Commanders (ENTJ) in Retirement: There’s No Slowing Down

The day that someone retires often feels like a fresh start.

And, in many ways, it is. There’s a special kind of freedom that comes from opting out of the demands of a job. In a logistical sense, retirees are free to do whatever they want with their day. But this freedom is also psychological. For the first time, possibly ever, there is no longer any need to adapt their personality to the conditions of working life.

Retirement opens the door for a person to more fully be themselves. From one day to the next, most of the professional and social factors that have shaped how they’ve interacted with the world fall by the wayside. Retirees go through an incredible process of personal growth as they reconnect with who they are, explore their interests, and redefine the relationships that shape their lives.

Commanders (ENTJ) are Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging personalities. They are dynamic and driven leaders who are strategic and efficient both in their thinking and actions. Commanders value order and structure, which helps them accomplish the many goals that they lay out for themselves. These characteristics serve them well in the workplace and help them reach great heights in their career.

But what about retirement for Commanders? How might their personality manifest in life as a retiree?

If you think you’re a Commander but aren’t sure, take our free personality test now and find out.

Retirement Personality Types for Commanders

In the article “What Is Your Retirement Personality Type?,” we describe 12 different “personality types” that retirees might settle into once they’re freed from the constraints of their careers. Out of all of these types, there are three (plus an honorable mention) that Commanders could easily end up settling into: Bucket-Listers, Dedicated Athletes, and Workhorses. These retirement personality types have one thing in common: they allow for the full expression of the ambitious, goal-driven, challenge-seeking nature that so often defines Commander personality types.

Bucket-List Commanders: Tackling Goals One at a Time

Commanders are the most likely personality type to say they have a working bucket list. Throughout their entire life, they’ve likely been consistently checking off both professional and nonprofessional goals. But retirement is their opportunity to go after all of the long-shot dreams that they’ve set aside for later – of which there are probably quite a few.

It’s common for Commanders to put age-based deadlines on these clearly defined dreams, so expect these Bucket-Listers to plan their adventures with dedicated zeal. Among Analysts (the Role group that this personality type belongs to), Commanders are the most likely to say they strive to live life with no regrets. Keeping this in mind, expect them to take this whole bucket-list business seriously. They’re aiming for 100% completion.

Dedicated Athlete Commanders: Going for the Win

Commander personalities are all too aware of how aging impacts their physical and mental health. And because they know that their own actions have an immediate impact on outcomes, there’s a good chance that they are going to do everything in their power to slow down the aging process. Even if they embrace aging as inevitable, they still want to stay sharp and in shape.

Compared to most of the other 16 personality types, Commanders tend to be quite physically active. They certainly appreciate how physical activities push them to challenge themselves, but their ambitious and competitive nature underlies a notable drive to win. They’re among the most likely types to report participating in competitive sports, and they are hungry for victory. Expect Dedicated Athlete Commanders to approach fitness and training like they do everything else – with a sense of purpose, clearly defined long-term goals, and a plan to achieve their lofty ambitions.

Workhorse Commanders: Retirement = More Time to Work

Productivity runs in the veins of Workhorse Commander retirees, and there is nothing that these types can do about it. It’s just who they are. They feel alive when they accomplish everything that they set out to do in a day, which is often quite a lot. Retirement opens up a massive space in their schedule, and they won’t take long to figure out how to fill it. In fact, they’ve probably been planning what to do with all this new “free” time for years.

Don’t be surprised if retired Workhorse Commanders start a new business or take up some energy-intensive, money-generating hobby. They could easily start up a consulting firm, entertain themselves by flipping houses, or grow an insanely productive market garden. These Workhorse retirees choose to work, even if they don’t have to. And despite finally reaching retirement – the epitome of “earned downtime” – they just keep going.

Honorable Mention: Life Coach Commanders

One possibility that retired Commanders might not foresee for themselves is eventually settling into a Life Coach retiree personality. As future-focused and driven as they are, it might seem unexpected for them to become mentors. But despite their extreme rationality, many Commanders consider themselves to have a strong sense of emotional intelligence. As Extraverts, they love connecting with others, and they can’t help but exude an undeniable confidence that they know the best way to overcome any situation.

Because of this, people regularly seek out Commanders for advice, practical guidance, and assistance. And do you know what? Commanders love it. In one sense, it boosts their ego and self-confidence. They appreciate knowing that others consider them to be the best at what they do. But in a more altruistic sense, they feel that passing down their knowledge and experience is a meaningful contribution to society and the legacy that they want to leave behind.

Final Thoughts

Chances are Commanders have never been in a hurry to retire, despite being one of the most likely personality types to be actively setting themselves up to do so. True to their strategic and forward-thinking nature, they take their preparations for this major life change seriously.

But out of all of the personality types, Commanders are the ones who are least likely to slow down after stepping away from their career. They have a lot left to do in life and are looking forward to doing it. With their typical optimism, they confidently take on the complications that retirement can present.

That doesn’t mean that Commanders won’t have any blind spots around retirement that might catch them off guard, but in general, they’re more than ready to start tackling the goals that they’ve set for themselves for this next phase of life. Their adaptability, readiness to take on challenges, and forward-looking nature will continue to be assets as they redefine their role in the world as a retiree.

If you’re a Commander, do you identify with any of the retirement personality types described above? Let us know in the comments below.