When it comes to the workplace, people with the ISTP personality type (Virtuosos) don’t typically seek jobs that will take them too far out of their comfort zone (though what’s within their comfort zone can have a surprising range), and they prefer to work with as little social interaction as possible. But with some breathing room and a hands-on problem to solve, ISTPs can be some of the most productive people around.

As with anyone, forcing people with this personality type into a mold that doesn’t fit just doesn’t work. Recognizing their unique perspective and gifts can lead to extraordinary results.

ISTP Subordinates

As subordinates, what ISTP personalities crave most is a little wiggle room. They are happy to stick around with surprising loyalty as long as their employers and their managers don’t try to force them to commit to anything that can’t be undone the next day. Strict rules, guidelines, and formal agreements make them feel cramped and bored. If their habits or methods come under criticism or are forced to change, they can also be surprisingly mulish.

Something that’s likely to make their day is a random, manageable list of things that need to be fixed or dealt with. ISTP personalities have a talent for conserving their energy for just such an occasion and can tackle such a laundry list with efficiency and ease.

ISTP Colleagues

If you’re expecting people with the ISTP personality type to be the life of a party or the ones organizing social gatherings at work, you’ll be disappointed. Reserved but often bold, these individuals need space as they work. They generally prefer to keep to themselves and socialize only when necessary. That said, from time to time they enjoy peeking in on others’ work to see if there’s anything interesting going on.

ISTP personalities are often much more liked by their colleagues than they would expect despite the fact that they are not naturally emotional or empathetic – or maybe because of this. However, they can still run into problems when their blunt way of communicating leads to misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Taking them at face value goes a long way.

ISTP Managers

ISTP managers treat their subordinates as they’d like to be treated: with minimal talking and fairly loose boundaries. People with this personality type aren’t big on chattiness or emotional expression, and more sensitive types may see them as cold and distant – effusive praise and backslapping just isn’t in their nature.

In fact, there isn’t likely to be a lot of feedback at all from ISTP managers, good or bad. But when problems do arise, they are great listeners who devise practical, fair, and impartial solutions.