Is it possible that enthusiastic and outgoing ESTJ personalities who passionately express their ardent beliefs are introverted? The answer might surprise you!
ESTJs can be introverted or ambivert personalities who can engage with people out of necessity. They are the most introverted of all the Myers-Briggs E (extroverted) personality types as they lack interpersonal skills. ESTJs also find it hard to deal with emotional or illogical matters.
If you are still wondering why an extroverted personality like an ESTJ is a clandestine introvert – stay with me here!
ESTJ Myers-Briggs Personalities
The ESTJ abbreviation describes a person who likes socializing with others (Extraverted), deals with facts, not concepts (Sensing), makes decisions based on their reasoning skills (Thinking), and favors careful planning instead of impulsiveness (Judging).
It is the fifth most prominent character type in the US as 9% are classified as ESTJ personalities, of which 11% are males and a mere 6% are females.
ESTJs are commonly known as Supervisor-type personalities due to their intrinsic drive to lead others, enforce their organization’s rules and regulations, and their commitment to meet and exceed their employer’s expectations.
ESTJs are energetic, diligent, conformists, rule-abiding, and hard-working personalities who like to get things done methodically and systematically.
Known for their integrity, dependable ESTJs uphold the same standards for themselves and their employees, and they are highly respectful of their superiors and follow orders to the letter.
ESTJs do everything by the book as the “gatekeepers of society” and abide by their country’s laws, ordinances, and their company or employer’s core values.
They are highly competent managers with phenomenal organizational skills, adept at taking the lead and formulating policies and procedures that are logical and structured.
While ESFJs are recognized for their strong work ethic, their perfectionistic tendencies often culminate in their contempt for colleagues who they believe are not as diligent or ambitious as they are.
Furthermore, ESFJs are often incapable of being open to opposing ideas or seeing other people’s points of view as they are mostly headstrong and inflexible characters.
However, they are devoted to their families and deeply committed to taking good care of them. Therefore, ESTJs are reliable providers who uphold traditional family values and prefer well-established daily routines and organized households.
Although ESTJs may be domineering partners, they get frustrated with their partner’s emotional displays as it is strident with their logical and controlled way of life. They thrive in relationships where their partners value their traditional family values.
Are ESTJs Reserved?
Although ESTJs may be aloof at times, especially at work, they can also be expressive personality types who struggle to contain their excitement when faced with good news, so they will battle to keep it to themselves.
However, they are also headstrong personalities, which can be demanding and hyper-critical of others, so if someone makes a statement that is contrary to their ardent beliefs or falls short of their expectations, they will clearly voice their dismay.
The benefit of communicating with ESTJ is that they are ruthlessly honest and straightforward, so you don’t have to struggle to guess their intentions.
Are ESTJs Ambiverts?
Technically speaking, an ambivert personality is someone who has introverted and extroverted tendencies and can demonstrate either trait depending on their mood, aims, or the situation they find themselves in.
Ambiverts are commonly known as “outgoing introverts,” who are capable of being extroverted if they must be or when they are with certain people.
While ESTJs are extroverted, they are far more reserved than other Myers-Briggs extroverted personality types. Even though they like interacting with other people, they find it difficult to express their emotions or deal with them with illogical subject matters.
Although ESTJs have profound reasoning and organizational skills, they are not emotionally intelligent and are devoid of empathy. They see everything in a black-and-white or impersonal way that is entirely business-like or cold and clinical.
How ESTJs Are Seen By Others
Dominating ESTJs can take charge of any situation and have a keen sense of knowing what needs to be done in any situation. They are the types of personalities who are so goal-driven that they are often prepared to achieve their aims at any cost.
ESTJs are highly confident in their own abilities and will naturally command respect (whether people like it or not) in a new territory, both in their personal and professional capacities. They will quickly start organizing things, establish ground rules, and set clear expectations.
So ESTJs often take leadership roles in churches, societies, associations, and clubs and find it easier to connect with other people through shared traditions and routines or institutions that are structured or hierarchical.
Once they have taken the lead in any institution, ESTJs will assign various levels of responsibilities to their subordinates, and when a fully functioning structure is in place, they will expect deference from their teams and place their trust in their superiors or authority figures.
Additional ESTJ Character Traits
Now that you know more about these people, here are a few more insightful ESTJ personality traits that speak volumes about these complex characters.
- Other major Myers-Briggs character traits include being enthusiastic, self-satisfied, content, practical, and prejudiced.
- ESFJs are overwhelmingly Type A personalities who continuously strive for perfection.
- Compared to other Myers-Briggs personalities, ESTJs had some of the highest coping scores.
- They are predominantly more content with their work and marriages than most other personality types.
- ESTJs are primarily among the top four personality kinds in college GPA and are the least likely to drop out of college or attempt suicide.
- Their most profound core values include their health, financial stability, achieving success, and a level of prestige.
- ESFJs mainly work as financial managers, business owners, and in the banking sector.
Well-Known ESTJs
Here are a few ESTJ personalities you might recognize: George Washington, Dr. Phil, Michelle Obama, Judge Judy Sheindlin, Billy Graham, Mike Wallace, Colin Powell, Sandra Day O’Connor, Tom Clancy, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, including Vince Lombardi.
Conclusion
Although ESTJs are classified as extroverted personalities, their lack of emotional intelligence and inability to connect with anything that is not logical means that they are, in essence, outgoing introverts.