Leadership by 16Personalities

Leadership by 16Personalities

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Leadership by 16Personalities
Leadership by 16Personalities
Leading Sentinels: How to Fix the January Problem

Leading Sentinels: How to Fix the January Problem

Learn why Sentinels may struggle after a holiday break (and how quick wins can help them regain momentum)

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Carly from 16Personalities
Jan 23, 2025
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Leadership by 16Personalities
Leadership by 16Personalities
Leading Sentinels: How to Fix the January Problem
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The word 'Sentinels' is prominently displayed, with four blue characters overlapping it - a Logistician, a Defender, an Executive, and a Consul. The type codes are also displayed: ISTJ-A / ISTJ-T, ISFJ-A / ISFJ-T, ESTJ-A / ESTJ-T, and ESFJ-A / ESFJ-T. Below, the words 'Smart Restart' are shown.
Image from 16personalities.com

There’s a chance your reliable Sentinel team members – ISTJs (Logisticians), ISFJs (Defenders), ESTJs (Executives), and ESFJs (Consuls) – might be a bit off-kilter after the holidays as they quietly try to restore order to their work world.

Today, you’ll learn how to identify and support your Sentinel team members through the post-holiday transition, with specific strategies to help each personality type regain their momentum quickly and confidently.

In this article, you’ll discover:

  • How to identify Sentinel personalities on your team

  • Why Sentinels struggle uniquely with post-holiday transitions

  • Specific “early win” strategies tailored to each Sentinel type

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But first – wondering if you have any Sentinels on your team? Here are the key signs to watch for. 👇

How to Spot a Sentinel Team Member:

  • They maintain detailed documentation of processes and procedures

  • They’re the first to notice when standard protocols aren’t being followed

  • They prefer having clear deadlines and specific expectations

  • They show visible discomfort with last-minute changes

  • They tend to reference past experiences and proven methods

  • They naturally take on responsibility for maintaining team schedules and systems

  • They’re often the ones others turn to for reliable information about how things should be done

Still not sure about a team member’s personality type? Use our free type-guesser tool to guesstimate it.

After you’ve identified your Sentinel team members, let’s explore how to help each type regain their footing with an early win that matches their approach to creating order and stability. 👇

The Sentinel’s Post-Holiday Challenge: Rebuilding Their Rhythm

Your Sentinel team members are experiencing more than just the usual back-to-work adjustment. They’re dealing with the unsettling feeling that their carefully maintained systems and routines have slipped during the break.

While others might jump back in with new energy and ideas, Sentinels need to reconnect with their sense of order and control first.

So, what’s the key to helping them regain their footing?

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