The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) gives a peek into why people behave the way they do and where they derive their motivation. According to this theory, there are 16 different Myers-Briggs personality types. In the case of ENTJ, also known as “The Commander,” their inspiration stems from the desire to change the world. They are known for their analytical view of life, excellent social skills, assertiveness, and passion for the greater good. These qualities make them impeccable leaders and managers.
"ENTJs are seldom content in a job that makes no demand on intuition. They need problems to solve and are likely to be expert at finding new solutions." - Isabel Briggs Myers
If you have ever been called a “Margaret Thatcher” or hailed for your strong personality, you are probably an ENTJ. In this article, we’ll be looking at the Commander personality type based on the following:
- Their character traits,
- Behavior in the workplace,
- Best career paths,
- Examples of famous ENTJs,
- Their relationship with others, and
- Tips for interacting with this personality type.
Don’t know what the 16 personality types are? Read more about the Myers-Briggs personality theory, which provides an in-depth view of humans' complex behavior and personality.
Think you may be an ENTJ? Take the MBTI ENTJ personality test to find out!
What Is the ENTJ Personality?
ENTJ stands for Extraversion, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging. They are known as the Commander of the 16 MBTI personality types because of their extraordinary leadership, assertiveness, and organizational skills. ENTJs are ambitious and often end up in leadership positions effortlessly since they naturally love to be front runners.
Reports have shown that ENTJ is a rare personality type making up only 2% of the total population. This statistic is 3% men and 1% women.
Characteristics of the ENTJ Personality
As extroverts, ENTJs love socializing and meeting new people. They derive energy at social events, especially when they are involved in planning such events. They also tend to be talkative and animated and love being the center of attention.
As intuitive individuals, ENTJs approach situations with the future in mind. They are quite the risk taker as they make decisions based on future possibilities. The deep-thought process of ENTJs means that they are not sentimental decision-makers. They make decisions based on facts and logic instead of emotions.
ENTJs prefer completing important tasks over brief moments of fun. They also love order and expect people to respect the structure they have laid down. It's no surprise that they make great managers.
Overall, an ENTJ is a people person with remarkable communication skills and leadership qualities. They are also logical and analytical and may appear emotionless to others. ENTJs are in a constant quest for influence, and they form strategic relationships that will help them reach those goals.
ENTJ Examples — ENTJ Personality Type Celebrities
If you’re a Commander, you’re not alone. Here are some famous people with the ENTJ personality type:
- Napoleon Bonaparte, French military leader
- Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister
- Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister
- George Clooney, actor
- Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States.
- Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft
- Jim Carrey, actor
- Harrison Ford, actor
- Vince Lombardi, legendary NFL coach
- Steve Jobs, founder of Apple
- Warren Buffet, American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist
- Ice-T, actor, producer, musician, and songwriter
- Adam Levine, singer, actor, and TV celebrity
You may also turn to these fictional characters with ENJT personality types to get a “feel for” their characteristics:
- Tywin Lannister and Olenna Tyrell from Game of Thrones
- Stewie Griffin from Family Guy
- Lord Voldemort/Tom Riddle from Harry Potter
- Lex Luthor, DC villain in Superman
- President Snow from The Hunger Games
- Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada
- Tony Soprano from The Sopranos
- Princess Leia Organa from Star Wars
ENTJ Personality Types in the Workplace
Individuals with the Commander personality type are known for excelling in executive and managerial roles. However, career preferences can vary between ENTJ-A (Assertive) and ENTJ-T (Turbulent) subtypes. Nevertheless, ENTJs manifest their traits differently based on their role in the workplace.
ENTJs as Subordinates
While the Commander personality types love to take charge and be the showrunner, they are also competent subordinates. They push themselves to meet targets and deadlines through multitasking and excellent organizational skills.
ENTJs have a voracious hunger for success; hence, they are always learning new skills, networking, and taking steps to get to the top. They have no impossibilities when it comes to accomplishing their goals. Sometimes, this diehard attitude may be a little extreme and push them toward burnout.
These extroverted individuals also hold themselves to high standards. They appreciate constructive criticism and do not shy away from new responsibilities but see them as an opportunity for growth.
The best way to keep a subordinate with the Commander personality type engaged, productive, and satisfied in a workplace is to create stimulating work-related challenges.
ENTJs as Managers
ENTJ managers are known for their charismatic leadership, which may appear too assertive to some. They are visionaries and excellent strategists.
As managers, ENTJs can be challenging to please. They push their team to get only high-quality results and accept nothing below standards. ENTJs are also intuitive and can see the potential in people.
ENTJs as Colleagues
An ENTJ colleague offers the right mix of support and inspiration to their counterparts. They enjoy helping others reach their potential and sometimes unintentionally assume the team leader role. These individuals also love a good brainstorming session, where they get to critique and share ideas with others.
The ENTJ co-worker is assertive, highly professional, and only respects those that have duly earned it — a behavior that some teammates may find condescending.
Best Careers for ENTJ Personalities
If you’re an ENTJ personality type, you’d love a career that offers growth opportunities, structured routines, and a chance to show off leadership skills.
Below are some examples of jobs and careers an ENTJ will thrive in:
- CEO or Top-Level Management
- Managerial Positions
- Sales Person
- Lawyer
- Public Speaker
- Business Analyst
- Human Resource Manager
- Entrepreneur
To learn more about the best careers for your personality, the Holland Career Interest assessment is a great place to start.
ENTJs In Relationships
ENTJs have a strategic approach to life and relationships. They may see their friendships and love life as a business. They have goals for forming certain relationships and strive to achieve them.
Let's look at some behaviors of ENTJs in friendship and romantic partnerships.
ENTJ Friendships
ENTJ individuals are intentional in their friendships. Although they have excellent social skills, they are not quick to be friends with anyone.
They prefer deep and meaningful conversations over casual chit-chat. Therefore it may be hard to befriend an ENTJ just because you share a gym.
The MBTI ENTJ personality type loves to be in charge of their lives and their friends too, so they pursue individuals with admirable qualities and intentionally befriend them. Like a chess player, they know which individual fits into different parts of their lives.
Overall, an ENTJ is a great friend who offers constant support and tough love when needed.
ENTJ Romantic Relationships
ENTJs naturally love to take the lead. They love creating date ideas, organizing hangouts, and planning trips for themselves and their partners. These individuals take personal responsibility to make their relationship work.
The Commanders are usually serious-minded when it comes to love. They prefer committed and long-term relationships over casual flings.
While ENTJs are committed partners, they tend not to be in touch with the emotions of others. As analytical and logical beings, ENTJs may appear insensitive to their more emotional partner.
Tips for Interacting with the ENTJ Personality Type
As a friend, partner, family, or colleague to an ENTJ, here are some tips to help you foster a more meaningful relationship with this MBTI personality type:
- Acknowledge their efforts and organizational skills.
- Display efficiency and competence when entrusted with a task.
- Converse or debate from a logical standpoint rather than an emotional one.
- Take their criticism in good faith and offer yours when needed. They always appreciate constructive feedback.
- Prioritize communication and don’t assume they can read emotions. Relationships with an ENTJ individual thrive when there is open communication.
Parenting an ENTJ — A Few Bonus Tips
ENTJs are distinct for hyper-logical and autonomous behavior. As a parent to such individuals, you need to build emotional tolerance and engage in more open communication with them. ENTJs also appreciate when their independence is recognized and their efforts are acknowledged.
Are You An ENTJ?
After reading this article, you might think, "That sounds a lot like me." But there's more to the ENTJ personality type than what is included in this brief article.
Take a quick MBTI ENTJ personality type test to find out if you really are one of those rare Commander personalities! You'll also get access to our growing library of personal growth, self-improvement, and career development resources to help you lead a more fulfilling life.
