How to Earn Respect from Analyst Personalities

Part 2 of 5 in our Earning Respect Challenge: Learn what to do and say to earn Analysts’ respect – or turn them off and lose it

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Do you lead an Analyst (INTJ | INTP | ENTJ | ENTP)? 

Analysts include all personality types who share the Intuitive and Thinking personality traits. They embrace rationality and impartiality, excelling in intellectual debates. They are fiercely independent, open-minded, strong-willed, and imaginative, approaching many things from a utilitarian perspective and being far more interested in what works than what satisfies everybody. 

Welcome to Day 2 of our five-day Earning Respect Challenge, which is all about gaining (or losing) respect from Analyst team members.

Let’s start with a little story. 

I used to be a product manager working with development teams. I ran our sprint planning meetings, where we decided what to work on for the next two weeks. We were working toward a big release, and I asked my boss for milestones to work toward to better align what the teams were building with what was expected. 

His response?

“We want to deliver a product that feels enjoyable to use.” 

“Okay…” I said. “But should it include x, y, and z and be able to support a, b, and c?”

“If doing that makes it feel enjoyable to our customers, then yes,” he said. 

As you can probably tell, he was not an Analyst personality type, and that way of defining goals caused tension with some of our team members, including those who were Analysts, personalities who generally value direction that’s backed by data and logical reasoning over arbitrary feelings. In this article, we’ll unpack why this kind of leadership style can be problematic for earning respect from Analysts.

Today, we’ll explore: 

• How to earn the respect of these sharp-minded, logic-driven individuals

• How to avoid a common pitfall that will cause you to lose Analysts’ respect fast

• How to adapt your leadership approach to create an environment where Analysts shine

The Best Way to Earn Analysts’ Respect

Analysts crave deep, thought-provoking discussions that challenge their perspectives and push the boundaries of conventional thinking. So to earn their respect, engage them in meaningful intellectual conversations and – this part is key – show that you value their viewpoint, even if it goes against the norm. This goes beyond simple brainstorming sessions or casual chats. 

Here’s how to do it effectively: 

Schedule regular one-on-one sessions with each Analyst on your team. Come prepared with a complex problem or theoretical scenario related to your work. For instance, you might say, “I’ve been considering how we might restructure our supply chain to be more resilient in the face of global disruptions. I have some initial thoughts, but I’d like to hear your perspective. What factors do you think we should consider, and how would you approach this problem?”

This approach works well for several reasons:

1. It shows that you value their intellectual input on high-level issues.

2. It provides an opportunity for them to showcase their analytical skills.

3. It demonstrates your own competence and strategic thinking, which Analysts greatly respect in their leaders.

Tip: Tailor your approach to each Analyst type. INTJs (Architects) and INTPs (Logicians) might prefer written communication or one-on-one discussions, while ENTJs (Commanders) and ENTPs (Debaters) might enjoy group debates. Pay attention to their individual preferences, and adjust accordingly.

The Biggest Turnoff That Will Lose Analysts’ Respect