6 Hidden Strengths of Turbulent Personality Types

When I first took 16Personalities’ free personality test, it was no surprise to find out that I was 78% Turbulent. I have always been pretty hard on myself, I tend to worry a lot more than I care to admit, and I often find that I am super sensitive when it comes to what other people have to say about me.

Prior to taking the test, I never really had a clear way to describe this part of myself. But once I started digging a little deeper into the Identity scale and what it means to be Assertive or Turbulent, everything started to make sense.

Ironically enough, as I was doing my research, my first instinct was to think about how there had to be a way to become Assertive. In true Turbulent fashion, my mind was racing with ideas for how I could “improve” this part of myself. All I would have to do is stop second-guessing myself and live with a more carefree attitude. Sounds pretty simple, right?

The problem is, that is not how I naturally operate. Of course, just like anybody else, I can work on building my self-confidence and taking things less seriously, but there are some things about my Turbulent trait that are just a part of who I am. And despite the fact that being Turbulent may come with some extra stress and difficulties, I have come to realize that having a Turbulent personality can actually be a very beautiful thing.

This article is all about shedding light on the sometimes hidden strengths of Turbulent personality types. To be more specific, we will dig into six of the strengths that many Turbulent personalities exhibit in their life. (Although there are, of course, many other strengths that these fascinating types possess.)

1. Always Striving for Growth

Turbulent personalities are generally on a journey of self-improvement. From how they show up in their relationships to their career and their hobbies, they tend to be committed to growth in everything that they do.

That is not to say that Assertive types don’t strive for growth. Turbulent personalities just tend to be much more critical of themselves than Assertive individuals are. Of course, this can cause Turbulent types some distress, but their tendency to be self-critical can also be an extremely powerful force that drives them to constantly take steps toward positive change.

In our “Self-Transformation” survey, we ask whether people feel that they are in need of a transformation in their lives. We see that 90% of Turbulent individuals say they are, compared to 80% of Assertive individuals. For both Turbulent and Assertive personalities, it seems like transformation is important. But Turbulent individuals might be slightly more motivated than their Assertive counterparts to transform or grow because they tend to be more aware of their weak spots.

2. Aware of Potential Problems and Risks

Another strength of Turbulent personalities is that they are known for considering potential risks or consequences before making decisions or taking action.

In our “Risk” survey, only 45% of Turbulent personalities say that, overall, regular risk-taking is worth it, compared to 58% of Assertive personalities. This more cautious nature can keep Turbulent types from making rash decisions that might negatively impact them in the future or take away from the success that they desire.

This quality stems primarily from Turbulent personalities’ heightened worry about making mistakes or facing failure. It can be limiting if it stops them from stepping outside of their comfort zone or taking the calculated risks that might propel them toward their goals. But this thoughtful consideration can also protect them when they carefully weigh likely negative outcomes against possible rewards.

3. Known for Thoughtful Preparation

Because Turbulent individuals are prone to considering the potential negative outcomes of their actions, they are also likely to overprepare for big projects, events, presentations, or any other kind of undertaking that they really care about.

It is important to note that this tendency has less to do with Turbulent types feeling the need to plan a detailed itinerary, like Judging personalities tend to do, and more with Turbulent types attempting to predict what could go wrong ahead of time and preparing for the worst. Oftentimes this urge can set up Turbulent personalities to excel in the tasks that they decide to take on, despite any anxiety that they might experience.

Keep in mind, this does not mean that every Turbulent individual out there feels the need to overprepare. Turbulent Extraverts and Turbulent types with the Prospecting trait often prefer to improvise and think on their feet. However, Turbulent personalities might generally feel more confident when they practice beforehand or have a plan of action of some sort.

4. Emotionally Courageous & Authentic

People who have the Turbulent trait generally experience their emotions more often and on a more intense level. Their increased tendency to be emotionally reactive can bring them face-to-face with their raw emotions more often than their Assertive counterparts.

Consequently, Turbulent personalities might be likely to regularly turn inward, evaluate their emotions, and try to understand their root causes. This might also give them the ability to openly discuss their feelings with more awareness and vulnerability.

In our “Head vs. Heart” survey, we ask whether people often talk about their feelings. In the responses, we see that 42% of Turbulent individuals say they do, compared to only 29% of Assertive individuals. Similarly, we see that 35% of Turbulent personalities say they would let themselves cry in front of others, compared to only 26% of Assertive personalities.

To illustrate this, consider this chart on emotional vulnerability:

Turbulent Entrepreneur (ESTP-T) might make a cavalier joke at their own expense after bombing a presentation, while a Turbulent Advocate (INFJ-T) might apologize profusely after getting into a disagreement with a friend. But regardless of how this self-awareness manifests itself, it not only makes Turbulent types more relatable – as we all have flaws, worries, and struggles that we carry with us – but also allows them to represent themselves in a way that is more honest and vulnerable.

In our “Humility” survey, we see that 75% of Turbulent individuals say they are naturally humble people, compared to 64% of Assertive types. Similarly, we see that 81% of Turbulent folks say they often downplay their role in something when they are given credit, compared to 69% of Assertive personalities.

Turbulent personalities’ constant striving for self-improvement and their tendency to experience impostor syndrome might lead them to regularly downplay their achievements and focus more on the areas where they can improve. And this can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can cause Turbulent people to doubt themselves in a way that limits their growth. But it can also be a driving force behind their success when they are striving to be better in all that they do, while still taking the time to recognize how far they have come.

Thriving in Turbulence: Embracing the Upsides

The Turbulent trait tends to get a bad rap, but things in life are rarely black and white. Taking some time to recognize the good in something that’s often misperceived as bad can give us a more balanced perspective and help us appreciate the little things about ourselves, or perhaps the people we interact with, that make us all special in our own right.

Are you a Turbulent personality with another hidden strength? Share your ideas in the comments below!