
TL;DR:
Sentinels (ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTJ, ESFJ) excel in remote work through their reliability, structured approach, and consistent follow-through
Their biggest remote work strengths include creating order from chaos, maintaining stability, and dependable execution
Watch for rigid adherence to procedures, difficulty with sudden changes, and tendency to overwork without boundaries
Best leadership practices include establishing clear expectations, providing detailed documentation, and scheduling regular check-ins
Finding balance between structure and flexibility is key for Sentinels thriving in remote work environments
In our last survey, 94% of respondents found our personality-specific content helpful, but some wanted a less granular approach. We hear you! For this Remote Leadership series, we’re focusing solely on personality Roles instead of breaking down each personality type. Let us know what approach you prefer in this one-question survey!
Let’s continue our Remote Leadership series with a focus on Sentinel personalities – ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTJ, ESFJ – shall we? Today, we’re sharing specific strategies to help the Sentinels on your remote team flourish while addressing their unique challenges.
You’ll learn practical approaches for leveraging their organizational abilities and reliability while helping them adapt to the inevitable changes in remote work environments. By implementing these leadership techniques, you’ll create an environment where your Sentinel team members can deliver their most consistent work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Let’s begin!
Sentinel Strengths in Remote/Hybrid Work
🌟 Structure & Organization
Sentinels thrive in creating order, even in the chaos that sometimes comes with remote work. These personality types excel at establishing routines and systems that bring stability to virtual environments. They’re often the team members who develop the shared file structures, create the process documents, and ensure everything has its proper place.
When other team members are struggling to stay organized across multiple digital platforms, Sentinels create the frameworks that help everyone know where things belong.
🌟 Reliable Execution
Sentinel personality types take their commitments seriously. When they say they’ll deliver something by Friday, you can count on it being in your inbox before the deadline. In a remote environment where trust is essential, Sentinels build it through consistent follow-through.
This reliability extends to their availability as well. They’re typically punctual for virtual meetings, responsive to messages during work hours, and diligent about keeping their calendars up to date.
🌟 Stability Amid Uncertainty
While remote work can sometimes feel unstructured and ambiguous, Sentinels provide an anchor of stability for their teams. They maintain consistency in their work output, communication patterns, and availability, which helps establish predictability in an otherwise fluid environment.
This steadying influence extends beyond their individual contributions. Sentinels often become the team’s procedural compass, reminding everyone of established protocols and ensuring the team maintains high standards regardless of where people are working.
Challenges to Watch For
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Leadership by 16Personalities to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.