8 Struggles Every Intuitive Perceiver Encounters In The Workplace
By Heidi Priebe
Intuitive, perceiving types – namely ENTPs, ENFPs, INFPs and INTPs – are inventive and inspired workers. These types thrive in environments that allow for autonomy and creative thinking. However, this type also requires a fair degree of structure in order to stay on their ‘A’ game. Here are a few struggles that every intuitive perceiver encounters at some point in their professional lives.
1. Having to follow standardized procedures.
Perceptive, intuitive types see the big picture rather than the intricate details – which means that doing something for the sake of a formality is endlessly frustrating to them. If they know a project is going to get approved, why wait a week for the official go-ahead to come through? That’s wasted time. Let’s just start now and keep quiet about it. Right, guys? … Guys?
2. Being quick to pick up on things but slow to follow up on them.
Intuitive perceivers quickly see the general principles behind systems they are presented with: Which means they tend to “Wow” their employers by their innate understanding of the workplace during the first week or two. The downside of this is that they start to lose momentum once the day-to-day drudgery of working takes over: just because they picked up on a concept with ease doesn’t mean they’ll remain stimulated by it – which happens to be a dire requirement for the intuitive perceiver when it comes to working efficiently.
3. Wanting autonomy but requiring structure.
NP types are creative problem solvers – they enjoy speculating various solutions to problems and dislike being bound to traditional methods of getting things done. That being said, this type thrives best in a structured environment – one where they are balanced out by judging types who can ensure that their plans are thoroughly carried out. Intuitive perceivers may come to resent this type of environment, but at the same time they need it to really get anything done.
4. Constantly requiring a new challenge.
Perceptive, intuitive types thrive on rising to challenges and overcoming obstacles by channeling their creative thinking skills. If they manage to find a workplace that presents them with an endless flow of novel challenges, these types are happy as a clam. If, however, they find themselves stuck in a relatively static environment, where the work doesn’t change much day-to-day, it’s a disastrous recipe for restlessness. The more this type repeats the same mindless tasks, the more detached and consequently the more careless they become. When placed in static environments, intuitive perceivers actually may become worse at their job over time.
5. Disliking professional pleasantries.
Social niceties are torture for intuitive perceivers. Breaking communication down into a series of meaningless phrases seems unbearably futile. The client wants a service and we can provide it. Do we really have to talk about their day for twenty minutes first? And do I really have to call this client “Ma’am” while she’s yelling at me over the phone? It seems a little trite at this point.
6. The inclination to challenge any rule that doesn’t make sense.
If an intuitive perceiver doesn’t see the over-arching point of what they’re doing, they loathe doing it. These analytical types have a knack for intuitively understanding how a system could be improved upon and they quickly grow frustrated by having to adhere to inefficient guidelines. More than a few NP types have gotten themselves into hot water by arguing with their bosses about the nonsensical nature of how things are getting done – especially if their boss is someone who’s hard-pressed to sway from traditional methods.
7. The tendency to over-exert oneself when presented with various options.
If there’s anything a perceptive intuitive enjoys, it’s a new challenge or opportunity. NPs – particularly those of the extroverted nature – are inclined to experience the problem of their eyes being bigger than their stomachs, both in and outside of the workplace. They will quickly jump on board with new projects and may find themselves suddenly working incredible amounts of over-time – after all, they have so much to get done! Though they’re not sure where all of this extra work came from… they agreed to something three weeks back, right?
8. The insatiable need to progress paired with the equal and opposite need to explore other options.
Intuitive perceivers are highly aware of opportunities that exist in their external environment – this means they’ll be speculating about climbing the corporate ladder to the top of the company before they’ve even walked into their interview. Their ambition is fierce, but so is their wandering eye. Intuitive perceivers are aware of all options that are available to them – both in and outside of the company. Their tendency to flit from career to career means they may never climb to the top of any corporate ladder – but they sure will half-scale quite a few.