More than ever, workers are disengaging from their jobs and their homes. Many people in the post-COVID world continue to live in seclusion, despite not feeling compelled to do so. After all, iron sharpens iron, and Christians know we need each other’s love to survive.
Let’s break the cycle and encourage our employees to get reengaged at work, home, and in their communities. Meet Eric Bents. Through workplace engagement, Eric believes we can help people overcome isolation.
Join Mark and Eric as they discuss overcoming relational poverty in your workplace, focusing on three (3) key areas:
Get employees to focus outward (volunteer, mission work).
Organize events that will win the affection of your employees’ families.
Create career development programs that bless your people.
Eric is committed to ending relational poverty. As a strategy coach and leadership development expert, Eric assists individuals and organizations in resolving their most pressing issues.
Eric is a great American. During his 30 years in the United States Air Force (20 years active, 10 reserve), Eric deployed to Afghanistan and Bosnia, serving in a wide range of combat and non-combat capacities before retiring as a colonel. His duties covered almost every military mission area, including conventional combat support, nuclear, cyberspace, space, peacekeeping, counterinsurgency, and counterterrorism.
Through his non-profit The Storehouse Movement and his company Win Your Wars, Eric uses his hard-won knowledge of military tactics and strategy in his role as Storehouse Movement leader to offer a framework for anybody to address their most difficult personal, professional, or social issues.
When Eric isn’t “warring to win,” he enjoys spending time with his wife, Marnie, five [largely] grown children, and one grandson. He also enjoys hunting and being outside.
Concerned about the HR programs at your organization? The benefits of having a trusted partner to guide you and your team to excellence are invaluable. Contact us today. You—and your employees—will be glad you did.
Rise with us by implementing our high-performance remote human-resource programs to help find great people! E-mail us here.
Mark A. Griffin is president and founder of In HIS Name HR LLC. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter
Do you need a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement? And, just as importantly, do you want one?
How can a QSEHRA actually benefit you?
Those are important questions that, in order to properly answer, must begin with legalities. Because, with few exceptions, you must provide medical benefits in some form to your employees if you have 50 or more employees on your payroll.
But even if you’re working with fewer staff members, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least explore the possibility. After all, your employees should be your top priority in developing your organization. Happy employees produce better products, offer better services, and contribute better ideas… all of which lead to happier, more loyal customers.
In short, implementing the right benefits demonstrates your dedication to your workers, their families, and the communities you serve.
Of course, if you have less than 50 full-time employees, you’re likely working with more limited finances. Yet you can still provide at least some benefit coverage to those who currently lack it – without breaking your bank.
IHN HR can provide you with worthwhile options complete with detailed evaluations and explanations on how to implement them. We serve clients nationally, some with many employees, some with few. But across the board, we’ve seen organization owners, leaders, and senior pastors express their desire to provide the best possible benefits to those working for them.
And we’ve been right there to help them achieve those goals.
One possibility is to offer taxable stipends in lieu of health insurance or an HRA. Employees receive these stipends tax-free as long as they have minimum basic coverage, and employers can deduct them as well.
Now, these are only available to organizations with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTEs), according to the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate. So if you have a larger payroll count, an Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) may be your best bet instead.
For those organizations that do qualify, however, providing a stipend can help workers offset their medical plan costs, if they’re on the Affordable Care Act medical benefit program or medical sharing programs like Medi-Share, Christian Healthcare Ministries, and Samaritan Ministries.
If this sounds right for you, opening a QSEHRA plan might be your first step. This allows select small organizations – usually those that don’t provide group health plans – to pay for their staffs’ healthcare costs through non-tax compensation for specific medical costs, such as coinsurance and health insurance premiums.
The minimum essential coverage package includes an individual Marketplace plan (The federal government offers assistance to individuals, families, and small companies through the Health Insurance Marketplace®), with additional benefits determined state by state. But even at its most basic form, QSEHRAs can greatly reduce the time and financial burden of managing or overseeing more complex group health plan coverage, especially with employers in multi states.
Allowing the employee to choose their plan locally avoids the employer having to do the same but for all the employees on a plan.
In order to provide a QSEHRA, small employers must:
Employ fewer than 50 people full-time
Give all full-time staff identical terms for the benefit (The amount of compensation can only differ according to age and the number of people covered.)
Not provide a flexible spending account (FSA) or a group health plan, such as through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP).
Is this the right route for you? Or would you best benefit from a different plan?
Regardless, you must offer incentives that excellent employees desire in order to fulfill your goal, realize your vision, and embody your organization’s values. And there are options out there to help you do just that.
If you need help bringing a strategic approach to your benefit offerings, reach out to us today. We would love to serve you!
In His Name HR helps organizations build high-performance human resource programs. E-mail us here.
Mark A. Griffin is president and founder of In His Name HR LLC. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter
Over the past several months, many of our clients have brought up questions about speaking about politics at work. Being a Christian in the workplace can be very difficult. Many religious exempt employers are terrified to even consider bringing a message from the pulpit. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
We are in tumultuous times when Christians can’t even speak to each other regarding certain topics. We miss incredible opportunities to love each other and learn from each other when we don’t speak opening with each other regarding our views. But, what if we were all comfortable with our political views and could speak openly?
Meet Pastor Joel L. Rissinger. He believes we have an obligation to speak openly with one another in every aspect of our walks with the Lord, especially politics. Pastor Joel L. Rissinger and his wife Karen have been married for almost 40 years and have two adult children, a marvelous son-in-law, two foster grandsons, and two gorgeous granddaughters.
He is co-founding Pastor Emeritus of LifeWay Church in Newington, Connecticut, and he has been in full-time ministry since 1992. In this capacity, he has led several congregations through major transitions prior to planting.
He and his wife Karen, a school psychologist, have helped hundreds of couples through counseling, their popular “Marriage Timeout” retreats, Iron Sharpens Iron Seminars, and other public ministry.
Tune in and listen as Mark and Pastor Joel give you encouragement for work!
_____________
Concerned about the HR programs at your organization? The benefits of having a trusted partner to guide you and your team to excellence are invaluable. Contact us today. You—and your employees—will be glad you did.
Rise with us by implementing our high-performance remote human-resource programs to help find great people! E-mail us here.
Mark A. Griffin is president and founder of In HIS Name HR LLC. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter
In the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator framework, personality types represent various approaches to life. Each one is a fascinating study with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. And people have succeeded immensely by understanding them better.
Most people take the MBTI in order to understand themselves. Understandably so. However, this tool is just as useful in understanding others, especially for managers and HR personnel.
There are 16 different MBTI personality types, which might seem like a daunting list to familiarize yourself with. Yet the benefits can be intense.
When we really know who we’re working with, we’re in a much better position to maximize their potential.
This includes the ENTJ, also known as “The Commander.” Second only to the INFJ for rarity, it makes up less than 2% of the U.S. population. These sharp thinkers know how to set emotions aside in favor of hard-core logic and analysis. When a plan needs to be mapped out with no muss, fuss, or nonsense, an ENTJ is who you want to turn to.
And while there’s not much hidden about this personality type, that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to learn…
An ENTJ’s Daily Life
ENTJ have an outside-centered way of approaching life. They see situations analytically and sensibly, leaving feelings far behind.
For them, the world is full of obstacles to overcome – and they want to be the ones in charge of taking those obstacles on. There’s potential everywhere to improve everything all the time, and they’ve not only got the eyes to see it but the drive to do it.
ENTJs have a strong focus on their careers and are highly at ease in business environments, particularly when they’re able to take leadership roles. There’s no kicking back and relaxing on the job for an ENTJ; they’re always looking around for issues they can solve.
It shouldn’t be a shock that ENTJs tend to have long-term outlooks in most anything they come up against, including their career choices. That mindset combined with a strong desire to see their employers succeed and their relentless tenacity can make them excellent corporate leaders.
Essentially, you’re going to find a lot of ENTJs in the Fortune 500 C-suite crowd.
They have the same high standards for their home’s appearance, furnishings, and functionality as they do their business stations. Also similarly, they want to take the lead at home just as much as they do at work.
This means their ideal spouses – the people they’re most likely going to get along with in a long-term relationship – need to be equally strong thinkers with the same kind of strong sense of self. Otherwise, their homelife environment can become domineering and even oppressive.
An ENTJs’ spouse may also have to act as a buffer for any children involved. While this personality type wants the best for their kids when it comes to education, opportunities, and even a friendly and committed family relationship, they also tend to have a lot of expectations in regard to discipline and results.
ENTJ Strengths
Again, leadership comes naturally to ENTJs. Very much so and often to the benefit of those around them.
They have an enormous capacity to take in large amounts of impersonal information… quickly understand complex situations… and make snap decisions. These take-charge types are strong, self-assured people who aren’t swayed by peer pressure or internal doubts.
ENTJs also adore interacting with others. As extroverts, they get most of their energy and stimulation from outside sources. And it’s not just the projects they take on and the problems they work so hard to fix.
For an ENTJ, nothing is more fulfilling and pleasurable than engaging in stimulating and intellectual dialogue. Extremely intelligent themselves, they hold anyone who can match their mental capabilities in high regard.
That’s especially true for anyone who can change their mind on a subject… though the number of people out there capable of such a feat isn’t very high.
Because the ENTJ has such an assertive and dynamic presence, high levels of self-confidence, and outstanding verbal communication skills, even the most confident people can find themselves stumbling against them in a debate.
Challenges Faced by ENTJs
Being so driven by logic and results, ENTJs can be (and often are) exceptionally bad at noticing or even caring about people’s feelings. They might understand emotional intelligence on a theoretical level, but they find it much harder to put it into practice.
At the same time, ENTJs frequently exhibit strong emotional tendencies themselves – even if they’ll work hard to hide them from the outside world. They see such responses as a weakness in anyone, themselves included.
This inclination to ignore the world of feelings and beliefs can lead them to harbor buried emotions that then build up into serious trouble. Without analyzing their own internal motivations, they can make incorrect value judgments that lead to uninformed decisions that snowball further from there.
ENTJs can, at times, naturally experience situational awareness and grasp thoughtful concepts. But even then, they may struggle in how to act on that recognition.
Overall, without an intentional focus on developing their emotional needs, recognitions, and responses, ENTJs are prone to turning harsh and authoritarian. It’s not uncommon to find this personality type imposing rules and directives on others without good cause or regard for their well-being.
And lest anyone accuse the ENTJ of being a hypocrite, they’re just as likely to do this to themselves, if not more so. Due to their major concentration on their work, some ENTJs experience physical and/or mental strain from being away from home all the time. Coaching and Development for ENTJs
ENTJs have enormous personal power and presence that they can use to their advantage. But they’d be wise to wield this innate skill sparingly since it can too easily become oppressive, alienating those around them and coming across as self-aggrandizing.
They should always be encouraged to find and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Because when they achieve that, they’re much better able to wield their personal power in all the best ways.
Keep in mind that the ENTJ universe does not leave much opportunity for error – which can be both an intense positive and a handicap. They don’t tolerate inefficiency and don’t appreciate seeing mistakes made, much less repeated.
They’re far from the most patient people on the planet. In fact, it’s safe to say they’re naturally impatient with others who hold different opinions since they struggle to perceive things from other people’s perspectives.
The ENTJ must therefore make a conscious effort to appreciate diversity of opinion and behavior. While there definitely are times when rules need to be applied and standards need to be enforced – in which case the ENTJ can shine – there are other circumstances when it’s time to challenge that way of thinking.
Feel free to remind them of times where more subtle or gracious approaches produced excellent results. Since they’re so goal-oriented, such examples can better motivate them to reign in their dominant natures for the betterment of everyone involved.
ENTJs in the Workplace
ENTJs have a strong ability to convert ideas and potential into well-thought-out action plans. Aggressive, creative, and long-range thinkers, it’s difficult to stop these strong personalities once they decide on a course of action.
This opens powerful doors for ENTJs, with potential career routes that include:
In the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator framework, personality types represent various approaches to life. Each one is a fascinating study with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. And people have succeeded immensely by understanding them better.
Most people take the MBTI in order to understand themselves. Understandably so. However, this tool is just as useful in understanding others, especially for managers and HR personnel.
There are 16 different MBTI personality types, which might seem like a daunting list to familiarize yourself with. Yet the benefits can be intense.
When we really know who we’re working with, we’re in a much better position to maximize their potential.
One of these designations, the ENTP, is also known as “The Pioneer.” Only about 3% of the U.S. population fit into this category, skewing more heavily to men. Sharp as tacks, ENTPs are idea people all the way who enjoy interacting with the sensory world. They’re excellent at processing what they can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste, then transforming them into logical conclusions.
If you’re around an ENTP, they’re no doubt going to be studying you. So here’s how to return the favor…
An ENTP’s Daily Life
An ENTP’s main way of living is externally centered, observing everything around them as a way to direct them through life. Really, the only other personality type more acutely aware of their surroundings is the ENFP.
Yet once they do notice something, their ultimate conclusions are very intuition-based.
These extroverts have a deep desire to understand the world they live in. In which case, it’s fortunate for them that they’re very good at analyzing scenarios both quickly and accurately.
ENTPs’ observational abilities give them a clear advantage in life when it comes to interacting with their fellow humans. Because they gather so much information about any given interaction, they have an innate ability to understand people and situations alike.
It also gives them an overall optimism about what can be accomplished. They perceive opportunities everywhere because of their keen senses. Better still, they’re skilled at sharing their excitement and enthusiasm with others.
In short, it usually isn’t hard to get onboard with an ENTP’s ideas.
It can, however, be difficult to keep them engaged with certain tasks once those ideas are put into practice. They’re always looking for fresh concepts and opportunities to satisfy their insatiable curiosity and need for knowledge.
It’s therefore very common for an ENTP to have a wide range of interests and pastimes. If there’s an opportunity to learn something new, they’re probably going to want to participate.
ENTP Strengths
ENTPs dedicate their lives to pursuing a deeper understanding of their environments, placing great importance on knowledge. They’re delighted by ideas, challenges, and difficulties because they live in a world of potential.
Even though ENTPs prefer to absorb knowledge rather than make decisions, they’re highly logical and rational in their reasoning. This makes sense since people who can combine reasoning with their gut feelings tend to be intellectually dynamic.
Indeed, ENTPs are exceptionally imaginative, enterprising, and visionary people. As a result, they’re naturally inclined to a wide range of activities. And they excel at figuring out most things that pique their curiosity.
The more their intuitive abilities and insights improve with experience and intellectual development, the more they become aware of the possibilities at their fingertips… making them ever more resourceful when solving challenges.
ENTPs are proficient conversationalists with quick minds. They love verbal sparring and debating topics to the point where they’ll even occasionally flip sides just to keep the conversation going.
With all of these strengths, it only makes sense that ENTPs make natural leaders. Other people like to follow them, inspired by what they say and empowered by their ability to see both the big and little pictures.
Challenges Faced by ENTPs
ENTPs are capable of so much in so many ways. And they know it. But when they’re under stress, they can become fixated on small details and lose their capacity to think creatively.
These particulars, it should be stated, are typically unimportant to the overall scheme of things. Yet they seem like big deals to the ENTPs in that moment… and it’s very difficult to convince them otherwise once they’ve worked themselves up.
We occasionally use the term “lawyer” to describe ENTPs because they’re able to respond to situations objectively and logically after accurately and swiftly analyzing them. However, this capability comes with a downside.
They tend to base their decisions on an impartial set of laws or regulations… to the point where they’re likely to take advantage of nuances to win.
It doesn’t matter if it’s ethical. Or even what’s ultimately right or wrong. If it’s legal, it’s acceptable: That’s the ENTP’s preferred way of looking at it.
They’re fully capable of combatting this line of thinking, of course. It’s just a matter of whether they want to. And if the ENTP fails to fully examine this line of thinking, they can easily become dishonest, immoral, and worse.
In general, this personality type can struggle to define its core beliefs. So when ENTPs do have to discuss them, they may feel uncomfortable and try to rush through to another topic.
Coaching and Development for ENTPs
For all their strengths and gifts, ENTPs do struggle more in areas that demand strong self-awareness. If not this can lead to them overlooking important details in their lives.
For example, they might disregard other people’s opinions or become unduly harsh and aggressive in their conclusions. In fact, ENTPs should exercise caution in making decisions in general considering their tendency to see the subjective and nothing else.
If they don’t learn how to check themselves in this regard, they won’t be able to reach their full and best potential. At worst, they’ll find themselves emotionally and socially isolated despite their charismatic and extroverted natures.
Managers should also keep in mind that ENTPs are more interested in creating possibilities and ideas than they are in formulating plans of action. This personality type sees many (if not most) aspects of actual implementation as uninspiring and unfulfilling.
This can make it difficult for them to finish what they start. Mature ENTPs can and do cope with this; but younger, more inexperienced, or otherwise less well-rounded individuals will need encouragement to stay on task. Neglecting their sensory areas can lead to the ENTP becoming less aware of the details in their lives. When an ENTP neglects their emotional side, they may become too harsh and aggressive or undervalue the opinions of others.
ENTPs in the Workplace
ENTPs are generally optimistic, visionary, and very capable people. When faced with an obstacle, they have a knack for coming up with original solutions that work and work well. Imaginative, astute, inquisitive, and theoretical, they offer so much perspective and insight into most any situation they find themselves in.
However, since they’re more likely to be fulfilled in certain positions over others, potential ENTP job options include:
Researcher
Performer
Sales agent
Marketing personnel
Systems analyst, computer specialist, or programmer
In the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator framework, personality types represent various approaches to life. Each one is a fascinating study with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. And people have succeeded immensely by understanding them better.
Most people take the MBTI in order to understand themselves. Understandably so. However, this tool is just as useful in understanding others, especially for managers and HR personnel.
There are 16 different MBTI personality types, which might seem like a daunting list to familiarize yourself with. Yet the benefits can be intense.
When we really know who we’re working with, we’re in a much better position to maximize their potential.
The ISFJ, for example, is also known as “The Protector.” They genuinely care about other people’s well-being and the state of society as a whole, putting serious thought and effort into enhancing both. It’s the most common personality type you’ll find, at least in the U.S., and is especially prevalent in women.
There’s a lot more to know about the ISFJ personality type, including intricate details that can empower a workforce when properly applied…
An ISFJ’s Daily Life
The ISFJ is an internally focused personality type. However, introverted people also possess great social skills that enable them to interact and establish a connection with others they wish to assist.
ISFJs genuinely have good hearts and tend to be highly perceptive to others’ feelings. This is very evident in how they interact with the world around them, including their gift-giving capabilities. They know just how to get people presents they will love.
It makes sense then how people appreciate them for their consideration, awareness, and ability to bring out the best in others.
ISFJs also have very developed senses of aesthetic appeal, function, and space; and they’re fantastic interior decorators. If you go to their homes, you’ll almost undoubtedly find tasteful decorations and overall pleasing aesthetics.
ISFJs might come across as simplistic enough to observers in that they’re easy enough to figure out. Yet they actually can have complex, hidden inner lives.
ISFJs are able to quickly withdraw into their own realm of possibilities. The calm realm of an ISFJ’s heart contains a secret chamber—a hidden sanctuary of eccentric exploration and creative imagination.
For ISFJs, this is the sanctuary of hidden desires, where patterns come together to form the tapestry of untold tales and concepts that bloom like uncommon, exotic flowers.
ISFJ Strengths
ISFJs are always busy gathering and retaining knowledge about individuals and circumstances that are personally significant to them and their particular value systems. Moreover, they have extraordinary memories for details and can recall them very easily.
It’s not unusual for them to remember a specific facial expression or exact part of a discussion years after it happened.
Their sense of obligation and accountability is equally strong. They tend to be very loyal people. So once they form at attachment to a person or concept, they’ll back him, her, or it wholeheartedly.
Reliable and practical, ISFJs apply that same dedication to their work. They’re almost unstoppable when it comes to finishing tasks they’ve been given.
Better yet, because they’re people persons who truly take the time to listen to what others are telling them, they more often than not understand exactly what the desired final result is really supposed to look like instead of misconstruing details.
Overall, because they take their duties seriously, people can rely on them to fulfill their obligations. Therefore, at their best, they can add immense value to many situations.
Challenges Faced by ISFJs
ISFJs are very aware of both their own internal feelings and those of others – more so than other types. However, they typically hold their emotions inside instead of expressing them.
That kind of self-control can predictably backfire on them.
If they’re experiencing too many unpleasant feelings or even a single negative feeling that’s too intense, there can be an unfortunate buildup. Left alone with their thoughts in what amounts to a one-man or -woman echo chamber, they can solidify their opinions into unmovable judgments.
Prone to overworking, the ISFJ struggles to say “no” when asked to accomplish anything. This personality type really dislikes conflict and has a tendency to prioritize the demands of others over their own.
ISFJs must learn to recognize, respect, and communicate their own needs to avoid feeling overworked and taken for granted.
This is especially true considering how a depressed or stressed ISFJ starts to ruminate about all the things that could go horribly wrong in their lives. They can develop intense emotions of inadequacy and grow to believe they can’t do anything right or that “everything is all wrong.”
This might come as a surprise considering their strengths, but ISFJs are just as unlikely to show their awareness of how others are feeling as they are about their own emotions. They’re good at listening and good at acting on that listening. But it might seem to some that there’s a strange disconnect between the two in verbally acknowledging that input.
On the plus side, when they see someone who truly needs help, they will speak up. And in certain situations, they can even assist others in realizing how they feel.
Coaching and Development for ISFJs
ISFJs work hard to achieve their very clear ideal of how things ought to be. They respect customs and rules and place a high priority on safety and politeness. And they feel a sense of responsibility to uphold systems of ethics and consideration.
As such, they’re often very resistant to the idea of adopting new approaches. They need to see, hear, or otherwise experience a truly compelling case in favor of switching from the status quo.
In general, ISFJs learn best by doing, not by applying theory or reading about it in a book. Therefore, domains requiring extensive theoretical or conceptual study are unlikely to attract them. And they’ll struggle to engage with tasks that involve too much abstraction.
They appreciate the usefulness of applications and learn tasks best when they’re demonstrated in a real-world setting.
Keep in mind that the ISFJ is a very trustworthy person. But even the most trustworthy person needs to understand what they’re being entrusted with in order to succeed.
Once they do grasp the picture – once they’ve learned the work and seeing its practical significance – ISFJs will devotedly and persistently see their work through to the end.
While they won’t admit it out loud, ISFJs do require affirmation from others. They become disheartened – sometimes intensely – when they receive negative comments or lack positive reinforcement.
The ISFJ is trustworthy, kind, and caring. But they must always remember to treat themselves with some of the same warmth and affection they freely give to others, and to refrain from being unduly judgmental of themselves.
ISFJs in the Workplace
With their genuine desire to help others and their natural capabilities of figuring out exactly how to do that helping, the ISFJ personality is very suitable for people-oriented endeavors. And their attention to detail and extremely impressive memories add further unique levels to what they can accomplish.
In the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator framework, personality types represent various approaches to life. Each one is a fascinating study with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. And people have succeeded immensely by understanding them better.
Most people take the MBTI in order to understand themselves. Understandably so. However, this tool is just as useful in understanding others, especially for managers and HR personnel.
There are 16 different MBTI personality types, which might seem like a daunting list to familiarize yourself with. Yet the benefits can be intense.
When we really know who we’re working with, we’re in a much better position to maximize their potential.
One of these designations, the INTP, is also known as “The Contemplator.” It’s on the rarer side, with just 3%-5% of people identifying this way – men more so than women. Highly intellectual, INTPs want and even need to get to the bottom of things, knowing how, what, why, where, and when. They’re essentially driven by the desire to understand the world they interact with.
This nature can obviously bring intense benefits to a wide variety of situations and scenarios, making the INTP well worth studying.
An INTP’s Daily Life
INTPs take a logical and reasonable approach to life whenever possible. That’s their natural instinct and what feels most fulfilling to them in any given moment.
This facts-and-figures outlook, however, doesn’t mean they can’t see the realm of theoretical possibilities. INTPs constantly view things from the perspective of possible changes or advancements. They use their intellect to reason through complex issues, recognize patterns, and evaluate situations in order to make those possibilities actualities.
The INTP’s real motivation, however, isn’t necessarily to change the world. It’s to understand it. They desire clarity in everything they come in contact with, especially pertaining to more scientific studies.
Once they zero in on a project, the INTP easily falls into the absent-minded professor archetype. The high value they place on intelligence and their ability to solve problems by applying reasoning to theories can and often does become consuming.
Call it an obsession on their part. Or perhaps unrecognized fixation might be a better way of describing the INTP’s laser focus on results.
Everything else falls away for them, including time.
Put another way, INTPs usually spend their lives in their own minds. They don’t tend to place as much weight or emphasis on the outside world once they become determined to find logical solutions to something.
The INTP’s innate desire to translate ideas into practical knowledge can even develop into a sense of duty. They’ll believe (rightly or wrongly) that it’s up to them to address theoretical issues and advance society’s understanding… in which case, they can be counted on to nothing less.
INTP Strengths
As already noted, INTPs place a high value on knowledge, always trying to come up with new theories or ways to support or refute old ones. They approach theories and problems with curiosity and skepticism, disobeying accepted norms and viewpoints, and formulating their own strategies to tackle the project at hand.
That latter characteristic might sound like a negative. However, it can be extremely useful in advancing scientific thought. After all, sometimes the world needs some pushback on old hangups and adherence to the status quo.
Whenever something piques their curiosity, the typically very intelligent INTP automatically wants to look for trends and rational explanations to explain it. These people can be unbiasedly critical in their assessments, and passionate about theories and abstractions.
And, as previously stated, they have no problem giving a project the time it needs (or more).
Typically tolerant and adaptable, they adore novel concepts and enjoy talking about their ideas with other people. If you can get them away from their tasks, they can be truly fascinating conversationalists – provided you care about the topics of their interest, of course.
In fact, the INTP is extroverted and extremely self-assured when interacting with people they know well. Though, when it comes to meeting new people, they’re probably incredibly shy.
Challenges Faced by INTPs
Because their feeling side is their least developed attribute, INTPs often find it challenging to provide warmth and support in close relationships. They simply don’t understand the importance of showing consideration for other people’s emotions.
In worst-case scenarios, this can lead to them becoming extremely judgmental and caustic. And even in the best of cases, it can cause tensions in personal, casual, or professional interactions alike.
INTPs in general are quick to devalue anything that falls into subjective opinion or emotion. If a decision isn’t based on facts and figures, they’re not going to understand or appreciate it.
It’s as simple as that. And if anything challenges one of their deeply held ideas, they have a bad habit of becoming inflexible.
All put together, it should come as no great surprise that INTPs can find themselves struggling with social disobedience and self-aggrandizement. These tendencies, in turn, limit their creative potential, which is unfortunate for everyone involved…
Not just for them but anyone else they could have otherwise reached.
Coaching and Development for INTPs
INTPs most often use what they consider to be unchangeable truths to communicate their ideas. Normally, this involves well-reasoned comprehension of a concept; however, that doesn’t mean they’re always easy to understand.
This can become a greater issue still since INTPs aren’t inclined to bend reality to make things easier for anyone. They should just understand – right?
Yet amazing discoveries are ultimately meaningless if only one person knows about it. So it’s critical that INTPs concentrate on clearly communicating their established theories.
This might be frustrating to them considering their usual desire to finish up a project and move on – immediately if not sooner – to the next “big thing” that interests them. However, life is filled with frustrations sometimes, and every personality type needs to learn how to deal with their own.
INTPs need to be reminded that they’re no exception in this regard, no matter how they might think otherwise.
It’s also important to know that INTPs detest working on mundane tasks. They’d much rather develop intricate theoretical answers and let others handle system implementation.
Typically autonomous, nonconformist, and creative, INTPs can have complicated personalities, leading to erratic and restless behavior. But when they’re able to work on their own theories in their own way, they can come up with the most amazing applicable ideas.
Settings that therefore foster their creative, admittedly eccentric potential can help them achieve truly fascinating things.
INTPs in the Workplace
INTPs, with their unusual thought patterns and excessive intelligence, are particularly adept in scientific studies and technological pursuits. Their impressive ability to evaluate ideas from completely new angles has already been documented time and time again. And we’ll no doubt be hearing more sensational stories from this personality type going forward.
In the meantime, possible career paths for INTPs include:
In the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator framework, personality types represent various approaches to life. Each one is a fascinating study with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. And people have succeeded immensely by understanding them better.
Most people take the MBTI in order to understand themselves. Understandably so. However, this tool is just as useful in understanding others, especially for managers and HR personnel.
There are 16 different MBTI personality types, which might seem like a daunting list to familiarize yourself with. Yet the benefits can be intense.
When we really know who we’re working with, we’re in a much better position to maximize their potential.
Take INTJs, also known as “Strategists.” Though not as rare as their cousins, the INFJs, this way of looking at the world is far from common. Only about 2.1% of the U.S. population fit into the category, with men being more likely to compared to women. These people, one way or the other, are logical, conceptual, and motivated learners who need ample alone time to truly thrive.
INTJs bring a lot to the table when they’re at their best, which is why recognizing and respecting their needs and tendencies is so important.
An INTJ’s Daily Life
INTJs are dominated by introverted intuition, a “big-picture” way of interacting with the world. They notice patterns and analyze underlying principles, then create strategies based on that empirical data.
Characterized by their strategic thinking and desire to work independently, INTJs are highly driven when they engage with a task. The urge to work can even be deemed “compulsive” for them.
Yet this seemingly cold and calculated way of viewing life includes a surprisingly optimistic outlook. INTJs see potential in everything they come into contact with, using that input to constantly revise their vision of tomorrow.
These people highly value deep connections in life; they’re not about casual connections – hence the reason why they don’t have many friends. But for the select circle they do feel close to, they’ll share everything about themselves.
This stands to reason then that they need to be very careful about what kinds of people they let into their lives.
In terms of romantic relationships, INTJ types prefer partners who show the same level of intelligence as themselves. Honesty, loyalty, and independence are some of the most important qualities they look for in a partner.
Partnered or single, an average day in the life of an INTJ might find him or her absorbed in problem-solving or strategic planning projects. That could mean:
Tweaking a business model until it’s just right
Building systems from scratch
Researching something.
Regardless, they’re probably going to do it alone if they have their way. When they have that time and space to think, they’re able to shine brightest, thinking critically about everything around them as the independent thinkers they were created to be.
INTJ Strengths
We’ve already mentioned their “big-picture” tendencies, but this is truly one of an INTJ’s biggest strengths. They’re good at understanding complex systems and can easily spot areas that need improvement in any setting, though this might be especially true of business-related and tech-related situations.
If a project requires long-term thinking in general though, an INTJ’s perspective could be invaluable.
Self-assurance is another common power among people with this personality type. Once they set their sights on achieving a goal – no matter how difficult it may seem – they don’t tend to second-guess themselves.
Peer pressure or outside negativity from naysayers will more than likely slide right off them. Moreover, this tendency has a habit of growing as they get older since they have a track record of accomplishments to boost their confidence further.
INTJs are introverts by nature, oftentimes intensely so in that they’re never going to suggest going to a party or group function. That’s just not their happy place.
Yet once they do engage in conversation or other forms of interaction, these individuals can turn into excellent listeners and offer valuable advice where necessary.
Colleagues can greatly benefit from working alongside them as well. This only makes sense considering how their efforts can be boosted by an INTJ’s thoughtful evaluation of any shared tasks.
Challenges Faced by INTJs
For all their positives and potential, however, INTJs are just as human as the next personality type.
They have a distinct set of weaknesses they need to watch out for. And it shouldn’t come as any surprise that one of their unique challenges pertains to their ability (or inability) to socialize.
INTJs’ preference for logic over emotions can, frankly, make them appear coldhearted at times. In fact, acquaintances – particularly those with more emotional ways of interacting with the world – can see them as downright hostile.
While this perception may or may not be actually true, it is a fact that INTJs simply aren’t good about noticing others’ feelings. This is one obvious reason why they can find it difficult to establish close relationships.
It also doesn’t help in this department how easily they become overly focused on intellectual pursuits.
Furthermore, INTJs can be very tough on themselves and others if something doesn’t go according to plan. These individuals set extremely high standards for themselves and those around them, which can either produce amazing results…
Or lead to significant problems in the moment and down the road.
Coaching and Development for INFJs
INTJs naturally seek out and do best in jobs that engage their minds and enable them to realize what they envision. Positions that demand strategic planning skills, problem-solving capabilities, and creativity are where they’re really bound to thrive.
Managers should keep in mind that INTJs view a career as more than just a job. It’s a platform to bring ideas to life and transform them into reality.
This personality type always wants to recognize their potential to the fullest and strive to become the best version of themselves possible.
It’s therefore easy to take advantage of an INTJ in the workplace – which ultimately doesn’t benefit anyone involved. Therefore, helping these people achieve healthy work-life balances may be one of the most important areas they need coaching in.
Otherwise, they tend to overwork themselves and burn out easily.
Encouraging them to try out mindfulness tactics and stress management therapy could be beneficial. These techniques allow INTJs to take care of their mental health while still working towards their goals.
Creative hobbies can be encouraged as well. Perhaps suggest to them that they could explore new methods of expression through art or other activities that require imagination and innovation.
And if INTJs themselves are in leadership positions, they definitely need to learn soft skills on top of their business capabilities. Being intelligent alone doesn’t guarantee success – a truth they should never forget.
Knowing how to engage and inspire others is every bit as necessary… no matter how challenging the INTJ might find it to be.
INTJs in the Workplace
Because of their analytical strengths and organization capabilities, INTJs often excel in technical fields. Once they’ve selected an ideal industry, they can further narrow down positions by remembering their need for independence at work and their tendency to take on projects aimed at organizational development through innovation.
With those details in mind, possible career paths for the INTJ include:
I’m going to be upfront right from the start. I won’t sugarcoat the reality one bit.
Getting a strategic plan up and running takes serious time and elbow grease. There’s no way around it. However, every minute invested upfront ends up paying back tenfold. I can tell you how worthwhile the effort is, but you really need to see it to believe it.
Of course, to see it in your own organization, you first need to know how to make it happen. So let’s start off on the right foot and establish the steps you need to set the stage for success.
Putting a Team Together
Picture your organization as a winning sports team. If you want to go all the way, you need all-star players in every position, ready to give their considerable best toward achieving a shared victory.
This is not a one-person project. You won’t be able to do it without involving and engaging people who bring specialized strengths to the table – people who can amplify creativity, balance perspectives, and ensure that every voice is heard. Surrounding yourself with a diverse dream team makes all the difference.
Research confirms that I’m not exaggerating the value of true organizational unity. Companies using a formal, team-based strategic planning process simply perform better. We’re talking about a 70% boost in success metrics, according to strategy execution platform Cascade.
So don’t even think about skipping this step! I cannot stress enough how incredibly important your team selection is. You want to be looking for:
Leaders from every department. Their intimate knowledge of departmental strengths, weaknesses, and inner workings brings invaluable insights. Make sure operations, marketing, product development, finance, human resources (HR), creative, and other key departments all have a spot at the table.
Frontline staff who engage daily with internal and external customers. Ever heard the saying “boots on the ground”? Frontline perspectives balance out high-level views to yield balanced, holistic strategies. Include cashiers, customer support reps, account managers, and/or others who regularly interact with customers.
Key external stakeholders. Invite a few select board members, donors, community partners, or advisors to join. They lend an outside vantage point that complements internal insights.
Third-party experts as needed. If there are skillsets your team lacks, don’t be shy about pulling in trusted outside consultants. They can provide impartial guidance and specialized expertise to strengthen your process. Just be sure internal team members still drive and own the outcomes.
The more diversity of thought and experience you can include, the better. Analytical members guide data-driven rigor. Creative folks supply fresh vision. Tactical doers ground discussions in operational realities. And engaging contributors fosters collaborative dialogue.
When forming your team, consider these characteristics:
Positivity: enthusiasm and commitment to the process
Collaboration: the desire to share ideas and listen to others
Pragmatism: people who consider operational impacts
Thought diversity: unique but complementary strengths
Openness: a willingness to consider new perspectives.
Ideally, aim for seven to 12 core members. Too few, and you lose important voices. Too many, and you risk creating an unwieldy process.
Then, once you have your list, connect with each person individually before the official kickoff. Share your vision for an inclusive, productive process. Get their “buy-in” to fully participate. As Kate Gibson, contributor to the Harvard Business School states, “Employee buy-in refers to employees’ commitment to your company’s strategic goals. It’s critical to strategy execution and can profoundly impact organizational performance.”
Once you have that, you’re ready to call the first meeting!
Use this kickoff to establish and clarify everyone’s different roles, the cadence for future meetings, next steps, and guiding principles for working together. And establish a timeline while you’re at it, making sure that everyone understands specific dates to see specific goals accomplished – including the completion date all around.
Commit to a Timeline
Timelines, admittedly, are a topic in and of themselves, starting with the fact that effective strategic planning takes time. I know I already mentioned this exact caution, but it needs to be stressed early on – not just to you but to your team – to keep everyone as on-track and long-term motivated as possible.
I know. I know. As a busy leader, a long timeline makes you want to run for the hills. Or, at the very least, it might spike your anxiety levels. But remember: A rushed process yields shallow strategies with major holes. Thoughtful reflection, analysis, and implementation simply demand ample time.
Fortunately, they yield ample rewards in the process. Therefore, it really is worth your while to embrace the long but rewarding road ahead.
Most companies should shoot for at least a 12-month process to ensure they’re including all key stakeholders and allowing proper time for data collection and analysis. If you’re a startup with fewer employees, it could take far less; we’ve walked some through the process in a mere month. But larger or otherwise more complex organizations could potentially need 18 months.
Set this expectation upfront with leadership and team members, and secure their commitment to the required time and resources. And be detailed about what’s expected, why, and how. A detailed timeline provides necessary pacing and structure. It balances quick momentum with quality dialogue to yield fully baked strategies. It’s like an invaluable compass guiding your organization’s future.
Give this process its proper due by mapping out target dates and milestones upfront… for three extremely compelling reasons:
It breaks up tasks, making them appear less overwhelming and more achievable.
It better matches reality, since implementation takes way longer than planning. This next statement might seem obvious in theory, but it’s important to fully accept it early on to ensure the least frustrating journey in practice. An incredible 98% of leaders report execution takes even MORE time than formulating the strategy itself. That’s according to the aforementioned Cascade Team in its 2022 article, “51 Strategy Statistics And 3 Key Lessons To Help You Succeed.”
Give your team enough runway by determining key milestones and timing targets upfront. For example, you might allot three months for foundational analysis, six to deeply explore strategic options and refine priorities, and two to finalize the polished written strategic plan.
A clear timeline drives accountability. Like athletes diligently following a training regimen in preparation for the big game, it keeps momentum going even on busy days.
Speaking of momentum, after that first meeting, commit to holding regular check-ins to ask about progress. This is a great way to spot potential delays early so you can course correct. Another way to stay on track is to review timelines at the start of each planning meeting. Celebrate successes, address upcoming milestones, and adjust deadlines if warranted.
You want your timeline to be successful, so find some way – whatever it might be – to keep your people aware and committed to making it happen. Organization-wide allegiance is an absolute MUST for successful execution. And not just in the beginning. Everyone at every level needs to be fully aware of what the greater goal is and how long it’s going to take to get there.
Otherwise, your shiny new strategic plan will just gather dust. There’s just too much room for error.
Consider sobering research from Ted Jackson, which showed that 67% of well-formulated strategies still fail due to poor execution. That’s painful! Poor execution too often stems from a lack of proper communication, which results in a lack of commitment the more time passes. Individual contributors – and even managers – lose their enthusiasm because they get frustrated or confused by the process.
So, again, securing honest, informed, enthusiastic buy-in across ALL levels in the beginning pays huge rewards later on. This can include:
Leadership vocally and visually advocating for the process. The boss must walk the walk for others to take it seriously. Demonstrate your commitment through active participation in planning meetings and spoken support. In other words, lead by example!
Involving people across the organization. Ask for SWOT input on Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats; or find other ways to gather perspectives on draft priorities. Broad involvement breeds engagement and long-lasting enthusiasm. (More on SWOT later.)
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate! Regularly share progress updates, milestones achieved, and details about how the process connects to departmental goals. Don’t keep anyone involved in the dark!
Link the plan to individual goals and decision-making. Set the expectation that the strategic plan will guide choices and actions made by ALL staff on a daily basis.
While you’re at it, make it clear this plan is not just another file. It’s a living document that tangibly shapes your organization’s path forward. None of this is necessarily easy, but I’ll say it yet again…
It’s worth the work.
The next four chapters will cover exactly what that work should look like, step by step by step by step. Take the time to read each one carefully, and feel free to pause over any part you need to.
It might seem overwhelming to take in. But just like it’s worth the work, it’s also doable. Trust me.
I’ve been there. Done this. And with the right amount of time and effort, you can say the same.
In today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape, small- and mid-market private employers often feel pressured to compromise on their health plans. They accept one-size-fits-all solutions that don’t align with their values, thinking they have no other option.
But what if they do?
Meet Ericka McPherson, Esq., executive director of Covenant Choice. Her organization offers a transformative alternative that gives even small-sized employers the same control, transparency, and cost-containment strategies enjoyed by larger corporations. These innovative healthcare plans allow for:
Tailored benefits that align with Christian values, ensuring that one’s business supports what matters most
National health plans, including PPO, HDHP, and HSA options
Transparent structure and costs
Multiple choices for individual company flexibility and member-owned status.
Covenant Choice for Small Groups specifically provides a unique opportunity to offer employees a health insurance plan that reflects commitment to faith and values. Exclusively available through the Christian Employers Alliance, this self-insured product provides protection against large claims with various options for deductibles, drug cards, and stop-loss insurance.
Join host Mark Griffin as he and Ericka discuss the intricacies of running smaller businesses while properly insuring their employees – without breaking the bank or one’s morals. As challenging as it may have felt in the past, it really is possible to find a plan that works for you!
Want to contact Erika or meet with a member of her team? Simply text“Broker” or “Employer” to 28323.
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Contact us today. You and your employees will be glad you did. Rise with us by implementing our high-performance remote human-resource programs to help find great people! E-mail us here.
Mark A. Griffin is president and founder of In HIS Name HR LLC. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
