ESTJ
ESTJs tend to be logical, practical, and assertive. They typically have a wide variety of interests, and enjoy discussion and debate with others. ESTJs are usually seen as responsible and decisive; they are committed to fulfilling their commitments, and expect others to do the same.
ESTJs value experience and practical realities. They tend to be pragmatic and direct, quick to notice inconsistencies or inefficiencies. ESTJs favor rational analysis, and strive to understand systems and underlying structures. They filter details absorbed from their environment through a framework of logic and objectivity, searching for effective solutions to pressing problems.
ESTJs tend to be focused on results, and will move decisively to achieve their goals. ESTJs are often found in positions of authoring, where they can use their keen organization skills and attention to detail to motivate others into action and keep them on track. ESTJs can be quite confident about their skills and abilities, but may be less comfortable in supportive roles. They can, at times, seem bossy or controlling, and often feel that others are too sensitive.
ESTJs appreciate clear directives and expectations, and prefer to follow a defined course of action. They are committed to fulfilling their responsibilities, holding themselves and others to high standards. ESTJs may be outspoken, and do not hesitate to confront people who do not follow the rules or procedures. They prefer to surround themselves with people whose intellect and capabilities have been established, and expect to earn the trust of others by demonstrating their skill and dedication.
ESTJ Type Dynamics
The core of the ESTJ personality type is Extraverted Thinking. This dominant function guides the way ESTJs evaluate information and approach the world around them. Using Extraverted Thinking, ESTJs seek to create logical, orderly systems in their environments. They set goals, make objective decisions, and communicate clear plans for action.
The auxiliary function for ESTJs is Introverted Sensing. This mental function supports their dominant Extraverted Thinking to help them gather information and organize it internally. Using Introverted Sensing, ESTJs assemble a storehouse of detailed information based on their practical experience, creating a body of evidence they can use to inform their plans for action.
The tertiary Intuition function is less developed for most ESTJs, especially early in life. When this function is not well developed, the ESTJ may have trouble seeing patterns and the long-term implications of the information in front of them.
The inferior function for ESTJs, or that function which is least likely to be conscious and well developed, is Introverted Feeling. When this function is not developed, the ESTJ may have difficulty making decisions based on their personal values.
ESTJ in the Population
ESTJ is the fifth most common type in the population, and the second most common among men. ESTJs make up:
- 9% of the general population
- 11% of men
- 6% of women
Famous ESTJs
Famous ESTJs include Colin Powell, Judge Judy Sheindlin, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, George Washington, Sandra Day O’Connor, Mike Wallace, Vince Lombardi, and Harry Truman.
ESTJ at Work
At work, the ESTJ excels at organizing—people, projects, and operations. ESTJs like to be in control and often seek out management positions, preferring to be in a role where they can make decisions and enforce policies and procedures.
ESTJs quickly develop a reputation in the workplace as people who can be trusted to deliver, on time and as requested. They are unfailingly reliable and gain satisfaction from bringing a project to completion. Because of their eagerness to take on responsibility, they sometimes become overworked.
The ideal work environment for an ESTJ is highly structured, with a clear set of expectations and an organized authority structure. The ideal job for an ESTJ allows them to use their organizational skills within a set of standardized procedures to efficiently produce a tangible product.
Popular Careers for the ESTJ
Top careers for the ESTJ include:
To read more about the ESTJ, visit the ESTJ page at Truity.com.
Comments
Thank you for the info.
Thank you for the info.
hello I want to know about my
hello I want to know about my type?
Funny how there are no
Funny how there are no comments under this type. Probably because they lack any of the self-awareness or depth required to have any interest in such things. These types also tend to be the asshole bosses, the crooked politicians, the bullies, the rich snobs and the corporate psychopaths. Aka, the kind of person no one except the masochistic enjoy the company of. I'm sure there are many exceptions but for the most part these are the type of people I've encountered who fall under this type. As the ESTJ might agree (though for completely different reasons) we're not all created equal, and that's a fact.
I couldn't agree more!!!
I couldn't agree more!!!
Yes, indeed!!
Yes, indeed!!
Hey, watch it please. Not all
Hey, watch it please. Not all of us are like this, and it would be appreciated if you would keep your comments kind. Everybody is driven by different things and has a different past, and I would appreciate it if you wouldn't let your bitterness towards what you see as "this type of person" cloud your reasoning and cause you to pass judgement through a broad generalization. As an estj with a lot of friends, I can say that people DO like this type. We have problems, just the same as everyone else, but we also have our good points. I apologize for any trouble you've had in the past with people of this type, but please remember to respect those you do not know. Thank you.
By depicting you as a pariah
By depicting you as a pariah to the ESTJ cause, you too are also characterizing yourself as a human being who criticizes & deligitimizes someone elses' own keen strengths and motivations. I advise to reevaluate your comment and consider your own strengths and weaknesses, before you evaluate your own neighbor's. To each his own, and that is all.
they didnt say anything of
they didnt say anything of the sort. they are defending their own type from random backlash because of some crooked typesbthat stem from their ranks. so, as it is said, stop generalizing this person into that same category.
It is slightly offending to
It is slightly offending to here comments such as this. Although, I'm sure there are ESTJs out there who are not the greatest people, I know there are plenty of people of whatever personality type you are that aren't necessarily the most favored in society. Also, not all ESTJs are rich snobs, corporate psychopaths, or bullies, it really depends on the person's past and their background. I happen to be a college student getting a degree in journalism off a scholarship. I come from a middle-class family and will be swimming in debt once I am out of university. I am not stereotype, and find it unfair that you would judge people in such a broad range. Consider this, a great number of people are ESTJs, (it is one of the most common types) so there would have to be a lot of diversity within the one category.
I believe an individual's
I believe an individual's background plays a role in the way he or she responds to their given personality type. ESTJs tend to work off a well-defined set of values, which can be a huge fault if they are raised to believe it is acceptable to be a snob or a crooked politician. On the other hand, if an ESTJ is raised to respect the feelings of others, value the opinion of others, and allow others to assume control of a given situation, he or she may be the favorite among their friends, peers or colleagues -- acting as a resource of entertainment and accountability. If an ESTJ incorporates the behaviors described above into their structured, predictable value system they can counteract some their biggest weaknesses.
Im an ESTJ and i think where
Im an ESTJ and i think where all supposed to be equal only some people dont deserve the same privalages as others. I do agree though, having one of us as a boss would suck. Some people dont beleive me though when i say im an ESTJ because i am aslo quite sensitive but only when trying to make somone else feel better, but like the article says, i do get comfused easily in emotionly challenging situations.
Wow! I just wanted to say
Wow! I just wanted to say something towards your remarks about this personality type. Like I find it hard to believe that you know the MBTI type of all the people that you describe.Then, to make your assumptions so global seems like you are giving this type a lot of power and responsibility. I scored as an ESTJ, however, I think you may be taking this way to seriously. In my opinion all people could be some or every bit of an asshole or bully. And as far as being created equal, I hope that you may learn to consider your attitude as part of the equalizer. It is not like this information is gospel.
I am an ESTJ - This is a
I am an ESTJ -
This is a great profile. I am exceedlingly good at what I do. I don't really care what others think of my profile.
If you need you use us "ESTJ's" as punching bags - go ahead
I'll still be good at what I do and will continue to be good no matter what.
BTW: Those of you who go off on other profiles by "profiling negative characteristics" need to take a look at themselves and why they "feel" they need to conduct themsleves in this manner.
Perhaps there is something you need to improve (or let go) in your own character.
Andree Martin
Although I think that this
Although I think that this comment could be seen as a little harsh, there is probably some truth in it to the extent that ESTJs are not very prone to reflection and are therefore less likely than most other types to be found browsing a site like this. But this is not to say that they are any worse than any other type, they are just more practical. I have a brother who is an ESTJ, whereas I am an INFP, the complete opposite, and the classic Healer, both in the Myers-Briggs category sense, and literally. So, whereas my brother sees me as impractical, inefficient, wishy-washy and focussed on what doesn't matter in life (feelings and meanings rather than concrete reality), I am liable to see him as hard-nosed, two-dimensional and focussed on what doesn't matter in life (how his desk is organised, whether cargo arrives on time).
Of course, neither of us is "right" or "wrong", we just have different ways of perceiving, and different priorities because of these perceptions.
More importantly, we both do valuable work helping people every day - I couldn't do his work, and he couldn't do mine, but they are both necessary.
This is the power and genius of humanity. It is located within our differences! Of course, I celebrate that, and he does not. But then, he is an ESTJ, and what is the matter with me!
i disagree.
i disagree.
As someone who has been
As someone who has been classified as an ESTJ since I was 14, I disagree with some of the comments on here. Just because someone has a strong work ethic and expects their coworkers to have the same respect for the rules and others as they do, it does not make them a domineering a**(hole). I'm a 21 year old mother who waitresses at a local restaurant. Am I good at my job, as far as I know, yes. Side note: I have absolutely no drive to become a politician, rich snob, or cooperate psychopath. Not everyone is a stereotype, so please don't try to make them out to be.
As an INFP who was just
As an INFP who was just interested in seeing the description of my opposite, I'd like to apologize to the ESTJs who've had to put up with all the hateful comments on this page. Being good with people, living in the moment, thinking logically, and planning things out certainly doesn't make you a bad person in any way. Anyone who feels the need to attack strangers for their results on a personality test should seriously reexamine their lives.
I am an INFP also, here
I am an INFP also, here looking at my husbands type, which is an ESTJ.
We are both entrepreneurs. Each have our own business, so that corporate physcho thing means nothing. Let me give you the real side to him:
My husband is kind. He's very family oriented. He's very traditional, that's true. But for an unruly INFP like me, our house would be in complete chaos without him.
I get in trouble, he gets me out of trouble.
I'm busy daydreaming, he's busy organizing things.
When I was pregnant, he spent countless hours a day making sure I was exercising, eating right, and had the best medical care.
Our children would never go to bed on time without him.
When he's stressed over problems, I show him it's not really a big deal. I look for opportunities and ideas. He finds the pitfalls and problems with my ideas. He makes me think twice before I take a risk or say something I'll regret.
And he is completely accepting of the fact I'll pursue my ideas regardless of his opinions :)
They are wonderful matches for INFP's. However, my ESTJ husband is 42. Even he warned me they can be inconsiderate asses in their earlier years (20's).
As an ESTJ, I see both sides
As an ESTJ, I see both sides to these comments.
I have been rumored some of the above sterotypes (stubborn, unyielding, etc.) but I have avoided several others (bully, a**hole, etc.). And I believe this is why: ESTJ's think logically before acting (usually). Therefore, they observe a situation, think about the best possibilities, and stick to it. So when others present less-prepared solutions, it is easy for an ESTJ to shoot theirs down quickly because the ESTJ probably already considered that and optimized it, and this can come across as snappy, inconsiderate, or bossy.
HOWEVER, there are frequently times when my "perfect" solution is optimized by someone else. This is where ESTJ's must realize their opinion may not be the best for everyone. At this fork in the road, ESTJ's can respect other's criticism, and admit they either made a mistake or missed an observation, OR they can stick to their guns (usually knowing they are wrong) and seem like a big jerk.
The best way I can describe it, is an ESTJ coupled with respect for others is the best way to approach this situation. This is how I have adapted to the stubborn qualities I have, and (I believe) overcome them. Considering all this, rethink the ESTJ stereotypes listed above, and imagine those people with a little respect. This makes up "the rest of us" ESTJers.
Cheers
This is a neat site. I
This is a neat site. I recently completed my profile and it revealed me an an ESTJ. Although, I'm one point away from being an ENTJ. Being almost 7 years into my career and married for 10 years, I can relate to the type descriptions. What I really appreciate is the ways others see me. I hope to use this as one of my steps to being a better husband and father, friend and leader. - Cheers.
I am a supervisor, to a staff
I am a supervisor, to a staff of 14 people. I can guarantee you that I care more about their well being and advancement at times than I do my own. I am of course logical, decisive, and organized, as any ESTJ, but we are kind hearted people. My motives to be all fo these things is to make it easier for those I work with and to be a reliable and dependable staff member/supervisor. I am proud to be ESTJ!
This is so interesting to
This is so interesting to read. I teeter between ESTJ and INTJ depending on my mood and test...I think it is my perfectionist nature in a superficial environment (I manage a team at a pretentious brand). I also see the ESTJ personality in other high ranking people in my industry. I might be an INTJ trying to fit in with ESTJs, or an ESTJ that is excelling ("a mastermind") in the perfect job, like an INTJ.
I love rational thought like Ayn Rand, Steven Hawking and Hillary Clinton, but worry I relate to people like Frank Underwood, Anna Wintour who are successful but cutthroat. I have the hardest time relating to INFPs. I am super cynical and I try to hide it.
I myself feel like I could
I myself feel like I could fall into either category of ESTJ or ENTJ. I know for certain that I am an extrovert, but seem to be right on the line between sensing and intuitive. I can see how my past could play a part in this, especially since both my parents are intuitives. I'm starting to think I may be an ESTJ who happens to have a well developed intuitive function. (Since we are all human and made in the image of God we are all capable of all the personality functions, our true "personality" is simply our natural preferences for certain functions,
-our gifting.) I find it interesting that you find yourself seemingly wedged between an extroverted-sensing personality and an introverted-intuitive personality. Perhaps this is only due to your current perception of yourself. I think the best way to make a decisive determination of your true personality is to ask yourself questions like this: When do I feel most energized- after spending time alone doing something I enjoy, or after spending time hanging out with people I relate well to? I know from experience that one can actually look like an introvert but actually be an extravert or vice-versa. Introvert/extrovert doesn't describe the status of your social life, but where you gain the most emotional energy from. Concerning sensing vs. intuition I am not as certain of a solution for determining one over the other, but perhaps thinking over your past you might be able to identify a pattern that will give you a clearer picture on this. It's important when trying to determine your personality type to realize that you may not have always behaved in the manner typical to your type (especially during the peer-pressure filled teen years!) But the surest way to know is to take note of the times you felt best about yourself and felt most like yourself. I can see how in my own life the intuitive and feeling preferences of my parents have played a huge role in shaping who I am today. Even though I naturally struggle to understand emotionally charged situations, I put a great deal of effort into understanding these things because its an important part of my system of principles, which I formed in my childhood. The people we spend the most time around certainly do have an impact on our behavior! Even though it hasn't been easy for thinking-judging me to grow up with intuitive-feeling parents, I am thankful because it's helped me become a better, more well rounded person. So my advice to you is to separate in your mind the things you may have felt pressured to be from the things that actually come naturally to you and bring you joy! This will help you see who you really are. There is no better indication of a life being well lived that joy! :D
People with this personality
People with this personality type are just misunderstood. I am married to an estj. One ought to be careful to not mistake their decisiveness for coldness. These are the type of people who often stand up for us when we would much rather sit down. It takes all types of people to make the world go round.
quoted from above "ESTJs
quoted from above "ESTJs quickly develop a reputation in the workplace as people who can be trusted to deliver, on time and as requested. They are unfailingly reliable and gain satisfaction from bringing a project to completion. Because of their eagerness to take on responsibility, they sometimes become overworked."
So your ESTJs tend to be high performers, but why are they often the last to be chosen for a promotion or get that vacant management position? Because they do so well, and perform so well, and make their management look good, they are often kept in their current position to continue to succeed whether or not they want to be there.
so the ESTJ who thinks the world should be just and fair all the time, who sees others moving up the corporate latter who are lazy-bums... this becomes a huge pain point.
i am a estj and every thing
i am a estj and every thing you describe me as was true...... thanks
this was very useful. very
this was very useful. very happy with my results.
As I read some of these
As I read some of these posts, I can't help but think back at a former boss that was no doubt an ESTJ's and think.. "Man I hated that Guy!"
That being said, I have been told on multiple occasions throughout my life how I myself was viewed by others as "Cold" or "stand-offish" and somewhat demanding/in charge. That being said, many of those individuals after getting to know me have become my very best friends in the world.
I am an ESTJ. And very proud of it. And yes I have never been afraid to stand up for what is right and speak my mind when asked. Yes I would very much like those around me to have structure and work as hard as I do. Yes I find it extremely important to give clear direction and expect it to be followed. Yes that is how I see that things get done. And Yes I often lead by example. BUT, contrary to what is believed we are open minded when others have input and want to express their opinions. I've learned that being a leader involves listening and observation. And I have never looked down on any individual who is different than myself, has very different traits or sees the world differently and made such derogatory statements. In fact I welcome those people in my life as I tend to believe it helps me to understand people, making me a better person and stronger in the process.
I'm a business owner with 40+ employees. I have very little turnover. My people, I do believe (as I'm often told) enjoy working for me. And I care very much about their lives and their happiness. I want them to succeed in life as I have, and often see traits in them that differ from mine and work to utilize those for the good of the task or goal.
So when those of you who write things as negative as you have, remember that it is YOU who has made the prejudgment of another and that this ESTJ would no doubt treat YOU with the lack of respect you have earned.
I am estj. Many people find
I am estj. Many people find me as an egoist ... The problem is, that I am trying to think for another people as well and I am trying to decide in the way which is ideal for them...
Another point- I am more doer than a talker and I dont try to manipulate people with my words ... I hate empty words and alibism. I deal with the problems, I am not trying to dont see it or ask another person to solve it for me. All this makes me look like as an aggresive, conflictful and inadaptable person.
The truth is I care. I care not only about myself but about all the other people around! I keep my promises. I rather cancel some favirite activity - to keep my word. I think one need more time to understand estj.
This is interesting, I have a
This is interesting, I have a lot of ESTJ's work for me.
Their attributes are very clear and explained here.
One thing I would like to ask, is how do you like to be managed?
I have noticed (in general-not everyone) a tendanncy to want everything specified exactly (no issue with that) but if the ESTJ does not agree with it or it affects them adversely then all sorts of reasons are given to avoid it, diversionary tactics, bare minimum etc?
How do you get an ESTJ to do something they should do but dont want to?
How do you get the ESTJ to go the esxtra mile? One that is doing things slower, or not everything to a high standard and thinks they should have extra help, but in the current econimic climate is not possible?
So they are just going along one paced?
I know that in reality it is a few minutes per hour that are busy, not a whole hour. Or an hour a day not a whole shift for example.
I have offered to take some of the responsibilities away, but the answer was it would not be done properly.
How would you as an ESTJ like to be managed if this situation weere you?
Post new comment