INTP Personality

INTPs are known for their brilliant theories and unrelenting logic – in fact, they are
considered the most logically precise of all the personality types.

They love patterns and spotting discrepancies between statements. INTPs’ words are
taken with a grain of salt – it’s not that they are dishonest, but people with the INTP
personality type tend to share thoughts that are not fully developed, using others as a
sounding board for ideas and theories in a debate against themselves rather than as
actual conversation partners.

This may make them appear unreliable, but in reality no one is more enthusiastic and
capable of spotting a problem, drilling through the endless factors and details that
encompass the issue and developing a unique and viable solution than INTPs. People
who share the INTP personality type aren’t interested in practical, day-to-day activities
and maintenance, but when they find an environment where their creative genius and
potential can be expressed, there is no limit to the time and energy INTPs will expend in
developing an insightful and unbiased solution.

INTP Strengths INTP Weaknesses

 Great Analysts and Abstract Thinkers  Very Private and Withdrawn
 Imaginative and Original  Insensitive
 Open-Minded  Absent-minded
 Enthusiastic  Condescending
 Objective  Loathe Rules and Guidelines
 Honest and Straightforward  Second-Guess Themselves

All this material asceticism and conflict avoidance support one primary goal – to free up
mental resources for more important things.

INTP Careers

INTPs are solitary, eccentric, and independent – none of which is listed as desirable for
corporate positions, which are usually designed for very different personality types.
INTPs duly struggle in finding careers that meet their needs, but what they do bring,
qualities in much higher demand, are creativity, a passion for theoretical methods and
ideas, and an entrepreneurial, innovative spirit. If they are able to put this better foot
forward to secure a position in a suitable line of work, people with the INTP personality
type will find that, whatever the job listing says, these "less desirable" qualities will prove
an asset after all.

INTP in the workplace

The running theme for INTPs is their desire for solitude, need for intellectual stimulation,
and the satisfaction of the final piece of a puzzle clicking into place. Whether in
subordinate or management positions, with colleagues or working alone, these
privileges and the freedom to pursue them unfettered by social obligations and progress
reports are about all people with the INTP personality type look for in their workplace.

Though INTPs may scoff at the notion, they actually function best when paired with
another person. Their position determines which personality type best fits their needs,
but INTPs’ tendency to live in their heads and vent inspiration and creativity seemingly
at random demands the presence of an implementer, preferably a Sentinel, to ensure
that no stroke of genius goes unnoticed

INTP Subordinates

Under the right conditions, INTP subordinates are innovative, resourceful, and hard-
working, easily wrapping their minds around whatever complex problems are placed in
front of them and delivering unorthodox but effective solutions. However, these qualities
require a great deal of freedom, something stereotypical managers are loath to cede. It
is difficult to quantify these qualities on a resume – several other characteristics, like a
relative indifference to job security and to being liked, exacerbate the challenge – and it
can take time to grow to trust INTP subordinates enough to allow this latitude.

INTP personalities prefer to work alone, but at the same time they despise "grunt-work".
Their focus on conceiving new and exciting ideas and ignoring the details of execution
means that INTPs need someone alongside to keep things in order and actually put into
practice their often unrefined ideas. Such a condition can’t be forced on INTPs, but a
few logically phrased criticisms (certainly not emotional appeals or pep talks about
working as part of a team) and clever management can make it happen.

INTP Colleagues

For INTPs, colleagues aren’t so much a group of people who they socialize and work
with as they are a series of obstacles and diversions with occasionally useful
knowledge. Mingling, chitchat, drinks after work – these make INTPs want to work
alone, not get up in the morning. Despite this distance, people with the INTP personality
type are unusually good at developing insightful and unbiased interpretations of others’
motivations, though sometimes they over think it, becoming unnecessarily suspicious of
others’ goals.

What they do enjoy are riddles and patterns, and any INTP would be proud to be the
guru who is sought after as arbiter on the validity of an idea, or for their insight on how
to apply a principle to novel situations. INTPs love discussing theories, at least with
"proven" colleagues, and are almost always available as impromptu consultants. This,
however, does not apply to emotional riddles and conflicts, INTPs’ Achilles Heel – in
these charged situations, INTP personalities have no clue what to do.
INTP Managers

While INTPs don’t care for managing other people, it is likely the most rewarding
position as it provides the opportunity to direct concepts and theories while others
handle the logistics. INTPs have a very tolerant and flexible style, characterized by
openness to logical suggestions and relative freedom for their subordinates. But this
freedom comes at a cost – INTP managers have very high standards, and they expect
others to grasp their insights instantly, and to provide their own in equal measure.
As well as their demand for innovation, INTPs are better than any other type at noticing
logical discrepancies – their tendency to ignore others’ feelings means that their
criticisms often come hard and fast as they direct projects to their own perfectionistic
standards.