Inspektor ISTJ

Typology description - Inspektor

This type represents six percent of the population. These people are usually described as 'reasonable', rational, rather impersonal, exceptionally realistic and reliable. In practice they are decisive and they easily turn words into action.

However, interpersonal skills such as tact or empathy are not their strengths. They have a tendency not to realise impacts of their decisions and actions on others. Inspectors (hereinafter ISTJ) are pillars on which one can rely. A word they understand is obligation. Men would rather see women not having to work and instead taking care about children and household but they tolerate their employment insofar as it collides the least with their home duties. They tend to treat women with exaggerated gallantry.

ISTJ sometimes develop their judgements to the extent in which they distinguish between individual impulses without having to relate them to their own needs and demands which they will place on others. If they fail to proceed further they may become desperately rigid persons incapable of adaptation. This occurs when, in an attempt to be stable and firm, instead of logical extrovert thinking they turn to introvert sentiments.

ISTJ value hierarchy at home, at work and also among friends. Men are rather patriarchal; as subordinate at work they are aware of the authority, sometimes to such extent that they may abstain from own initiative until it is 'sanctified' from above. They hate it when someone opposes them and they do not like adherence to rules. As superiors they sometimes may act as perfectionists. They clearly set rules of conduct for subordinates and also for children, and they require their adherence. Rebellious characters are hard to get along with them – and vice versa.

ISTJ do not respect ostentatiousness – according to them it is inappropriate in everything: in language, dress code, life style, eating, drinking or in the choice of partner. They like neatness, moderation, good arrangement and usefulness both at work and at home. For their moderate needs they arrange things in such way that they last, are practical, functional and of fine quality, but not things which are now in fashion. They often join various organisations, clubs, societies, sometimes exclusively for men or women. In this society they sometimes abandon their stiffness and even change their usual way of expressing. They stand on regular rituals at different occasions, anniversaries.

ISTJ are not easy to understand. Because they are quiet, contemplative and responsible they want to be well prepared before they start anything; they may seem to people like meticulously careful, like workaholics without taste and odour. ISTJ usually do not deal with merits because at the same time they find them obvious and in their eyes rather insufficient. They simply fulfil their obligations and duties.

It is not entirely correct to see in them only conservative people and loyal traditionalists. ISTJ are masters in gradual, discreet but all the more determined and stubborn improvement and change. They adjust something here and take something there; improve other thing elsewhere and at the same time they keep what is the best without noticing how cleverly they coped with the lasting problem.

Many of them have little understanding for market whims. They are missing why customers make their decisions according to these elusive and intangible aspects such as the image of a product, appearance, packaging and so on. What is important for ISTJ is a sound construction, economical operation, reliability and endurance.

Luckily, the majority of good ISTJ can manage the lack of feelings in this domain and with relief they leave the care for these matters to others, even though they secretly think how useless the ad and all things around it are.

As action-oriented people they need firm plans, clear instructions and understandable objectives. In these conditions they are effective the most. Unknown things and uncertain future may cause stress in them. The ability to finish things and complete them on time and with minimum costs is for them the best recommendation to leading and responsible positions.