Leading ISTPs: Change Leadership Series

Discover how to tap into ISTPs’ unique change superpower while anticipating their likely challenges and blind spots.

Aug 26, 2024

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A male ISTP mechanic stands in a garage wearing a yellow cap, yellow goggles, and a yellow jumpsuit. He is holding a power drill and working under the hood of a sleek, modern car. To his left, various mechanical tools are scattered. Above the car, the letters “ISTP” are prominently displayed. — Image from 16personalities.com

How to spot ISTPs (Virtuosos):

ISTPs (Virtuosos) share the Introverted, Observant, Thinking, and Prospecting personality traits.
They approach change by experimenting with solutions, and they value autonomy in their implementation. Focused on immediate action and results, they’re quick to point out illogical decisions in a frank manner. While open to changing course based on facts, they can grow impatient with excessive complexity or indecision.

Let’s say you’ve been working on a new plan with your team. As you start to implement it, you notice it’s not going well. Do you think the ISTPs on your team will double down and persevere or abandon the plan? If you guessed the latter, you’d probably be right. 👇

A yellow character icon with a speech bubble sits above the text: “Insight of the Day. ISTPs (Virtuosos) are the most likely personality type to think it's better to give up on something that isn't working out the way they planned earlier rather than later.” — Image from 16personalities.com

How does this apply to change leadership? Well, ISTPs are quick to recognize when something isn’t working. When a plan fails, they’d rather cut their losses and move on than persist fruitlessly. This can make them highly efficient in fast-paced, constantly changing environments, but they may prematurely abandon projects that require long-term commitment.

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

Provide clear, measurable milestones: This helps ISTPs gauge progress and stay motivated.
Encourage flexibility: Allow ISTPs to adjust their approach when facing obstacles, rather than sticking rigidly to the original plan.
Foster open communication: Regular check-ins can help catch potential issues before ISTPs decide to give up on a project.

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Let’s go a little deeper. Adaptable, logical, and hands-on – ISTPs bring a unique blend of skills to any workplace. But when change comes knocking, even these flexible problem-solvers can face challenges. Let’s dive into their superpowers and blind spots and see how to help them shine during transitions.

Next, we’ll cover:

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

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