Sentinel personality types – Logisticians (ISTJ), Defenders (ISFJ), Executives (ESTJ), and Consuls (ESFJ) – thrive on consistency. That can make changes like starting a new job or returning to work after an absence a bit stressful. But Sentinels can benefit by seeing such a transition as a chance to make a fresh start. They can redefine their approach to work and lay out a path that they can walk happily.
In this article, we’ll look at some ways that the most astute Sentinels create success in the workplace. They apply their trait-based strengths to great effect, and they look beyond their limits to accomplish goals and build relationships that make work easier and more enjoyable. No one knows the practical value of teamwork better than these personalities.
Their methods can help inspire a fresh start, even if it just means updating an approach that’s already working well. Let’s look at how Sentinel personality types get it done.
Linear Dedication: A Sentinel Specialty
The practicality of the Observant trait and the clarity of the Judging trait are what define you as a Sentinel personality type. A sensible, focused methodology is the hallmark of your Role. Professionally, this can make you reliable and productive, and you probably take some pride in that.
How does your focus compare to that of fellow Sentinels and other personality types? Our “Focus and Attention Span” survey will give you valuable insight and takes only a minute.
Sentinels typically achieve goals by deciding on an approach and then sticking to it, valuing steady progress more than experimental lurches. You may wait to try new things until you can confirm their merit, and that probably works out well most of the time. New, clever approaches may prove themselves (yay!), and the rest of the time, a tested technique sees you through.
The most successful Sentinels are the ones who willingly walk a fine line between what’s proven and what can be improved. They build success by seeing different approaches (and people’s input) as potential assets. Let’s consider some of the key ways that Sentinels excel in the workplace.
4 Sensible Sentinel Approaches That Work
1. Switching Tracks
Sentinel personalities love consistency, but they love success even more. When high-performing Sentinels realize that their approach isn’t leading them to their goal, they alter things as needed. Their sense of practicality tells them that as frustrating as it is to abandon a course they’ve invested in, wasting resources on the wrong course is even worse. When they must make a fresh start, they make it good.
2. Discarding Pretense
The most successful Sentinels get to the heart of the matter without a lot of abstract musing. They see broad, practical realities as carrying more weight than theoretical possibilities and subjective opinions – including their own. They’re attracted to functionality, and this approach helps them stay in tune with their work priorities and get good results.
3. Being Tenacious
Sentinels at their best are steadily pulled forward by the rewards of completing their objectives. Beyond conventional benefits like compensation and advancement, Sentinels get a personal kick out of finishing something to their satisfaction, and they look forward to this. That energy is a constant motivator that helps them get past impediments.
4. Being Open-Minded
The savviest Sentinels try to stay open to being convinced, recognizing the value of the ideas, methods, morale, or energy that other people can contribute. They apply their own good judgment but allow their minds to freely follow new information and reasonable assurances. These personalities do their best when their care serves to ensure successful progress, not hinder it.
Reflections
In some ways, Sentinels are built to excel in the workplace. It’s natural for them to apply their sense of organization and develop a routine to suit the needs of their job. They get down to business.
Personally, I’ve always been impressed by their qualities, though some can be a little hard to define. Sentinels’ variable personality traits – Introversion/Extraversion and Thinking/Feeling – can change the expression of their common ones. Words like grounded and responsible don’t really do them justice. They’re accurate, but they’re not the whole story.
To me, Sentinels feel, I dunno, real. Intuitive types like me often work so hard to reach for a self-created mental image. We sometimes torture ideas and feelings into questionable extremity. Meanwhile, Sentinels seem to live who they are, demonstrating their creativity and capability in a real-world context.
It feels like they’re in the moment with me, and that presence feels good, especially in a work context. They won’t fly away like a balloon when a workday gets a little stormy, and even the quieter ones always seem to be industrious. Sentinels get things done without a lot of fuss and flap, and as an Architect (INTJ) who’s fairly fussy and flappy, I admire that. I want to be a Sentinel when I grow up.
Have you worked with a notable Sentinel personality type? What did you like or find impressive about them? Let us know in the comments below!
Further Reading
- Ever wondered how personality type and different jobs fit together? We look at that in “Sentinel Personality Types and Career Compatibility.”
- Stepping into a new workplace? We’ve got some solid advice on how to survive your first day on a new job, no matter your personality type.
- You can make a fresh start, even if you’re working remotely. Check out “Introverts vs. Extraverts: 10 Ways to Handle Working from Home.”
- Learn about the Sentinel Role, along with some interesting research stats about these personality types.