ISTP

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Characteristics of an ISTP

(I) Introverted - (S) Sensing - (T) Thinking - (P) Perceiving

The ISTP is one of the most complex of Jungian character types moving seamlessly from quiet bystander to active participant and leader of the revolution in one fell swoop, then back again to invisible, apparently disinterested introvert. The self-indulgent nature of the ISTP means that they will be full-on, or full off - they don’t do shades of grey. The ISTP is at their best in times of crisis and challenge, but will have little appetite for follow-through as they will be looking for a new complex challenge. Independent, inscrutable and self-contained the ISTP will be difficult to get to know as they will reveal only what they choose to reveal, when they choose to reveal it.

At their best ISTPs are excellent at reacting to problems or crises, needing very little preparation and able to cut to the chase with no preamble or discussion with others, spontaneously grasping the nettle often to the surprise of those who had mistakenly viewed them as peripheral players. The ISTP doesn’t follow the social mores, nor do they need to engage fully with others and this can give them a distant, aloof persona to others who often don’t quite know where they stand.

Practical, resourceful, adaptable pragmatists, ISTPs possess an excellent capacity for understanding how anything works, displaying logical, detached analysis. They have incredible (often understated), powers of observation and a great talent for logical dispassionate analysis, and getting things to work.

An ISTP will be difficult to know as they will be quiet outsiders looking in until they are ready. Once they are clear on what needs to be done, they will, paradoxically, be difficult to budge and will potentially move too quickly without thinking through all the implications.

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Famous ISTPs

Keith Richards

Musician

John McEnroe

Sportsperson

Steve Jobs

Business Leader

Simon Cowell

Music Executive and TV Personality

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ISTP Relationships

• Private
• Difficult to understand
• Factual
• Not subtle
• Doesn’t understand emotion
• Doesn't exude warmth
• Scientific
• Difficult to get close to
• Independent
• Cool
• Full on or full off
• Jumps in and jumps out
• Driven my interest
• Problem solvers
• Economic communicators

Since people rarely conform to laws of physics the ISTP may struggle with interpersonal issues preferring the rationality of scientific experiments to the irrationality of mere mortals with all their foibles, idiosyncrasies and irrationality. The ISTP is intensely practical and the subtleties of emotion will be lost on them. They will also be quite private regarding their own personal lives and walk away from conflict, not from fear but as it is just so unproductive! However this means that others may therefore see them as thick-skinned and uncaring.

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ISTP Careers

• Need for space
• Driven by interest
• Variety
• Flexibility
• Dispassionate analysis
• Not people-centric
• Tangible, concrete problems and outputs
• Complex issues
• Trouble-shooter
• Action-oriented variety
• Short projects
• Solve immediate problems
• Prefer difficult situations
• Not detailed
• Need for independence

The ISTP is a thoughtful type, great at memorising and storing knowledge which they can then use to solve complex problems. They love difficult, complex problems which require immediate application and they can immerse themselves in complex problems, working happily alone and coming up with radical solutions. Then the ISTP will get bored as the normal, run of the mill work just does not appeal to them. They are not primarily people-driven either, preferring facts and problems to emotions.

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ISTP at Work

• Low boredom threshold
• Dislike of detail
• Burst of energy
• Needs challenge
• Quick
• Driven by interest
• Either quiet or leading
• Task-oriented
• Independent
• Enjoys the excitement of doing
• ‘Moves on’ once it becomes boring
• Needs space
• Needs variety and flexibility
• Not people-centric
• Prefers concrete problems and outputs

In a team situation the ISTP will use their love and store of knowledge to bring a clear explanation of how and why things happen, using empirical data and evidence, hypotheses and rational thinking. The ISTP may not be the most vocal, but when the discussions enter the arena which holds their interest, they will become quite outspoken and very clear thinking.

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