I took a personality test yesterday and boy was I shocked. It pinned me to the paper, it explained my exact personality! It is very accurate, I am a ISFJ.
ISFJ personality
The ISFJ
personality type is perhaps the most altruistic and supportive of all types.
ISFJs rarely sit idle
– there is
always a worthy cause awaiting their attention. Most personalities are quite
willing to reciprocate
when it comes
to good deeds; however, ISFJs take that to a higher level, often going above
and beyond
what is
actually expected of them. People belonging to this type thrive in areas that
are both traditional
(they are SJs, after all) and involve a lot of
activities where their input could make a huge positive difference.
Many ISFJs
seek careers in the academic sector, medicine, social work or counselling;
their personality traits
also shine in
administrative or clerical roles, or even in somewhat unexpected fields such as
interior design.
One of the
hurdles that ISFJ personalities are likely to encounter in the professional
environment is that it is
quite difficult for an ISFJ to “advertise”
their achievements. People with this personality type are prone to
understating them, which leads to lack of
recognition, missed promotions and various misunderstandings.
ISFJs should
not shy away from revealing how much they have done – not only this would
prevent stressful
situations, but the ISFJ would become more
confident in their abilities and personality traits. It is not sufficient
to simply know that you have done a great job
– ISFJs also need to feel appreciated in order to remain enthusiastic.
The fact that this personality type tends to
be less visible than others does not help in such situations either.
ISFJs should
also pay more attention to their workload and not hesitate to voice their
concerns if it becomes unbearable.
ISFJs tend to
overload themselves with work, but their kindness is abused just as often as it
is respected. As a cynic would say,
everyone is
secretly an egoist – and the ISFJ personality is the perfect target for those
who do not hesitate to use other people
for their own gain. ISFJs are extraordinarily
loyal, committed and patient – they should make sure that these traits do not
expose them to
exploitation.
People with
the ISFJ personality type often have very good memory and exceptional
imagination.
These traits
can manifest themselves in a variety of ways. For instance, an ISFJ can easily
notice
discrepancies
in someone’s story when the person repeats it again after a long period of
time;
ISFJs also
find it very easy to choose the right gifts for persons they know well;
finally,
they may have no difficulties whatsoever
making and maintaining personal and professional
connections
simply because they remember so many details about other people’s lives and
habits – a very unusual trait for an introvert.
I would like
to expand on the last point a bit – even though most ISFJ personalities rarely
have any difficulties fitting in and making new
friends in the professional environment, they
are unlikely to use those connections to advance to managerial roles. ISFJs
function best
when they work
in a close-knit team, when there is no tension between the management and the
employees. Some ISFJs even go as far
as seeing all
their colleagues as semi-personal friends and behaving accordingly. For
instance, if an old colleague moves to another department,
the ISFJ will
definitely consider following their example.
People with
this type are known for their meticulousness, patience, reliability and
analytical skills. This is quite an unusual
combination given that this is a Feeling (F)
type, but this is exactly what makes ISFJs so effective. They are unlikely to
offer
or embrace
completely new and radical ideas, or lead a team towards some big goal, but
their determination and passion more
than make up
for it. ISFJs tend to be very traditional and can be expected to defend
existing norms and procedures – however,
they are not
blinded by this and are generally open to change, provided that the new
approach does not contradict their inner values and principles.
Despite their
effectiveness in the workplace, ISFJs will always put their family first. They
will embrace the idea that family members are the
most important
people in their environment and act accordingly, paying a lot of attention to
their needs and desires, surprising them with gifts
and offering
emotional or practical support when it is needed.
That being
said, ISFJ personalities should be aware of their tendency to overdo things,
especially in the family environment.
As ISFJs
always try hard to exceed others’ expectations (especially when they are not
sure what those expectations might be),
their
attention can be somewhat overbearing. Many personality types, especially more
independent ones, are likely to get annoyed
by this after
a while. Furthermore, some personalities are naturally less sensitive compared
to ISFJs – their reaction to that care and
attention may
differ from what the ISFJ would expect. This should not be taken personally –
every type is unique and what is pleasant
for an ISFJ
may not feel natural for someone else.
