Leading ISTJs: Change Leadership Series

Discover how to help stability-loving ISTJs thrive through change by leaning in to their strengths and predicting their challenges.

Aug 20, 2024

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A male ISTJ administrator stands in an orderly office. He wears blue glasses and a blue shirt and holds a folder. Three colleagues, labeled “AL”, “BEN”, and “CINDY”, stand to the right, listening to the man. There are labeled file boxes and a tidy bookshelf in the background. To the left, the letters “ISTJ” are prominently displayed in blue. — Image from 16personalities.com

How to spot ISTJs (Logisticians):

ISTJs (Logisticians) share the Introverted, Observant, Thinking, and Judging personality traits.
They approach change cautiously, as it can be especially stressful for them. They’ll want to know precisely what’s expected and how their roles and responsibilities will be affected. They may request clear, step-by-step instructions and focus on the implementation details.

Do the ISTJs on your team embrace the excitement that comes with change, or do they prefer control? They likely have a strong preference for the latter. 👇

A blue character icon with a speech bubble sits above the text: “Insight of the Day. ISTJs (Logisticians) are the most likely personality type to say they prefer having more control rather than excitement in their life.” — Image from 16personalities.com

ISTJs crave stability and prefer predictable environments where they can rely on established systems. They see sudden changes as disruptive rather than invigorating, and they may struggle with rapid organizational changes or dynamic work environments. They do their best work in structured roles with clear expectations and consistent routines.

Here are three leadership strategies you can apply when guiding ISTJs through change:

Communicate changes early and clearly: Provide detailed explanations of why changes are necessary and how they’ll be implemented.
Involve ISTJs in the planning process: Let them contribute to creating new systems or procedures, activities that leverage their detail-oriented nature.
Offer stability where possible: Even in times of change, maintain some consistent elements or routines to provide a sense of control and familiarity.

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Now let’s take this further. Thanks to a love of stability, structure, and predictability, ISTJs do find change more difficult than others – but they still bring many strengths to the table in times of uncertainty. Let’s dive into their superpowers and challenges and see how to help them shine.

Next, we’ll cover:

The special strength that ISTJs bring to navigating workplace change
The greatest hurdle that ISTJs encounter during periods of uncertainty
A key leadership strategy for supporting ISTJs through transitions

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