You may or may not be familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). I’ll spare the history and just pass along that it’s a personality type test. I find that if you’re able to be very honest with your answers, then it can be pretty accurate at breaking you down into one of 16 personality types.

I’ve done this test a few times and always score as an INTJ. So I guess it’s true…and actually upon reading through the various descriptions of what an INTJ is – I’d have to say it seems to describe me pretty well.

There are plenty of online versions of the test if you just do a search and numerous sites that offer various profiles of the 16 personality types as well.

Here’s some links to profiles of an INTJ:

typelogic.com
personalitypage
fuzzy.snakeden.org (some plain-english INTJ FAQ’s)

And if you’re not the type to follow those links and just want the rundown. Here you go:

10 Tips For Dealing With INTJ’s

1) Be willing to back up your statements with facts – or at least some pretty sound reasoning.

2) Expect debate. INTJs like to tear ideas apart and prove their worthiness. They will even argue a point they don’t actually support for the sake of argument.

3) Don’t expect them to respect you or your viewpoints just because you say so. INTJ respect must be earned.

4) Be willing to concede when you are wrong. The average INTJ respects the truth over being “right”. Withdraw your erroneous comment and admit your mistake and they will see you as a very reasonable person. Stick to erroneous comments and they will think you are an irrational idiot and treat everything you say as being questionable.

5) Try not to be repetitive. It annoys them.

6) Do not feed them a line of bull.

7) Do not mistake the strength of your conviction with the strength of your argument. INTJs do not need to believe in a position to argue it or argue it well. Therefore, it will take more than fervor to sway them.

8) Do not be surprised at sarcasm.

9) Remember that INTJs believe in workable solutions. They are extremely open-minded to possibilities, but they will quickly discard any idea that is unfeasible. INTJ open-mindedness means that they are willing to have a go at an idea by trying to pull it apart. This horrifies people who expect oohs and ahhs and reverence. The ultimate INTJ insult to an idea is to ignore it, because that means it’s not even interesting enough to deconstruct. This also means that they will not just accept any viewpoint that is presented to them. The bottom line is “Does it work?” – end discussion.

10) Do not expect INTJs to actually care about how you view them. They already know that they are arrogant bastards with a morbid sense of humor. Telling them the obvious accomplishes nothing.

That pretty much sums me up.