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{<b><p16>INTP:  Life's Conceptualizers<n><p12> }
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{INTPs are free-spirited idea mills and absent-minded professors, which makes them fun to be around, easily diverted, and a plethora of unending creativity. Their love of the abstract is sufficiently deep that it can lead them in the course of the working day through a maze of inventive and challenging programs, policies, products, and processes. 

The INTP's source of energy and favorite turf is inward, reflective, contemplative thoughts (Introversion). Their perception of the world is conceptual, abstract, and random, with endless possibilities (iNtuition), which is used as the basis for objective, impersonal decisions that weigh carefully the cause and effect (Thinking). All of this is translated into a flexible, spontaneous, adaptable, easy-going lifestyle (Perceiving). 

The INTPs' iNtuitive-Perceiving nature frequently leads them astray in the pursuit of new adventure, which can interfere with their need for time to be alone and think. For the INTP it's hard to stay removed and reflective in one's internal world when the outer world is so full of ideas and possibilities. The INTP is a very heady, conceptual type, whose ideas can be pure genius. Sometimes these ideas get lost because INTPs tend to rework them continually and don't always share their latest thinking. 

Both male and female INTPs face gender issues, albeit very different ones. The female INTP often finds herself between the proverbial rock and a hard place, in which her traditional demands are juxtaposed with her natural preferences. For example, at one extreme INTPs can be somewhat independent, anti-authoritarian, argumentative, sometimes shy and socially awkward (depending on the strength of their Introversion), and not particularly given to most of society's customs and traditions. They are not against any of those traditions; it's just that in their absent-mindedness, they often can appear disrespectful of some basic social gesture or observance. Coupled with the Introverted-iNtuitive-Thinker's propensity for intellectual arrogance and impatience, you can imagine the trouble in which the INTP woman can find herself. 

Generally, before any INTPs seek to engage someone in a particular subject, they will likely have done their homework. They do it for at least three reasons. First, they would not want to appear incompetent. Second, "homework" -- research, reading, getting one's ducks in a row - is something INTPs enjoy and do very well. Third, in such an engagement INTPs want to present an impressive point of view that reflects intellectual prowess. Though the INTP woman wants to excel at all of the above, none of this is perceived as "womanly" by others. The dilemma is compounded when the INTP woman appears intimidating and even condescending to others. In any intellectual engagement the INTP woman is likely to win her case, but may pay a price in the form of alienating others. 

In a system that does not reward Introversion -- and in fact is distrustful of it -- the situation may be compounded when the Introvert is female. While it can be intimidating to encounter anyone who is intellectually astute, cool, and aloof, it is especially unnerving when the individual is female and appears more scientific and studied rather than soft and solicitous. 

Male INTPs may have a somewhat easier go of it because being cool and aloof is more in line with expected male behavior. Yet being true to type can still cause problems. Their easy-goingness and conceptual spaciness, for example, can put them at odds with the Thinking-Judging management style of most organizations. There's always some reprimand in order about the INTP being more grounded and less "out to lunch." "Stop daydreaming and get back to work!" and "I'd like to see you show a bit more respect for rules and regulations," are two common demands made of INTPs. 

Other problems stem from their lack of social awareness. While all INTPs are uncomfortable socially, this is more pronounced among males; INTP women seem to get through social encounters somewhat more easily. INTPs may find themselves at odds with coworkers for their lack of enthusiasm for organizational parties and other social events. It's not that they don't want to attend these things -- they may find them tolerable, maybe even enjoyable -- but when the events continue for too long or, worse yet, don't include any deep or meaningful dialogue, the INTP sees them as a waste of time. So INTPs would rather just keep on working, finding "meaningful dialogue" in their own inner thoughts. Both male and female INTPs may end up feeling guilty for having forsaken their social duty in favor of their own Introverted needs, perhaps not having satisfied either. While feeling true to themselves, they may be thinking, "I've screwed up again." 

At work, INTPs are sources of ideas and inspiration who often work most effectively on their own. They are generally creative and given to high energy and to occasional bursts of fun. They are not beyond dropping everything to join in on some new project or brainstorming session. They can be somewhat frustrating if one expects too much detail or attention to the bottom line. Time constraints are not top priorities for INTPs, and they may find themselves stretching deadlines from time to time. All life -- including work -- is an intellectual challenge to the INTP. Things need to be thought through thoroughly before being undertaken, and then perhaps thought through one more time. INTPs prefer that words and arguments be formed with clarity and precision. They have little patience for those who talk out of both sides of their mouth, or who make small talk, or who reflect theoretical inconsistency -- being both in favor of capital punishment and against war, for example. Such inconsistencies, when encountered in a dialogue, may bring forth an immediate -- and very surprising -- eruption from the INTP. 

INTPs are easy to work for and with and enjoy banter, independent thinking, and especially self-directed projects. All life is learning for iNtuitive-Thinkers in general, and the INTP embodies this most completely. Therefore, anything that can develop one's intellectual awareness has some value. From hands-on mechanics to proposal writing, it's one opportunity after another to learn, improve, and grow. Such drive is behind most of the efforts an INTP directs toward anything. 

One of the strengths of the INTP is a penchant for independent thinking, both in themselves and in others. To be able to develop something from scratch and think it through from beginning to end by oneself is a sign of real maturity. To command ideas logically and consistently is a work of art. The great theories of all time, from relativity to personality, evolution to thermodynamics, Parkinson's Law to Murphy's Law, probably had their incubation in the mind of an INTP. Even if your idea is harebrained, seemingly impossible, or even totally wrong, if in the process of developing it you have reflected good logic and verbal expression, then it is worthy of being listened to, according to the INTP. Moreover, in doing so you will gain the respect, perhaps even the friendship, of the INTP. However, the closer a friend you are, the greater the likelihood that your intellectual chain will be yanked by the INTP, because friendship will probably be defined as a mandate to challenge each other intellectually. 

A second strength of INTPs is their clarity of thought and word, which accompanies most of what they do. INTPs are the natural writers and editors of life, who paint pictures with words. Their capacity to say exactly what's on their minds, and to help others do so, is a talent not readily matched by other types. The mind of an INTP is a steel trap, always tracking a conversation and restructuring it into perfect expressions. They can often repeat exactly what another person has said, even months later. Should one try to fend them off with an idle promise -- "We'll talk about it later" -- the INTP will undoubtedly be back "later" reminding the individual of his or her promise. 

Still another strength of INTPs is their vision and enthusiasm for whatever is being undertaken. Sometimes their Introversion may block them from expressing all of what is going on inside them about a particular issue. However, they can usually take the general thoughts expressed by others and translate them into an inspiration and vision that motivates others. It is a real talent to see the ordinary for what it is. It is the gift of the INTP to add to the ordinary so that it becomes extraordinary. Day-to-day jobs become far more fulfilling when they are reframed by INTPs as integral parts of an organization's mission. If INTPs are given a moment to get their thoughts in order, their encapsulation may well be artfully stated. An INTP may view this process as natural; to others, it's seen as "inner vision." 

Perhaps the first and most serious shortcoming of INTPs is a direct result of their strength in the extreme: a failure to translate their rich inner concepts into meaningful action. It is not uncommon for an INTP to perform a job from beginning to end -- but only in his or her mind. Whether assigned to write a request for a proposal or design a heater valve, the INTP will start by gathering all the data necessary to do the job -- reading, listening, investigating, or questioning others. But the next step -- translating this research into a report, drawing, or plan -- may never actually happen. The INTP may well have thought it through thoroughly, and in the process even become excited about it, and then, having <I>thought<N> it through to completion, can safely lay the matter to rest. Moreover, he or she will lose interest in any further pursuit of it, having likely moved on to some new project. Clearly this lack of follow-through can be extremely frustrating to those who were counting on the INTP's tangible results. For their part INTPs can get frustrated, too, knowing that the job is incomplete, but having little or no motivation to complete it. 

Another INTP weakness is their social awkwardness. The INTP can exhibit wide swings, from genuine interest in a few special people to near total disdain for just about everyone else; INTPs may even be aware that this is happening. At times their keen interest in intellectual pursuits may draw them to one or more individuals, but such bonds can be easily broken should the intellectual focus move on to others. When confronted about their apparent fickleness, the INTP will likely deny it, act surprised, and promise to make amends, but it is unlikely that anything different will happen. It's simply part of being an INTP to gravitate to where the intellectual action is. 

A third weakness of INTPs can be their low grasp of reality. Like other iNtuitives, and especially iNtuitive-Perceivers, INTPs can become very removed from the practical and realistic side of life. As a result deadlines get stretched, half-truths get told, and they can appear variously rigid or flaky when it comes to dealing with specifics. Moreover their behavior can become anything from loud and obnoxious to pensive and withdrawn. Such behavior will become more pronounced when INTPs are increasingly under the gun to translate their rich mental ideas into tangible results. 

The very intellectual basis of most of our life would not exist were it not for the INTP. Whether as teachers of higher education, scientists, editors, or computer programmers, they are the architects of our ideas. INTPs provide the conceptual framework by which manuals, organizational procedures, and even work assignments are translated and put into action.

<b>Workplace Contribution:<n>
Uses cleverness and independent thinking to problem-solve and reinvent, and in an easygoing, unassuming manner prods organizational change and improvement  

<b>Pathway to Professional Growth:<n>
Must learn that connecting and communicating with other people is important--great solutions and ideas are adopted and enacted through personal relationships

<b>Leadership Qualities:<n>
Creates and works toward a vision and a better solution and allows others to follow at their own pace and ability

<b>Team Spirit:<n>
Teams are okay if they allow members to enter on their own terms and contribute as each sees fit - the best visioning and problem solving, however, people do in isolation}