Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCharacteristicsCognitive FunctionsPersonal RelationshipsCareer PathsTips for Interacting With ENTJsNext in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator GuideENTP Personality Type (Extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving)
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Characteristics
Cognitive Functions
Personal Relationships
Career Paths
Tips for Interacting With ENTJs
Next in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide
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Sometimes referred to as the “Commander,” ENTJs tend to be great with people. They have a knack for envisioning the future and place a lot of emphasis on abstract ideas when they are making decisions. You might recognize them as the natural leaders who love to plan ahead.
At a Glance
Characteristics of the ENTJ Personality Type
According to psychologist David Keirsey, the ENTJ type is quite rare, accounting for a mere 2% of the population.They typically share a number of different strengths and weaknesses.
ENTJs Have Many Strengths…
Like other personality types, ENTJs have a number of important strengths:
…But They Also Have Some Weaknesses
Like other personality types, ENTJs also have traits that can be challenges at times:
StrengthsStrong leadership skillsSelf-assuredWell-organizedGood at making decisionsAssertive and outspokenStrong communication skillsWeaknessesImpatientStubbornInsensitiveAggressiveIntolerant
StrengthsStrong leadership skillsSelf-assuredWell-organizedGood at making decisionsAssertive and outspokenStrong communication skills
Strong leadership skills
Self-assured
Well-organized
Good at making decisions
Assertive and outspoken
Strong communication skills
WeaknessesImpatientStubbornInsensitiveAggressiveIntolerant
Impatient
Stubborn
Insensitive
Aggressive
Intolerant
Understanding the Cognitive Functions of ENTJs
Based upon the Jungian personality theory, the MBTI suggests that personality is composed of several different cognitive functions. These functions can be focused primarily outward (extraverted) or inward (introverted).
Each function relates to how people perceive the world and make decisions.:
Dominant: Extraverted Thinking (Te)
This is an ENTJ preferred function and is expressed through the way they make decisions and judgments.
ENTJs tend to speak first without listening, making snap judgments before really taking in all the information about a situation.
While they tend to make snap judgments, they are also very rational and objective. They are focused on imposing order and standards on the world around them. Setting measurable goals is important.
Auxiliary: Introverted Intuition (Ni)
The auxiliary function helps balance a person’s personality. Using the dominant function all the time would lead to a one-dimensional personality. The dominant function does act as the primary driver of personality, but the auxiliary function is there to offer support.
People with this personality type are future-focused and always consider the possibilities when approaching a decision.
ENTJs are forward-thinking and are not afraid of change. They trust their instincts, although they tend to regret jumping to conclusions so quickly.
Tertiary: Extraverted Sensing (Se)
The tertiary function in personality acts as a background support, although it is less prominent that the dominant and auxiliary functions.
This cognitive function gives ENTJs an appetite for adventure. They enjoy novel experiences and may sometimes engage in thrill-seeking behaviors.
Because of their outward sensory focus, they also have an appreciation for beautiful things in life. They often enjoy surrounding themselves with things that they find attractive or interesting.
Inferior: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
The inferior function is the weakest part of your personality. That means that it is frequently one of your biggest challenges. Introverted feeling is centered on internal feelings and values.
Emotions can be difficult area for ENTJs, and they often lack an understanding of how this part of their personality contributes to their decision-making process.
When this aspect of personality is weak, ENTJs may feel uncomfortable or awkward in settings where an emotional response is required.
ENTJs You Might KnowFranklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. PresidentBill Gates, Microsoft founderVince Lombardi, football coachCarl Sagan, astronomerLex Luthor, Superman character
ENTJs You Might Know
Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. PresidentBill Gates, Microsoft founderVince Lombardi, football coachCarl Sagan, astronomerLex Luthor, Superman character
Personal Relationships With ENTJs
Despite their verbal abilities, ENTJs are not always good at understanding other people’s emotions.
They may struggle to understand or get along with more sensitive personality types. While they are extroverts, they are not emotionally expressive and other people may see them as insensitive.
Subtypes: ENTJ-T vs. ENTJ-AENTJs can be further categorized as:ENTJ-T (the turbulent commander)—Seeks validation and attention; tends toward anger and jealousy; emotionally driven; more sensitive, sentimental, and affectionate than ENTJ-AENTJ-A (the assertive commander)—Confident; assumes others' acceptance; less emotionally reactive; handles stress and negativity well
Subtypes: ENTJ-T vs. ENTJ-A
ENTJs can be further categorized as:ENTJ-T (the turbulent commander)—Seeks validation and attention; tends toward anger and jealousy; emotionally driven; more sensitive, sentimental, and affectionate than ENTJ-AENTJ-A (the assertive commander)—Confident; assumes others' acceptance; less emotionally reactive; handles stress and negativity well
ENTJs can be further categorized as:
Career Paths for ENTJs
Thanks to their comfort in the spotlight, ability to communicate, and a tendency to make quick decisions, ENTJs tend to naturally fall into leadership roles.
These individuals sometimes find themselves taking control of a group without really knowing how they came to be in such a position. Because of their love for structure and order, the ENTJ is also good at supervising and directing others and helping groups complete tasks and achieve goals.
They can quickly see what needs to be accomplished, develop a plan of action, and assign roles to group members.
ENTJs do best in careers where there is a lot of structure, but plenty of room for variety. Jobs that allow them to meet and interact with lots of different people are ideal. People with this type bring a lot of desirable skills to the table, including excellent leadership and communication skills, a hard-working attitude, and an ability to plan for the future.
Popular ENTJ CareersHuman resources managerCompany CEO or managerLawyerScientistSoftware developerBusiness analystEntrepreneurUniversity professor
Popular ENTJ Careers
Human resources managerCompany CEO or managerLawyerScientistSoftware developerBusiness analystEntrepreneurUniversity professor
Knowing more about how to interact with an ENTJ can help keep your relationships running smoothly with fewer conflicts. How you respond to an ENTJ can depend on the nature of your relationship. For example, you would communicate with them differently if they are your partner versus a co-worker. Here are some tips that can help you navigate different types of ENTJ relationships:
Friendships
ENTJ are social people and love engaging conversations. While they can seem argumentative and confrontational at times, just remember that this is part of their communication style. Try not to take it personally. They tend to have the easiest friendships with people who share their interests and views and may struggle to understand people who are very introverted, sensitive, or emotional.
Parenting
Relationships
An ENTJ partner can often seem quite dominating in a relationship. Because dealing with emotions does not come naturally to them, they may seem insensitive to their partner’s feelings. It is important to remember that this does not mean that ENTJ’s don’t have feelings—they just need to feel completely comfortable in order to show their emotions.
They are very committed to making relationships work and are always looking for ways that they can improve their relationships. If you have an issue with your partner, be upfront and honest. Your partner would rather hear the truth than try to guess your feelings.
Takeaways
It’s important to remember that while ENTJs share many common traits, each person is unique. That means that how their personality is expressed may vary.
Learning more about your own personality type can help you to better understand you strengths and weaknesses. In doing so, you’ll be better prepared to maximize your strengths and cope with your challenges.
What Are My Dominant Personality Traits? Take the Quiz and Find Out
4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Keirsey D.Please understand me II: Temperament, character, intelligence. Prometheus Nemesis; 1998.
Myers & Briggs Foundation.MBTI basics.
Myers & Briggs Foundation.The processes of type dynamics.
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