EJCC
Is procrastination ever an issue with ESTJs? The ones I know seem to be pretty snappy about getting things done. Is there ever an exception to that?
I'm so glad you asked this question! We definitely do procrastinate, but only with things that we REALLY don't want to do. For instance, I'll have something really irritating on my "to-do" list for the day, and I'll think "Oh, I'll do the easier things first", and then I'll do the easier things, and then I'll think "Oh, I'll save it for last", and then I finish everything else, and then I go "Oh, it can wait until tomorrow"... and the cycle goes on
Do you ever make decisions too quickly and then regret them? I have read about that a few times on the ESTJ profile, but wonder what kind of situations that would be likely to happen in. ESTJs that I know don't seem to be the kind to impulsively run off to Vegas and get married on a whim.
LOL on that last part! But to answer your question, after I make a decision (even if it's very quick), I generally don't look back. What's done is done. An exception to that might be my tendency to impulse buy at CD stores... but I get that unfortunate habit from my INTP dad
If you were going to start a conversation with someone, what would it be likely to be about?
Hm. I dunno. If it's someone I don't know, I might start it by complimenting their clothing, or something like that. Usually, at parties, when I enter a room, I wander the room listening to the different conversations that are going on, and I jump into one of them (but obviously only when they're impersonal in nature, e.g. something about politics). I don't like small talk at ALL - it's so fake. I'd rather find something substantive to talk about.
How do you decide who you are going to admit into your inner circle of people in your life? Is it dependent on time, or mostly the qualities they have? If they're in, are they all the way in, or do you have different rooms within your inner circle depending on what security the person has cleared?
For the first part: it depends on whether I trust them (with what? I dunno), and whether I feel comfortable enough around them to tell them my innermost thoughts and such. In detail: with friendly acquaintances and people I'm just getting to know (i.e. the people outside of the inner circle), I always feel the need to be funny and/or clever all the time. I can't just relax and ask normal questions. (Important note: this is not an act! You're still seeing the "real me" at this stage.) Once I can relax around you, and just be near you without quoting movies at you and such, THAT's when you know you're in.
For the second part: There are different rooms - you're right. There are people I can relax around and hang out with all the time, but that I don't feel comfortable being emotional around. (These are most of my friends.) Then there are people I can get choked up around. Then there's my parents. Those are the rooms.
Would you be friends with someone that you knew was dishonest, hypocritical or had some other deep character flaw as long as they hadn't personally done anything to you?
I could be friendly with them, but they'd NEVER get in my inner circle (unless they redeemed themselves somehow).
Who would you consider a friend - someone you do things with, someone you say hello to/share a class with, someone you work with, someone you talk to frequently, someone you have a lot of history with or ???
I would call a friend someone I'd be okay going out to lunch with. Not necessarily in my inner circle, but someone who I know would listen to me, and who I would enjoy listening to.
Would you say that you have more respect for people's competence based on their credentials or on the working knowledge they demonstrate?
Definitely their working knowledge. Credentials mean less in many cases. I am not one of those people who would go "(S)he's good... but (S)HE went to Harvard law school!" That feels elitist to me. It'll always come down to who's the most competent. That's fairer.
When you discuss a problem with someone, are you looking for advice, or just telling them about the problem? (I'm wondering if that is a male/female thing or more of an F/T thing).
I'm ALWAYS asking for advice. I wouldn't discuss it with them if it was solved, or if I knew how to solve it! It drives me nuts when people do that to me, because I always try to give them advice, and they never want it, and I go "Well why did you ASK me then???" So, it's probably F/T
What criteria make you decide whether you would trust someone with responsibility or some kind of a job/project or not?
They would have to have proven themselves in my eyes. Maybe I saw them at work on some project and took note of their work ethic, maybe someone I trust recommended them to me... something like that.
Do you consciously seek out people who are more open to your way of doing things, are more easy going etc or do they find you?
Do you mean at work, or in friendship?
What kind of recognition would be the most rewarding for you? What is the best kind of compliment to you?
I'll be honest - when I read the first question, I was stumped. So I asked a close friend: "Hey, since you know me so well, what kind of recognition would I like the most?" And he gave a really accurate answer: that I appreciate recognition the most when I'm being ranked among others, when I know who's better than me and who I'm better than.
The second question was easier to answer. I like compliments that specify how consistent/reliable I am. For instance, it's nice enough when someone goes "Good job today!", but it's SO much better when they say "Good job today - you know, you do a good job EVERY day."
That changes the whole thing! Forget what I said before.
