The ENTJ Writing Personality: Confident Clarity

I love argument, I love debate. I don’t expect anyone
just to sit there and agree with me, that’s not their job.
—Margaret Thatcher

Can knowledge of personality type increase your writing success? If you’re an ENTJ, here’s how personality can affect your writing:

ENTJ writers are natural strategists, structuring their ideas before they begin writing. With their clear, coherent reasoning, they’re adept at unraveling complex material. But goal-oriented ENTJs will grow skeptical if the project seems to serve no useful purpose. Practical and efficient, they have little patience for activities or arguments they find illogical.

The ENTJ personality type is one of 16 identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a popular psychometric instrument used to determine how people prefer to gather information and make decisions. The initials ENTJ stand for the following:

E: Extraversion preferred to introversion
ENTJs get their energy from people and activity in their external world. Spending time alone can leave them listless and bored. They enjoy interacting with a large group of friends and acquaintances. They generally act before reflecting.

N: iNtuition preferred to sensation
ENTJs are abstract thinkers, placing more trust in flashes of insight than in experience. They’re less interested in sensory data than in the patterns perceived by the unconscious mind. ENTJs tend to be intellectually restless—they want to change the world.

T: Thinking preferred to feeling
ENTJs prefer to use their thinking function when making decisions. They place more emphasis on the rule of logic than on the effect that actions have on people. They tend to be skeptical in evaluating ideas, whether their own or someone else’s.

J: Judgment preferred to perception
ENTJs are drawn to closure. They feel satisfied after finishing a project or reaching a decision. They think in terms of likelihoods rather than possibilities.

Are you an ENTJ writer? If so, the following information may give you some insight into how temperament influences your writing style. Use these insights to help you play to your strengths and compensate for your natural blind spots.

Writing Process of the ENTJ

ENTJs may approach a writing project in the following ways:

• Like to start projects early. They often map out their ideas to visualize the big picture before they begin writing. They sense how various points flow together logically and build on one another. Because you develop a clear picture early on, you might reach a conclusion and begin writing before finishing your research. To ensure a balanced product, stay open to new information that may change your perspective.
• Want to master the subject they’re writing about. They enjoy the challenge of technical topics, and they focus on crafting clear, concise prose. However, if you don’t see a purpose in the writing project, your interest may wane. Discuss the project with friends or colleagues to help you find a way to relate to the subject.
• Want a good set of guidelines at the beginning of the project, but they also want the freedom to pursue their own goals. If a writing project involves others, ENTJs tend to take the lead. They naturally envision how things ought to be—that is, efficient and strategically organized. But keep in mind that others might not share your vision. When stepping forward to fill a leadership vacuum, seek buy-in from the group.
• Naturally write with an authoritative voice. ENTJs want to demonstrate competence in the subject they’re writing about. To boost your success, gather sufficient details to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the topic. Humanize the writing by including anecdotes or otherwise engaging the reader’s interest.

Potential Blind Spots of the ENTJ

ENTJs may experience the following pitfalls:

• Enjoy making decisions, and so may not respond to new data once they’ve got a clear, big-picture view of the topic. They may seek feedback from others but not act on it, relying instead on their own judgment. This unconscious tendency can cause you to miss important information—a failing that most ENTJs would find mortifying. Be aware of this tendency so you can consciously fight it.
• With their desire for efficiency, can sometimes be terse. Be sure to consider audience reaction. State how ideas relate to one another. Unless you’re writing for an audience of experts, assume readers know nothing about the topic. Include ample data to support your conclusions. In your eagerness to finish, don’t skimp on those touches that will elevate your writing from good to great.
• Value objectivity and are skeptical of emotional appeals. This can make their writing impersonal, even abrasive. A trusted editor can help you soften your tone to more effectively connect with the reader. Your arguments will be better received if you engage the heart as well as the mind.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong approach to writing. Each individual is unique, so don’t let generalities limit you. Do what works best for you.

Do you have any tips for ENTJ writers? Leave a comment and share your experience.
Also, for more information on this subject, check out the sources below.

Sources:
Write from the Start by Ann B. Loomis
What Type Am I? by Renee Baron
Your Personality Type and Writing: ENTJ from the Villanova University website
Margaret Thatcher Quotes at About.com

ENFJ – ENFP – ENTJ – ENTP – ESFJ –ESFP – ESTJ –ESTP
INFJ – INFP – INTJ – INTP – ISFJ – ISFP – ISTJ – ISTP