The Creator – Understanding the ISFP Personality Type
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.
Consider the ISFP, or “Protector,” personality, which is chock full of possibilities. Making up around 9% of the U.S. population, those who fall into this category are big thinkers and big doers. An entire universe of astonishing possibilities is their typical playground. And they’re very good at knowing how to work within that range, undaunted by what would overwhelm some other personality types.
The ISFP is a fascinating study, as the following segments should help show…
An ISFP’s Daily Life
ISFPs are first and foremost internally focused. They’re automatically inclined to handle situations based on their feelings and values.
And, for the record, those values are extremely well thought out. They have such high moral standards that they literally make it their life’s work to uphold them.
ISFPs must believe they are conducting their lives according to what they hold to be correct; anything that goes against their value system will make them rebel. That’s why they’re heavily inclined to select occupations and paths that allow them to strive toward their morality-based goals.
Despite this heavy inward analysis, ISFPs have an exquisite relationship with the physical world of taste, smell, sight, and touch. This makes them exceptionally talented at making and producing things that will profoundly influence the senses.
ISFPs have a great aesthetic appreciation for art and are probably artists in some capacity. This could easily include culinary talents that leave people hungry for more.
They also tend to love animals and have a genuine admiration for the wonders of nature.
To strangers and mere acquaintances, ISFPs may seem to have casual, lighthearted personalities and mindsets. But they actually take life very seriously. They’re continuously absorbing details and running them through their value systems in an attempt to find deeper significance and clarity.
ISFP Strengths
ISFPs are people who like to take action. This might come as a surprise considering their internal processing tendencies, yet they’re very much more about accomplishments than theorizing.
While they will get philosophical in some situations, that’s because they see a practical, applicable reason behind that speculation. They don’t enjoy hypothesizing for the sake of hypothesizing alone.
ISFPs also have a keen sense of social awareness. They devote a lot of time and effort to causes they strongly believe in because they genuinely want to improve people’s sense of happiness and well-being.
That’s also why they’re always collecting particulars about individuals and trying to figure out what it signifies. Because of this attention to detail and subsequent analysis, they typically get things piercingly accurate when they assess other people.
Overall, ISFPs are warm and empathetic. They have a sincere desire to please others and are highly service-oriented. As such, they’re prone to express their love for people by deeds rather than words.
Challenges Faced by ISFPs
As already stated, ISFPs are “doers” who often struggle with theorizing unless they can visualize their practical application. Because they learn best in a “hands-on” setting, they may get easily disinterested in traditional teaching techniques – which very often places a strong emphasis on abstract thinking.
Yet they also struggle adhering to strict, concrete rules. Regulations can too easily create perceived underclasses, and this chafes against the ISFP’s very nature.
Unfortunately, this tendency can apply to long-term relationships and financial responsibilities. Getting an ISFP to commit to a five-year or 10-year plan isn’t impossible, but it can be challenging.
Speaking of challenges, since they’re usually quiet and reserved, it can be difficult to get to know ISFPs well. In their interactions with others, they exhibit kindness, gentleness, and sensitivity more often than not. But they reserve their thoughts and opinions for the people closest to them.
Incidentally, those fortunate to be in their inner circle get devoted attention and a fierce loyalty that’s hard to beat.
Finally, for all their perceptiveness about other people, this personality type isn’t always very good at reading themselves. ISFPs have a bad tendency to not give themselves enough credit for even exceptional performance. In fact, they can evaluate themselves very harshly against their strong value systems.
It should come as no surprise then that they’re often extreme perfectionists who can too easily fall prey to stress.
Coaching and Development for ISFPs
Unique and self-sufficient, people who fall into the ISFP personality type category require their own place. For men this maybe be a “man cave” for women a “she shed”.
They neither want to control/lead people or be controlled themselves. Instead, they require time and space to reflect on their circumstances in light of their values. And they’re inclined to consider others’ needs in the same way.
Remember that ISFPs are uncomfortable drawing conclusions on the basis of reasoning alone. And they very much dislike impersonal analysis. They make judgments based on their personal convictions, not on some immutable set of regulations. Individuals who identify as ISFPs should look for jobs that allow them to fully express their passion for real emotional experiences and embrace their spontaneous nature. They are unlikely to thrive in highly structured workplaces centered on routines and traditions (think government or military jobs).
In order to gain ISFPs’ full respect, you must do as they do: Take the time to learn about them. Then help them achieve their objectives in special and individual ways.
ISFPs in the WorkplaceThe ISFP bestows numerous unique gifts upon the world, especially in the areas of artistic creation and selfless service to others. And they have the resources to create wonderfully gratifying experiences for both themselves and others close to them… especially when they’re given the freedom to uphold their value systems from start to finish.
Potential career routes for ISFPs include:
- Early childhood development
- Child care
- Composer
- Designer
- Social worker
- Teacher
- Psychologist
- Forest ranger
- Military positions.