The Personality Of Protectors
Do you know your Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator? The test, which assigns takers into one of 16 distinct personalities, relies on four different preferences: Introversion VS Extroversion, Intuition VS Sensing, Thinking VS Feeling, and Judging VS Perceiving. Around 18% of people including Kate Middleton and Mother Theresa are ISFJs...maybe you're among them.
1. You're Supportive
ISFJ types are known as Defenders or Protectors. Not only do they enjoy helping others and sharing their knowledge, but they prefer it to competition. An ISFJ is always willing to lend a helping hand or word of advice.
2. You're Reliable
As we will see later, ISFJs enjoy stability, meaning that they are careful in their work. An ISFJ is more likely to go above and beyond in their work rather than leaving things half-finished before moving onto the next project. ISFJs are also reliable when it comes to social skills, you can always count on them.
3. You're Observant
ISFJs are detail-minded to the extreme. They pay attention to the small things about other people and their surrounding, saving that information for later. This means that ISFJs have a near-bottomless index of people's names, hobbies, likes, and dislikes.
4. You're Enthusiastic
ISFJs love what they do...most of the time. When given a project they believe will have a tangible effect on someone else's life, they'll throw their heart and soul into it.
5. You're A Hard Worker
As we said, ISFJs have one of the strongest work ethics around. In group projects, they're the one that ends up doing all the work, but will decline credit for it later. ISFJs are known for forming emotional attachments to their projects, and won't stop until their goal is achieved.
6. You Have Good Practical Skills
ISFJs blend practicality with concern for others. If an ISFJ has the necessary skills to help someone out, you can bet they're going to roll their sleeves up and do exactly that. ISFJs don't make promises they can't keep.
7. You're Great At Giving Gifts
Because ISFJs are great at remembering details and love to bring others joy, they're phenomenal gift-givers. ISFJs thrive around holidays and birthdays because they get an opportunity to put their skills to use for a good purpose. Don't be surprise if you off-handedly mention wanting something to an ISFJ only to receive that exact gift your next birthday.
8. You Crave Order
ISFJs are logical types, meaning that unpredictable environments can be stressful. Because ISFJs put so much of themselves into projects, they rarely feel comfortable flying by the seat of their pants in any scenario. ISFJs like clear training and responsibilities.
9. You Have Strong Social Skills
ISFJs are among the stealthiest kinds of introverts, often mistaken for extroverts by their peers. ISFJs are excellent with social cues, small talk, and articulating themselves. Despite all this, ISFJs are happy to spend quiet time alone.
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10. You're Happy To Work Behind The Scenes
While ISFJs may have the social skills of lead actors, they're most happy working backstage. They take pride in keeping things in order to the point where their skills are hardly recognized. For this reason, their skills and accomplishments often don't get the credit they deserve.
11. You Repress Your Emotions
Like most introverts, ISFJs have big feelings, but don't always feel comfortable expressing them, at least not in public. ISFJs are more likely to internalize their feelings rather than say what's on their mind. This can lead to misunderstandings and outbursts within their relationships.
12. You Have Trouble Saying "No"
As people-pleasers, ISFJs often have struggle with saying "no" to others. This can lead to their good intentions being taken advantage of whether intentionally or not. One of the greatest skills an ISFJ can learn is how to say no.
13. You're Overly Humble
Humility is a great virtue, but for an ISFJ it may also be one of their biggest failings. Not only will ISFJs shy away from taking credit for their accomplishments. ISFJs can also put other people's feelings before their own.
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14. You Avoid Change
While routines may be an ISFJs bread and butter, sometimes change is necessary—even good. Among all 16 types, ISFJs struggle the most with breaking routines due to their need for stability. When change is necessary, they'll sometimes wait until the last possible moment.
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15. You Take Things Personally
Because ISFJs tend to repress their emotions, they are also known for taking things personally. ISFJs are deeply sensititive people who can take criticism to heart. Even well-intentioned criticism can sometimes come off as a personal attack to an ISFJ.
16. You Focus On Others
ISFJs are some of the most generous people you will ever meet, however this altruism can come at the cost of their own feelings. ISFJs often won't speak up if they're being taken advantge of. They would rather clean up someone else's mess than make one of their own.
17. You Dislike Following Orders
ISFJs like routines...when they're the ones setting them. Underneath that soft exterior is a surprisingly tough interior when push comes to shove. ISFJs will almost always prefer collaboration rather than authority.
18. You Dislike Giving Orders
An ISFJ is attuned to the feelings of the people around them, so they may prefer framing orders as requests. This allows them to be mindful of others without feeling like a burden. However, this can also lead to them minimizing their own feelings and needs.
19. You're Quiet When You're Upset
Some people explode when they get angry, but not ISFJs. Being sensitive, thinking types, an ISFJ will try to use logic and patterns to understand external emotions. They may look meek, but they're actually analyzing your behavior.
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20. You Struggle To Understand Your Own Potential
Like we said, ISFJs are happy to say out of the spotlight, but that can be to their own detriment. ISFJs aren't big dreamers or planners and can often underplay their skills or ambitions. They may have incredible light, but they hide it under a bushel.
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