INTJ Strengths
- Not threatened by conflict or criticism
- Usually self-confident
- Take their relationships and commitments seriously
- Generally extremely intelligent and capable
- Able to leave a relationship which should be ended, although they may dwell on it in their minds for awhile afterwards
- Interested in “optimizing” their relationships
- Good listeners
INTJ Weaknesses
- Not naturally in tune with others feelings; may be insensitive at times
- May tend to respond to conflict with logic and reason, rather than the desired emotional support
- Not naturally good at expressing feelings and affections
- Tendency to believe that they’re always right
- Tendency to be unwilling or unable to accept blame
- Their constant quest to improve everything may be taxing on relationships
- Tend to hold back part of themselves
Wow, does that describe me or what? Only two slight modifications:
- Move purported “Weaknesses” to “Strengths” section. Since when is the quest for perfection a weakness? If you disagree, come a little closer and taste my perfect sidekick.
- Believe it or not, I have been known to accept blame. I mean, I’m rarely wrong, but if I am, I’ll admit it, since you have to fix mistakes in order to achieve perfection.
More importantly, this explains why I prefer to give practical gifts and hard-hitting advice rather than proffer fluffy moral support. I’m missing whatever part of the brain is responsible for emotional sap. At the same time, I don’t really feel like I’m “missing” anything. Less time spent on chick flicks and Talking About Feelings means more time to devote to useful and fun endeavors like ass-kicking and developing elaborate ad-to-sales ratio optimization scenarios.
Along those same lines, the latest issue of Cosmopolitan hit our inboxes at work today, and in flipping through it, I confirmed something I’ve known for a long time: I communicate like a man. Seeing page after page of shampoo advertisements, passive-aggressive relationship advice, and true stories about sperm-donor children, also confirmed that I do not “get” (nor care to learn) the intricacies of girl talk.
The best part was reading the “Cosmo For Your Guy” section and not understanding why each of the “Little Things That Piss Her Off” were anger-provoking. “One word answers”? Efficient. “Not Making Plans With Her In Advance”? If she’s a Cosmo girl, she’ll always be desperate to go out with you, so planning is hardly necessary.
And this is why I can’t take the “Communication Skills for Women” course being offered through work.
