7 Reasons Why INFJs Make Badass Bosses
INFJs are the rarest Myers-Briggs personality type, and most don’t go out of their way to seek leadership positions. They aren’t sure they’re cut out for it, and they don’t want to get in over their head.
But what makes a great leader exactly? Honesty? Vision? The ability to build strong relationships and bring out the best in others? The drive to get things done no matter what it takes? When measured against these criteria, INFJs have some distinct advantages over other personality types—here are seven traits that set them apart.
#1. INFJ Leaders Have Their Team’s Back
INFJs are people-oriented. They want to build teams that feel like families, and they will never sacrifice the interests of their employees for the sake of profit or to advance their own careers. That's not to say they put the needs of others above company goals—mature INFJ leaders will find the right balance. But they won’t exploit anyone for the sake of the company, or throw anyone under the bus to protect their own jobs.
From their perspective, everyone is a part of the same team and each member deserves respect for their contributions. An INFJ leader will naturally give credit where it's due—"thank you" and "well done" will be expressed genuinely and often, making everyone feel supported and valued.
#2. They Are Creative Problem Solvers
Few organizations survive by doing things the same way forever. As new challenges arise, companies need leaders who can think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. INFJs are creative thinkers, and quite intuitive as well (Introverted Intuition is the INFJ’s dominant cognitive function). They often are able to identify obstacles, bottlenecks, knowledge gaps and procedural inefficiencies long before anyone else notices, and they are excellent at working with their teams to find solutions that will work for everyone.
Not only are INFJ bosses confident at thinking outside the box, they encourage their employees to do the same. Creativity is valued and rewarded under an INFJ leader. This fosters an environment where new ideas can be developed, tested and implemented with minimal fear of failure or judgment.
#3. They Lead With a Purpose
One factor that can undermine any organization is the lack of a carefully crafted mission statement. Goals are not made clear and, as a result, employees are confused about why they’re doing their jobs and where exactly the company is going.
When an INFJ is in charge, this is not a problem. INFJs have principles and they expect the organizations they work for to have clear values and to be focused on serving their clients and society as a whole. Their sense of purpose is a part of who they are, and they consider it their duty to make sure that all members of the team are pulling in the same, purpose-guided direction.
#4. They Are Excellent Organizers and Planners
INFJs are highly organized as well as idealistic. They know that lofty goals can’t be achieved without an efficient organizational structure. Under the INFJ’s authority, everyone’s responsibilities will be spelled out in detail and everyone will have a clear understanding of what needs to be done and when.
INFJs are superior planners by nature, and they can also translate a bigger picture strategy into real-world plans that can be delivered. They are Judgers after all: under their guidance, everyone will have clear plans, action items and to-do lists.
#5. They Are Empathetic
Research has repeatedly shown that empathetic leaders achieve better results in the workplace—things like innovation, engagement and staff retention all rise when empathetic leaders are in charge. INFJ leaders are usually strong in this key trait. They are attuned to the needs of others and they customize their interactions based on that understanding.
Using their empathy to guide them, INFJ bosses are masters at managing the various personalities that populate their workplaces. They understand that respected and validated employees are the most productive, and that is reflected in the way they lead on a day-to-day basis—they work hard to create positive work spaces of mutual respect and understanding.
#6. They Coach, Not Just Manage
It would be extremely unusual for an INFJ leader to impose a "my way or the highway" management style upon their team. Nor do they use criticism as a motivational tool. INFJ bosses rely on positive reinforcement to get results, and they will go out of their way to help their team members develop the skills they need to get the job done properly, while also coaching them to grow as individuals.
The positive coaching style of the INFJ leader works because it reflects a sincere interest in the success of others. As introverts they prefer a relatively low-key approach to socializing, so they won’t be issuing praise and compliments to everyone all the time. But they will be consistently upbeat and encouraging, which will motivate their employees and boost their self-confidence.
#7. They Are Determined to Complete Their Missions
When they’re in a position to accomplish something good that is consistent with their values, for INFJs, failure is not an option. They aren’t the type who wants to win just for the fun of it. But when the stakes are high and the results important, an INFJ leader will display a level of drive and determination that is truly a sight to behold.
The INFJ boss will always see themselves as being on a mission. They do have perfectionist tendencies, and that can make them seem demanding at times. But they’re also patient and helpful, and will go to great lengths to make sure each team member understands their responsibilities and has the tools and resources they need to complete their tasks in a professional manner.
On the INFJ Leaders’ Train, There’s Always Room for One More
Are you one of those INFJs who has never considered pursuing a position of leadership? Have you passed on possible promotions, convincing yourself that you’re not boss material? Did you think you wouldn’t enjoy being a boss, even if you figured out a way to handle it?
As we’ve already seen, you possess all the character traits you need to become a successful leader. You’ve had them all along, whether you realized it or not.
In a leadership position, you could finally unleash your hidden charisma, while putting your intuitive leaps and creative brainstorms into action. When you encounter obstacles, your sheer determination to succeed would carry you through, and it would inspire your employees to follow you wherever you decided to go. You’d earn your employees’ loyalty by being not just their boss, but also their strongest advocate—you’d want them to succeed for their own sake and not just for the sake of the company, and they would know that.
If you decided to go for it, you too could become a 100-percent, dyed-in-the-wool badass INFJ boss—and the people you worked with would love you for it.
