ESTJ is Practical Implementation, Realistic, Logical, Decisive

Extrovert – Sensing – Thinking – Judging

ESTJs are great being in charge, and getting things done. They love order, structure, “the rules”, authority, efficiency and details. They are down to earth, practical, responsible, objective and decisive. They like to be in charge and are outgoing, sociable, friendly and dependable. They are logical and analytical.

personality1The ESTJ pattern is nothing if not realistic. Their senses tell them how things are. This makes them very practical, down to earth and tangible. Efficiency (not necessarily effectiveness) and procedures are highly valued and they have a strong work ethic.

This pattern is outspoken and direct and thinks diplomacy is “beating around the bush”. This can make them seem dictatorial. They are intensely loyal and dutiful however. Like the ISTJ pattern, duty, obligations, traditional values and hard work are important concepts for this way of processing and seeing the world.

They express their care and responsibility for others in tangible and impersonal ways. They have difficulty appreciating the feelings of others or the consequences of their actions on others.

Most Developed Skill

The strongest drive with the Extrovert Sensing Thinking Judging is to make logical decisions – the discovery of truth and logic. This pattern allows for excellent detached, impersonal logical decision-making. Productivity and efficiency are also likely to be strongly developed.


Their strengths lie in their ability to get things done. They are down to earth, traditional, decisive, organized, and trustworthy


Because ESTJs dominant skill is in thinking, they are analytical, precise, focused and logical. The Thinking Judging combination allows for excellent organization skills and the abilities to follow routines and procedures.


Possible weaknesses in this skill set can be rigid, impatient and dictatorial behavior. The Sensing Judging combination can lead to difficulty with long range planning and change (an inability to see future possibilities) Their lack of people skills can be their undoing. They have difficulty listening and a tendency to interrupt.

Stress Response

Under stress, they can be arrogant, condescending, aggressive, unemotional, and stingy.

Typical Expression

ESTJs typically express themselves with energetic, analytical, practical, action oriented comments. They can be forceful, bold, energetic and critical.


ESTJs value analysis, organization and action. They have a high need for clear structure, explicit instructions and action. Procedures, structure and repetition sit well with them.


The Sensing Judging combination learns best “traditionally”. They prefer practical, procedural and rote skill development. They are less interested in implications, abstractions and theories.

Least Developed Skills

The least developed skill is introverted feeling. This shows itself as an inability to express appropriate feelings both verbally and non-verbally, and to deal with the feelings of others. This can lead to a withdrawal from other people.

The lack of people skills, and drive to make things happen, combine to create impatience and desire to interrupt. They want to stop messing around and get on with things.