ISFJ
On A Team

The following is adapted from Linda V. Berens, Linda K. Ernst and Melissa Smith, Quick Guide to the 16 Personality Types and Teams (Telos Publications, 2005) *Used with permission.

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How ISFJs Build Relationships
For them, team relationships are about caring about people. They want to get to know people well before sharing a lot with them. They tend to remember a lot of personal detail about people, which establishes close relationships. They want people to be as willing to help as they are. They appreciate space in a conversation for them to reflect and integrate information. When given that space, they appreciate the patience it shows and are likely to make an effort to get back to the team or the individual later.

How ISFJs Deal with Conflict
Conflict is disconcerting for them. It feels disrespectful and emotionally draining. In the face of conflict they tend to do nothing for a while, hoping it will smooth over, then they find a way to bring up issues if they are important. They appreciate being given the time to momentarily withdraw. They will want conflict to be dealt with gently so people don’t get hurt.

To Forge Better Relationships with ISFJs...
Provide a structured team environment that clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of the team members with caring and careful attention to detail. Give them positive feedback and acknowledgement, usually quietly and privately. Acknowledge their support as it often goes unnoticed and unrewarded and they can then become discouraged. Be as quietly supportive with them as they are with you. Be patient when they need time to reflect. You can trust them to get back to you later. They take criticism hard, even though they want to improve, because they often see criticism as evidence that they have let you down.

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How ISFJs Approach Doing Work
They will focus first on the structure of the situation and role assignments, liking to have roles clearly defined. They want clear lines of authority. Feeling quite responsible for the work of the team, they may be inclined to volunteer for too many jobs when others don’t do their share or if no one else signs up. They may have a hard time saying no to requests for help even when they are already overbooked. They will consider the needs of each individual team member, not just the end goal.

How ISFJs Make Decisions
When the situation is familiar, they are likely to recognize the familiarity and make decisions quickly. Sometimes they just go “by the book” to get closure. When making decisions in uncharted territory, they are usually slow and careful in their decision making, preferring to integrate information from many sources and to reflect on matters before they decide.

How ISFJs Respond to Change
Once they’ve decided on something, changing their minds can be difficult, so give them information early. Help them see the positives in a change, especially as they relate to helping the team function more effortlessly and harmoniously. They want a lot of information, including the rationale for the change, and plenty of time to integrate this new information. When pressed, their first response will likely be no unless they are given time to mull it over.

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The following is adapted from Linda V. Berens, Linda K. Ernst and Melissa Smith, Quick Guide to the 16 Personality Types and Teams (Telos Publications, 2005) *Used with permission.