INTJs are quiet people who don’t usually seem like they’d be interested in running their own business, but this can actually be a good match for this type. They have several challenges to overcome in this career path, but ultimately they can find it very rewarding and almost natural once they get started.
Vision and Insight
INTJs often see things that other people don’t or can’t. This is because of their dominant function, introverted intuition. This function is constantly sifting through all the information that it gathers and finding patterns. To an INTJ, life is full of patterns of behavior and trends, and once the INTJ has identified and understands some of the patterns around them they can actually come very close to predicting the future. This means they usually have a very good idea of where life is going and what people will need or want in the future, and this knowledge can form the basis of their business ventures. It gives them vision, an understanding of where things are going, and often means that INTJs can be ahead of the trends in life and in business.
Unfortunately, INTJs often struggle to share their vision with others. This type aren’t very good communicators and often struggle to make themselves understood, particularly when they’re around people they don’t know really well. But even more of a problem is the fact that INTJs dominant function is not well understood, nor accepted in the general population. In fact, introverted intuition is usually considered the most mysterious function, and people who use it often have an uphill battle when it comes to conveying what it tells them to the people around them. This reality probably won’t stop an INTJ from going into entrepreneurship, but it will mean that they often prefer to take that step almost completely on their own.
Emotional Strengths and Weaknesses
INTJs have one strength that’s usually their greatest asset in business. They’re unshakably self-confident, with a good understanding of their skills and abilities. This can be seen as arrogance to other types, but to INTJs it’s just a natural part of having such a rational and logical mind. They know what they can do, and don’t see any reason to obfuscate or try to downplay those activities. This means that when an INTJ gets an idea for a business, and decides that it will work, they will be relentless. This drive may seem a little cold blooded to others, INTJs won’t be jumping up and down and screaming about their idea. Instead they’ll work with a single minded focus and drive that few others can match or beat. And this is often the key to the INTJs success in their own business.
Workplace Strengths
INTJs are usually very open to criticisms in the workplace and this will help them establish and build a business that lasts. To this type, criticism is just another way to learn and they’ll take it in that spirit. They prefer that this criticism be as blunt and practical as possible though, this type has no time for roundabout comments or hints and will quickly become impatient with people who try to spare their feelings in this way. And if anyone tries to criticize them personally, the INTJ will usually completely dismiss their comments as irrelevant to their aims and go about their day. This makes them a very good fit for the often competitive world of business and entrepreneurship.
Social Skills and Networking
INTJs often struggle with networking, and usually dislike and do their best to avoid any kind of task that demands these types of skills. This type are also blunt and to the point, and hate small talk with a passion that few other types can match. As a result, standing in a room and making small talk with strangers is pretty much the INTJs idea of cruel and unusual punishment. As a result of these strong tendencies, this type usually does better if they have a business partner who doesn’t mind completely taking over this part of the business. This allows the INTJ to do what they like to do and what they do best, planning and working.
In the Planning Stages
INTJs are great planners. Their auxiliary function is extraverted thinking, which automatically evaluates systems and organizes them to run more efficiently. This function makes them natural strategists, and usually is at its best in a business context. As a result of this function, most INTJs will have a plan for their business that’s long term, extensive and extremely organized. This type are long term thinkers, so they’ll have no problem looking into the future and planning the direction of their business long before others are even aware that they want to set it up. The INTJs adeptness in this area will be of great benefit during their entrepreneurship journey because it will ensure that they’re rarely caught unaware or unprepared for any eventuality.
Building the Business
INTJs will have no problems organizing the structures or schedules that their business needs to thrive and to grow. However these structures probably won’t be at all related to traditional norms or conventions. INTJs have absolutely no time for practices that don’t make sense, or aren’t the most efficient ways to do things, and will often avoid traditional structures or rules on principle. This type will design their own according to what works best and they’ll apply these structures to themselves and to anyone working with them as well.
Most INTJs will be open to feedback about those structures from the people around them too. INTJs like their schedules, they like to know what’s happening and what’s going to happen, but they’re also quite flexible and open to outside input. That means that they’ll willingly change things if something isn’t working properly. This type often understands instinctively that people need different things to thrive and work at their best. So if they see that their schedules aren’t working for someone they’re happy to change them as long as that person is blunt and upfront with their problems and needs.
Final Thoughts
INTJs can find their natural fit in their own business. This type actually prefers to work on their own above every other possibility and their vision, organized nature and drive can help them ensure their own success and happiness in this career path.
References
- Storm, Susan. “The Magic and Mystery of Introverted Intuition“. Aug 10, 2015. (Retrieved May 2018).
- Irish, Chelsea. “Developing Effectiveness For INTJs and ISTJs“. Jun 14, 2016. (Retrieved May 2018).
- “INTJ – The Mastermind“.
- “The INTJ Career Path“.
- “The INTJ in the Workplace“.