What personality has to do with it?

The 16 MBTI
personalities in
the virtual world

The shift to virtual work has given us a new
perspective on how we do our jobs. Without the
context of a shared workspace or the rhythm of
a typical office day, our own personalities are
having far more of a say in our performance.
It follows, then, that a good way to maximize
our output in a WFH environment is to better
know our personalities - and those of our
dispersed colleagues.
An efficient way to manage this personality
wrangling is via the tried-and-tested Myers-
Briggs Type Indicator. The MBTI might just be
the key to turning your remote team into a
smooth autonomous unit.

The MBTI is a self-reported personality survey
that has been around in various shapes and
forms since the 1940s. Respondents answer a
series of questions about their feelings and
preferences, eventually aligning with one of 16
personality types.
Each of these types is identified by four letters,
starting with an E or an I (for extrovert/introvert)
followed by S or N (sensibility/intuition), T or F
(thinking/feeling), and finally a J or a P
(judgment/perception).
Each type also has a descriptor, e.g., “the
analyst,” to further characterize the personality
type in action.

ESTJ: EXECUTIVE

How to work with them in the virtual world
This group loves to organize themselves, other
people, and the world around them, which can be
an asset but can also come across as bossy and
aggressive - particularly when they’re dishing out
instructions without any face-to-face contact.
They often need to be reminded to be tactful with
others, particularly in an environment where
they’re primarily communicating via email or
messaging apps, leaving their sentences open to
greater interpretation.

ESFJ: CONSUL

How to work with them in the virtual world
This is the personality type who makes the best
project managers, because people love working
for them. They’re organized, as well as thoughtful,
so are ideal for bringing projects together on time.
Thanks to their caring, patient nature, they’d also
be a strong choice for remote onboarding new
starters.

ISTJ: LOGISTICIAN

How to work with them in the virtual world
This personality type is incredibly well organized,
which is a major asset in a remote working
environment.
They don’t need much management or checking
up on, just email them a to-do list at the start of the
week, and you can trust them to quietly get on with
it.
They’d also be the perfect type to organize and
streamline any shared space online, from
Dropbox to Google Docs.

ISFJ: DEFENDER

How to work with them in the virtual world
ISFJs display incredible attention to detail, so
they’re great for checking over others’ work,
editing shared documents, or looking over pitches
and proposals at the final stage.
They’re also very good at following rules and
inspiring others to do the same, so put them in
charge of any time tracking software you us - and
watch them increase the efficiency of the entire
team.

ESTP: ENTREPRENEUR

How to work with them in the virtual world
The solution here is simple - keep things fun and
keep them moving fast. This personality type is
classically impatient, so give them a day’s worth
of tasks in a project tool rather than any long-term
targets.
They’re also often very good at firefighting
because the thrill of the moment is exciting to them.
As a general rule, Entrepreneurs are great at
thinking outside the box, so don’t put them inside
one by stifling their creativity.

ESFP: ENTERTAINER

How to work with them in the virtual world
Entertainers need to be given time to sparkle in
front of others, so remote working can drain them.
Wherever possible, get them involved in videos,
voiceovers, podcasts, or any project that involves
creative performance.
They’ll also be superb in remote pitches, as they’ll
bring a persuasive energy which could otherwise
be lacking via computer screen.

ISTP: VIRTUOSO

How to work with them in the virtual world
Virtuosos will likely feel the impact of missed dayto-day
interactions with their teams most of all, so
they’ll benefit from scheduled one-on-one digital
meetings to maintain drive and focus.
ISTPs tend to excel at troubleshooting, so in a
remote work environment they can be a major
tech asset. They’re very good at test driving new
tools and navigating software, but they also lose
focus easily.
They’re the team member most likely to turn off
their camera in a meeting, open another window,
and start surfing the net—so they do need to be
managed.

ISFP: ADVENTURER

How to work with them in the virtual world
This group likes to live in the moment and can
become completely wrapped up in their work.
Working from home and without colleagues
physically monitoring them, they can burn out
quite easily, so need to be reminded to take an
hour for lunch and finish the working day at a
reasonable time.
Their energy is an asset, but it sometimes needs to
be harnessed and directed in the right direction by
others.

ENTJ: COMMANDER

How to work with them in the virtual world
This type naturally likes big pictures and big
decisions, and that can create problems when
working from home.
They don’t always see the finer details when
implementing plans, and in a remote working
environment, that puts them at greater risk of
pushing through decisions without properly taking
in the views of others.
To truly excel, ENTJs need to remember the
necessary balance between directing and
consulting.

ENTP: DEBATER

How to work with them in the virtual world
Debaters are very good at debating, so play to
their strengths. This group tends to be great on
new ideas and products, as well as bigger
discussions about how to move the business
forward.
They’re also adept at impressing clients and
pitching for new business, so you want them on
any game-changing Zoom calls.
You just might need to remind them to mute
themselves occasionally, because, if unchecked,
they may dominate conversation.

INTJ: ARCHITECT

How to work with them in the virtual world
This group is usually more comfortable
communicating by text, so they’ll often need to be
nudged into picking up the phone or jumping on a
Zoom call when it’s more beneficial.
They’re extremely deadline-focused, but there’s
also a danger they can rush to hasty decisions,
particularly without colleagues nearby to check
their impulses.
Sometimes INTJs need to be reminded to stop for
a second, take their time, and let ideas germinate,
rather than just rushing straight at them.

INTP: LOGICIAN

How to work with them in the virtual world
This type really needs to be given the freedom to
do things in an original way, and to be listened to,
because they come up with the smartest solutions.
Their weak spot is that they often neglect to share
decisions and solutions, and that trait can become
even more pronounced when working from home.
If there’s an INTP on your team, encourage them
to use shared documents and software as much as
possible. A tool like Confluence, for example,
would be ideal.

ENFJ: PROTAGONIST

How to work with them in the virtual world
People-focused diplomats, this group tends to
forget their own needs in favour of the greater
good, and that can sometimes be detrimental - not
just in terms of burnout, but also when completing
their own tasks. However, with this group, the
positives vastly outweigh any negatives.
It’s always a good idea to have Protagonists lead
group discussions, even if they’re not in a
leadership role because they excel at it. They
should be your go-to Zoom meeting host, and at
the heart of any situation involving discussion,
consensus, and the bringing together of people
and ideas.

ENFP: CAMPAIGNER

How to work with them in the virtual world
This group excels at both idea-generation and
collaborative projects, so they’d be a major asset
in brainstorming sessions and any big picture
thinking.
Their weakness is that they’re not the best starterfinishers,
so deadlines can be an issue. That can
be exacerbated when working remotely when
they don’t always see messages or respond
quickly enough to colleagues.
As a result, they often need gently managing in
order to realize their high creative value.

INFJ: ADVOCATE

How to work with them in the virtual world
The entire hiring process is considerably more
difficult in a remote world, but Advocates can be
an ace up your sleeve.
They tend to be excellent judges of character, so it
would be a major asset to have them sit in on
virtual interviews.
Just don’t put them centerstage in any Zoom
meetings if you can avoid it: they don’t thrive on
attention, and work far better behind the scenes.

INFP: MEDIATOR

How to work with them in the virtual world
This type tends to have very deep-seated values,
which can cause problems because frustrations
can stew when they’re offended.
This is amplified when working remotely as
grievances can linger for longer, so managers
need to encourage them to get any concerns out
into the open.
Otherwise, the key to getting the best out of this
group is to encourage and reinforce meaning in
their work. In other words, if their projects align
with their values, this group can be an
unstoppable force.

How the different
MBTI types
“switch-off” …

… in the virtual world

EXTROVERT

Create time & space to switch off
If you have preferences for Extraversion recharge
by doing something active, perhaps with others
(even if that happens virtually while you’re social
distancing). If working from home, make sure to
take breaks. Go for a walk or a run if you can or
do something new and different.
Some extraverts find it helpful to leave their
devices in another room when they’re de-stressing.
Keep in contact with others, and use video, not just
voice.

INTROVERT

Create time & space to switch off
If you have a preference for Introversion, you
might prefer doing something that allows you
to reflect or concentrate, without interruptions,
and you might have a depth of interests.
Therefore, you might find the most effective
way to switch off is to really absorb yourself in
one of your favourite hobbies.
For example, you might enjoy sports done
individually or getting stuck into a good book.
It might be an idea to have an activity on the
go to help you switch off quickly.

SENSING

Beware of information overload
If you have a preference for Sensing, you may at
times overdo your own preference and become
too caught up in the details of what’s going on,
reacting to new information that comes in.
At these times, it can be helpful to take a step back
and look at the big picture. This will help you focus
your attention on what is most important.

INTUITIVE

Beware of information overload
If you have a preference for Intuition, you may
overdo your own preference by getting caught up
in researching and discussing new possibilities and
options.
At times like these, you may find it helpful to step
back and ground yourself in the present moment
and focus on doing one thing at a time.

THIINKING

Create boundaries
If you have a Thinking preference, remember to
consider, not only whether being “on” will aid
productivity and the task, but also the impact on
others.
One tip is to only send emails during business
hours, unless urgent, even if this means writing the
email and delaying sending it. This will reduce the
pressure others can feel to respond straight away.

FEELING

Create boundaries
If you have a Feeling preference, ask yourself
whether your response is important for the task at
hand and whether it really is a priority.
By looking at things in a logical way you may be
able to find a balance, being supportive of others
whilst ensuring you have space to rest and take
time out at home. Remember, you can’t pour from
an empty cup!

JUDGING

Find a work-life balance that suits you
If you have a Judging preference, you are likely to
prefer some degree of separation between your
work and home lives, in order to get the most out
of the time you have at work and home. Consider
setting boundaries with yourself about when you
will and will not use technology to allow yourself to
fully switch off from work when at home.
You could leave your phone somewhere that will
not distract you or turn off notifications to help you
do this. If work does not allow this completely, try
to compromise. For example, let your colleagues
know you will check your emails on a Sunday
morning but not otherwise, and ensure you are
available for calls if the matter is truly urgent.

PERCEIVING

Find a work-life balance that suits you
If you have a Perceiving preference, you may
really value the freedom and flexibility that the
always-on culture brings and you may not feel as
though you are always-on. Enjoy being able to
work from home or when the inspiration takes you,
but don’t expect others to do the same.
Respect others’ boundaries and if you do need a
quick response on an urgent matter outside of
work hours, agree on a way to let them know this
so you are on the same page. And allow some
time for other activities so that your workdays don’t
become overly routine. Timeboxing, or converting
your to-do list into blocks of time on your calendar,
might help.

Thank you