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{<b><p16>ESTJ:  Life's Natural Administrators<n><p12> }
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{More than most other types, the ESTJ is the proverbial Jack-of-all-trades. Given to accountability, responsibility, productivity, and results, this type is remarkable at just about anything they do. You can find them in leadership positions in a cross-section of professions, from law and medicine to education and engineering. 

Outgoing, gregarious, usually quite direct, and very upbeat to be around (Extraversion), ESTJs see the world in terms of hands-on, practical, realistic situations (Sensing). Those perceptions are to be translated into objective, nonpersonal, analytical decisions (Thinking) and freely imposed upon anyone within earshot (Judging) -- always for someone else's good, of course. 

This combination of preferences gives ESTJs a propensity for seeing a situation as it is and moving themselves and others to develop a series of procedures, rituals, or regulations that will not only take care of the situation at hand but will also provide a framework for any future similar situations. It is this special combination of hands-on perception and analytical judgment, focused outward and set in a lifestyle of structure, schedule, and order, that makes the ESTJs the administrators of the world. If you want a job done, a regulation established, a system implemented, or an ongoing program evaluated, call on an ESTJ to manage it. 

If anything gets them into trouble, it tends to be their EJ attitude toward life, a type given to freely expressed opinions. They can be surprised when others see things differently, and that can lead to some hearty, even abrasive, arguments. From the ESTJ's perspective, it's an open-and-shut case. Having packaged the argument so neatly and precisely, how could anyone possibly disagree? Indeed, from an ESTJ's perspective, most intelligent people would want to get "on board" and take advantage of the ESTJ's homework. 

As a general rule ESTJs will rise to the top of almost any organization. When this isn't the case, it's usually because their EJ orientation has alienated others or their argumentative nature has made enemies of someone higher up. If they manage to keep this behavior in check and can show their expertise without accompanying impatience toward those who do not readily see how capable they are, then they are a natural to achieve leadership roles. They often do well academically, which allows them to carry the proper credentials, and they use those credentials in a very authoritative way, demanding respect. If Joe or Jane Smith has earned a Ph.D., and you were to address him or her as Mr. or Ms. Smith, you would be instantly corrected: "That's Doctor Smith." (Similarly it's the ESTJ who will identify himself as "Capt. Joseph E. Smith III, USN, Ret.") ESTJs command -- and demand -- respect from others, and they give it to others when appropriate. 

ESTJ women face particular and unique problems. We've said all along that T women swim upstream because life in general, and the workplace in particular, does not look kindly upon objective, hard-thinking females. In this case, as Extraverted-Thinking types, they are not only objective in their decision making, they are also up-front and outgoing about those decisions -- often to the intimidation of many. 

Complicating matters are the two conflicting roles suggested by the ESTJ's four preferences. On the one hand their Extraverted-Thinking management style is to "take names and kick ass." On the other hand, their Sensing-Judging preferences call upon them to be traditionalists. For women, the "tradition" is for them to be caretaking, nurturing defenders of home and hearth. That they instead are top dog within some organizational structure flies in the face of that tradition. The result is an ongoing war raging within some ESTJ women between what they would like to do (be leaders at work) and what they "should" be doing (taking care of the kids at home). Some women compensate at work by dressing and behaving in a way that is ultrafeminine: wearing lots of lace and pink outfits, being soft-spoken, appearing petite, and using flowing handwriting. However dressed, the female ESTJ's inner conflict can manifest itself in a variety of mixed signals. For example, she may proffer a direct and harsh command with a soft-spoken voice or dole out a compliment in a seemingly cold, offhand way. Such comments may be perfectly acceptable when coming from a male. When done by a female (especially one dressed in frilly pink), they not only raise eyebrows, they also tend to affirm self-doubt, insecurity, and ambivalence within the ESTJ herself. 

Should an ESTJ overcome this internal tug-of-war, and should she find acceptance within the workplace, the ESTJ woman will demand the same respect as her male counterpart. If so, there's nothing to say that ESTJ women can't be just as effective at any of the professional areas to which they may gravitate. 

Because they are more common than any other type -- in the United States there are more Extraverts, Sensors, Thinking males, and Judgers -- ESTJ males fit most of the corporate norms, even the statistical ones. They tend to be white, male, appropriate dressers, trustworthy, loyal, reverent, and to possess most of the other Boy Scout traits. To them such norms underscore their belief that "that's the way life should be," an attitude they freely impose on others. 

Because ESTJs are take-charge types with very high control needs and because of a severe sense of accountability, they do not cope well when things do not go as planned. They have no tolerance for disorganization, tardiness, sloppiness, or inappropriate behavior (as defined by the ESTJ). All are invitations for a barrage of criticism. ESTJs have a short fuse when anything suggests they are losing control. The ESTJ can become loud, rigid, domineering, and can induce a great deal of stress on anyone nearby. (As a rule ESTJs are ulcer givers, not ulcer getters.) Not that this is malevolent. Indeed it is intended to further what seems to be a self-ordained mission to keep the world running and to keep people doing what they should be doing. 

Because of this, ESTJs can have real trouble listening to subordinates, or anyone else whom they define as unqualified to render an opinion. This includes children and others outside the chain of command. ESTJs understand how the bureaucracy functions and work it to the max. 

The ESTJ's chain-of-command mentality may produce behavior that on the surface seems inconsistent with the ESTJ's everyday style. Hard-charging, take-charge, high-ranking ESTJs can appear almost milquetoast at home or in social gatherings. Once the ESTJ decrees that the home is the spouse's turf (or the party is the host's turf), that spouse (or host) is in charge. According to the chain of command, the spouse (host) should give the orders, and the ESTJ will follow quite obediently. Hours later, back at work, it is once again time to turn the tables and take over. What is important to realize is that neither of these seemingly contradictory behaviors is inconsistent with being an ESTJ. 

Their innate compulsivity makes it difficult for ESTJs to relax. It's been said that they are capable of turning reading into a competitive sport. In later life this can manifest itself in a variety of stress-related health problems and make retirement difficult and intimidating.  As they progress through life -- and up the organizational ladder -- ESTJs would do well to mellow themselves by exploring areas contrary to their everyday styles and experiences -- for example the soft sciences, such as psychology and sociology, as well as literature, art, and music. All may provide insights and inspiration that can help ESTJs respect others' points of view and to appreciate that there is more to life than compulsive deadlines.

<b>Workplace Contribution:<n>
Drives to take charge, to see the practical facilitation of a task and to complete it with dispatch and skill

<b>Pathway to Professional Growth:<n>
Must learn to be less hard charging by listening to and allowing alternative viewpoints

<b>Leadership Qualities:<n>
Takes charge, demands loyalty, pushes hard to accomplish a task and tells it like it is

<b>Team Spirit:<n>
Teams are an effective tool for task accomplishment as long as they are well managed and people's roles and goals are defined}
