the 16 personality types as defined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). INTJs, also known as “Masterminds,” are intellectual and inventive individuals who are known for their rational and strategic thinking. They are driven by a strong desire to understand and analyze the world around them and are often able to see benefits and flaws in different situations that others might miss. They are independent in their approach to problem solving, and are curious, scientific, and research oriented. 

INTJs are skilled at creating logical, structured plans in order to achieve their goals. They have a clear understanding of the big picture and are able to anticipate potential contingencies in a project. When given a task, INTJs will quickly begin formulating their strategies, prioritizing their actions, or creating flow charts in order to efficiently use their time and resources. They are able to see the sequential steps needed to complete a project and are adept at ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to keep the project on track. However, they can also be perceived as stubborn or aloof by others, as they can be single-minded in their pursuit of their goals and may not always fully consider the feelings or perspectives of those around them.

Cognitive Functions of INTJs:

To gain insight into the characteristics of INTJ personalities, it is helpful to understand the dominant and auxiliary cognitive functions that drive them. According to the MBTI system, each personality type has a set of cognitive functions that they use most frequently, which leads to consistent patterns and characteristics. For INTJs, 

• the dominant cognitive function is Introverted Intuition (Ni), and
• the auxiliary function is Extroverted Thinking (Te)

Dominant Ni: People with a dominant Introverted Intuition (Ni) tend to be highly intuitive and imaginative. Ni gives people the ability to see patterns and connections that others may not. Those who have a dominant Ni have a strong sense of the future, and are often able to make seemingly sudden, intuitive leaps in their thinking. 

INTJs use their dominant Ni to interpret and synthesize information, to develop a big-picture view, and to make decisions based on their internal understanding of the world. They also use their Ni to make accurate predictions and to uncover hidden patterns and meanings in data. Their Ni can be used to delve deeply into topics of interest, to find creative solutions to problems, and to recognize the potential implications of their decisions. INTJs validate their intuitions using rational criteria such as principles, laws, and organizational structures.

Auxiliary Te: Extraverted Thinking (Te) allows an individual to analyze information objectively. It is oriented towards the external world and involves making decisions, organizing, and structuring the environment. It is focused on the tangible, on facts, and on the practical aspects of life. People who rely heavily on Te tend to be efficient, analytical, and decisive.

In INTJs, their Te helps them test their intuitions against logical ideas and principles. Te brings structure to their inner world and helps them decide what to do under different circumstances. Because INTJs use Te to deal with the outside world, they have a very scientific, and often skeptical approach towards reality.

While Ni allows INTJs to understand patterns and connections, Te helps them to analyze and organize the data they gather in a logical, efficient manner. This combination allows INTJs to process information quickly and to come up with creative, innovative solutions to problems. The Ni-Te combination helps INTJs to be strategic and analytical thinkers who are able to see the potential outcomes of different actions and make logical, well-informed decisions.

Strengths of INTJs

Like all personality types, INTJs have a combination of strengths and weaknesses. Some of strengths of INTJs include: 

• Strategic thinking: INTJs are known for their ability to think strategically and see the big picture. Their dominant Ni allows them to gather information and analyze it to form a comprehensive understanding of a situation or problem. 
• Independent and self-motivated: INTJs prefer to work independently and have a strong sense of self-motivation. They are able to set their own goals and devise their own plans to achieve them, as they don’t depend on others to guide or motivate them.
• Analytical and logical problem-solving: INTJs are skilled at analyzing complex problems and finding logical solutions. Their auxiliary Te allows them to process information in a systematic way and make objective, unbiased decisions.
• Leadership: Although unimpressed by degrees, titles and credentials of others, INTJs are known for their natural leadership abilities and their tendency to take charge in situations where they feel they can make a positive difference. The combination of Ni-Te gives them the ability to remain level-headed under pressure. They trust their own ability to analyze and interpret information, which gives them the confidence to make difficult decisions when needed.
• Efficiency and productivity: INTJs are very efficient in their work and are able to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Their auxiliary Te helps them to prioritize and focus on the most important tasks and make good use of their time.

Weaknesses of INTJs

Like all personality types, INTJs have their own set of weaknesses, some of which are:

• Difficulty with social skills: INTJs may struggle with picking up on social cues or may have trouble adapting to changing social dynamics. Their auxiliary function, Te, can make them focus on facts and logic, rather than emotions and personal connections. Moreover, they tend to prioritize their inner world, due to their Ni, and may neglect the development of their social skills. 
• Being overly critical: INTJs may be perceived as dogmatic and difficult to satisfy due to their tendency to point out the logical limitations of others’ ideas. They enjoy engaging in theoretical discussions and are comfortable considering multiple paradigms, but their use of Te may lead them to be overly critical and to consistently highlight the flaws in others’ ideas. This can make them seem impossible to satisfy and may negatively impact their relationships with others.
• Difficulty with delegation: Since INTJs can often be overly critical of others, they struggle with delegating tasks to others, as they may feel that they can do things better themselves. This can lead to a tendency to micromanage. 
• Tendency to be impatient: INTJs may come across as impatient or dismissive when communicating with others, as they may be unwilling to repeat themselves or may cut others off when they feel that a conversation is unnecessary. Their desire to find alternate viewpoints in order to understand something (due to their Ni-Te combination) may be misinterpreted as disagreement or negativity, leading others to believe that the INTJ is indifferent or critical towards them.

INTJs & career choice

INTJs are natural problem solvers who thrive in fast-paced positions. Some careers that may be well-suited for INTJs include:

• Scientists and engineers: INTJs are highly interested in scientific fields, and often go on to make great inventions and discoveries. Their Ni contributes to the innovation required in science and engineering, and their Te helps them bring structure and objectivity to their thought processes, which can be valuable in such fields.
• Managers: INTJs’ natural leadership abilities and their tendency to take charge makes them well-suited for management positions. Because of their Ni-Te combination, they possess the ability to develop long-term plans and to identify potential problems before they arise, which can be valuable in this role.
• Lawyers: INTJs’ ability to develop logical, structured arguments due to their auxiliary Te can be extremely valuable in the field of law.
• Business owners & entrepreneurs: INTJs also make great business executives as their Ni-Te interact to give them the ability to gauge potential risks and benefits of different actions and investments.

No matter which career an INTJ chooses, they have the ability to make large-scale changes in their chosen field, and are sure to excel and make a positive impact. 

INTJs in the workplace

INTJs in the workplace tend to be self-confident and decisive, with a drive to complete tasks and achieve their goals. They are highly stimulated by difficulties and challenges, and enjoy responding to problems with creative solutions. INTJs are typically hardworking and responsible, and may rise to positions of leadership due to their dedication and steady pursuit of goals. They tend to focus on the positive and prefer to move an organization forward rather than dwelling on past mistakes. 

In terms of their approach to work, INTJs use their auxiliary Te to make cost-effective decisions and look for ways to streamline operations and eliminate waste. They prefer consistency, and are quick to realign systems and processes to achieve their goals more efficiently. They are mostly indifferent to or critical of the ideas of others if they believe that their own ideas are superior. 

However, INTJs may become single-minded at times, focusing so tightly on their own pursuits that they ignore the points of view and wishes of others. They may also prioritize internal and external consistency and efficiency to the point where they overlook the needs and perspectives of others. INTJs may be perceived as unemotional, but this is often due to their serious dedication to the goals of an institution and their desire to achieve those goals efficiently. 

It is important for INTJs to be aware of this tendency and to make an effort to consider the perspectives and needs of others in their decision-making and problem-solving processes. Despite this tendency, INTJs are loyal and dedicated employees who are committed to the success of the system rather than to individual relationships within the system.

INTJs in their relationships

INTJs are known to be analytical, independent, and logical individuals, and these traits tend to carry over into their relationships as well. They tend to approach relationships in a thoughtful and rational way and may have high standards for themselves and their partners. Due to their auxiliary Te, they approach the process of choosing a mate in a logical, rational way, basing their decisions on a mental list of physical and intellectual requirements, which may make them seem cold. Being strategic planners, when INTJs do not see a future with someone (with help from their dominant Ni), they do not waste their time on that relationship. They also need a significant amount of alone time to recharge and maintain their connection to their intuitive processes, and may become restless, bored, and emotionally exhausted when there is too much outer stimulation or conflict. 

As parents, INTJs are loving and devoted, supporting their children and allowing them to develop their own interests and independence. However, they recognize the importance of setting clear limits and are firm and consistent in enforcing those boundaries.

In conclusion, the INTJ personality type is truly remarkable, characterized by their exceptional intuition, logic, and strategic thinking abilities. Their introverted nature often leads them to keep their emotions private, yet they possess a deep sense of loyalty and honesty that is deeply appreciated by those they hold dear. INTJs are always looking for the most efficient ways to accomplish a task and thrive in positions where they have the autonomy and flexibility to do so. Their ability to think critically and independently makes them valuable assets in any team and they are truly destined to achieve great things.