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[ENTJ] How it Feels to be an ENTJ

rav3n

.
Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
11,655
I wanted to write this down, to encapsulate this into one place, how if feels at least for me, to be an ENTJ.

  • We HATE being directed, preferring autonomy to come to conclusions and decisions on our own.
  • But we're directive, in verbalization, writing and body language even when we don't intend to be.
  • If we feel like we're losing control, we tend to assert more control.
  • Sometimes we're wide open, other times we hold things close to our chest especially when we feel there's more information to be sourced.
  • Decision-making comes easy to us so sometimes this comes across as condescending since we can't figure out why it's so hard to decide between the black or blue pair of pants. Kind of no-brainer stuff.
  • We're impatient.
  • We love information but most often, it's got to have an end goal attached to it.
  • We need finality.
  • Routine jobs drive us crazy and yet we love to organize others to routine, which incorporates maximum efficiency and productivity. Then we sit back and lap up the improved numbers after handing it off to someone else to administer.
  • We thrive on challenge, aiming for a reasonable moon rather than the impossible dwarf planet of Pluto. And anyways, Pluto is dead so there's no reason to shoot for it.
  • Most often we make decisions quickly sometimes too quickly, although anything that's big, we'll take more time to dig for and mull over the information. When it's a big decision, we EXPECT to be given the time to make the best decision and get annoyed if not.
  • We love speed but aren't self-destructive, so don't throw all caution to the wind.
  • We're strategic and tend to position ourselves by figuring out different consequences or extrapolations, picking one and making it a reality.
  • When it comes to emotion, annoyance or anger are the ones that we're comfortable with since they're motivational due to strength, rather than blind us.
  • We hate feeling ineffective or weak.

And one more thing that's specific to me. I suck at relationships, lacking tolerance and patience. Can't decide whether to laugh or cry over this.

Do other ENTJs feel this way? Feel free to add or substract from the list.
 
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Lark

Active member
Joined
Jun 21, 2009
Messages
29,569
I think that's a great synopsis.

I would say, for myself, dont know if this is shared by other ENTJs that as a result of my function set and style I have certain expectations of people in positions of authority, particularly those who have seniority over myself in my work capacity, which frequently they fail to meet, particularly if they arent ENTJ or if they are prone to crisis of their own or corrupt behaviour.

In some organisational contexts I think that TJ makes for better communication, plainer expectations and the proper reflection of responsibilities in duties and rank but instead you get people in those positions who're career minded, dont know or dont give a shit about the job or their junior officers, who they'll treat as expendable, impediments or problems instead of assets.

Along with managerialism as a sociological phenomenon at all levels of society this is my ongoing bug bear but I dont imagine it would be changed by any sort of tests or profiling, people with neurotic needs for power can pull an ENTJ result when what they are exhibiting is something very different and its possible to learn about and fool a psychometric or MBTI test.
 

FDG

pathwise dependent
Joined
Aug 13, 2007
Messages
5,903
MBTI Type
ENTJ
Enneagram
7w8
I mostly relate, except some:

[*]If we feel like we're losing control, we tend to assert more control.
[*]When it comes to emotion, annoyance or anger are the ones that we're comfortable with since they're motivational due to strength, rather than blind us.
[*]We hate feeling ineffective or weak.
[/LIST]

I suppose these are more specific to E-Type 8, which I'm not (I generally prefer positive emotions, try as hard as I can not to be annoyed by anything; I don't think I mind feeling weak...competitive sports have taught me that there's way too many people that are / might be better than me.) Anyway, I think you gave a pretty good general characterization of ENTJs. I would personally add a slightly higher focus on intellectual matters, since they seem to be somewhat left out from your list - I love complex problems, topics, subjects, where I feel like I am solving a puzzle by penetrating deeply into the core of the subject-matter (I suppose that's Ni).
 

rav3n

.
Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
11,655
Thanks. Good additions and subtractions!

Identifying generalities about being an ENTJ helps me and hopefully might help others, in that it's great to know you're not the only person who feels this way, as well as identifying areas of both positive and negative traits.

Don't know about anyone else but sometimes it's not easy being this way. And yet, it's really important to be true to oneself within reason, since cognitive dissonance feels self-destructive.
 

rav3n

.
Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
11,655
To add to all this, our cognitive functions as they manifested themselves (yes, I'm anthropomorphising the functions since it's better than constantly saying "I [insert verb]:
  1. Te came first where it wanted to organise and dominate without any real depth to speak of.
  2. Ni came along and it caused more indepth analysis for Te created plans and helped to conceptualize. It also helped to limit impulsive actions but sometimes, delayed actions where unnecessary. When grappling with it, especially when trying to communicate concepts, people had difficulty understanding what I was trying to express.
  3. Se finally came along and helped me to connect to the outside world and others better, since it stabilized Ni, which allowed Te more room to put plans into place by taking action.
  4. Now I'm grappling with a growing Fi, fighting it since it limits Ni, Se and worse yet, Te. It almost feels better to be emotionally blind, deaf and dumb since it causes internal battles. Wish I could ostracize it to the degree that it shrinks back to lurker status. :steam:
 

bcubchgo

New member
Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Messages
164
MBTI Type
ENTJ
Enneagram
3w4
how it *feels* to be an ENTJ?? lol We're not supposed to have feelings... at least not obvious ones.

emotional mirror
I find that I sometimes mirror people's emotions to a certain degree. If they are angry at me I get angry back. If they are joking around with me I'll joke right back. lately, I have had a hard time being around people who are not optimistic. I don't like it when I have to interact with people that are negativity grumps - it just saps me of my joie de vivre.

just trying to optimize it, ma'am
I find that the one things I hate being misconstrued on is when I am telling someone a critique of something and they interpret it as if I am saying it just to be a pain in the ass. 99% of the time I am not trying to be like that - I just can't help but alert people to what I believe to be flaws in their process. Sometimes people interpret me as being cantankerous when I am really only trying to help. Sometimes i find myself qualifying my speech with "I really don't mean to be a pain in the ass... BUT....."
 

unicorn010

New member
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Messages
19
MBTI Type
ENTJ
Enneagram
N/A
The part about emotions is definitely true, I'm usually described as outgoing and gentle
with the feelings of others, but also as defiant or powerful when things go wrong or fall
apart because instead of relying on a comfort zone and trying to solve my problems by
matching my feelings up with others and doing as they say and do my intellect or creat-
ivity somehow becomes stronger and keeps me from losing confidence over problems I
can't solve. I have learned to admit when I am not sure what I am feeling myself that
way I don't unintentionally cause others to take it personally when I am not feeling like
myself and as in tune to their problems as usual when they need a strong personality
to turn to.

ENTJ
 

mrcockburn

Aquaria
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
1,896
MBTI Type
¥¤
Enneagram
3w4
Instinctual Variant
sp/so
Feels pretty damn good.
 

LunarMoon

New member
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
309
MBTI Type
ENTJ
Enneagram
3
[*]We thrive on challenge, aiming for a reasonable moon rather than the impossible dwarf planet of Pluto. And anyways, Pluto is dead so there's no reason to shoot for it.
This is the one thing that I can’t relate to at all. My goal is to become no less than the greatest inventor who ever existed, which is a bit more than aiming for the moon. My logic is that I have 60 to 70 years left in me so I see no reason not to make the most of them, especially if the alternative is sitting on my rump, growing more incompetent by the day. I would be fully willing to endanger my life in order to accomplish my goals, but other than that, the worst that can is happen is that I fall short and end up infinitely better than I would otherwise.

If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.
 

Falcon

Permabanned
Joined
Sep 26, 2010
Messages
46
MBTI Type
ENTJ
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8w7
How does it feel? It feels great when you actually learn to stop and appreciate the efforts of your past hard work.
 

Vie

Giggity
Joined
Jun 9, 2010
Messages
792
MBTI Type
ENTJ
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8
^^ Indeed.


I agree with everything said, especially with the relationship thing. I lack tolerance and patience for playing "the game". I hate the game and find it a pointless waste of time. I often laugh and cry about this.
 

DiscoBiscuit

Meat Tornado
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
14,794
Enneagram
8w9
The planning is always going on in the background behind whatever else I'm thinking about.

It almost happens subconsciously at this point.

But yes I do Fi too. :blush:
 
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