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{<b><p16>ISTP:  Just Do It<n><p12> }
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{The ISTP is frequently misunderstood and often underestimated. Though very effective at most undertakings, his or her unorthodox way of accomplishing something, coupled with low visibility, often can lead to coworkers' wondering, to quote the Lone Ranger's benefactors, "Who <I>was<N> that masked man?" 

Indeed, the Lone Ranger may be an appropriate symbol for ISTPs. They are frequently described with old cliches -- "still water runs deep," or "a man of few words" -- and they are difficult to read by others and slow to share in public. These qualities (Introversion), coupled with perceptions that are hands-on, tangible, grounded, and very much oriented in the present (Sensor), give the ISTP a somewhat cool demeanor. Decisions are typically objective, impersonal, and analytically driven (Thinking). The ISTP's daily life style is spontaneous, flexible, and spur-of-the-moment (Perceiving), so that no matter what person or event comes along, the ISTP will be inclined to direct immediate attention, albeit privately, to the new set of circumstances. 

Frequently, ISTPs view the process of getting others involved as a waste of time. Participative management can be very difficult for this type. The ISTP is not opposed to it philosophically so much as psychically: Such a management style requires too much energy and effort to accomplish what to them is simple and obvious. It's not that they're lazy. Quite the contrary. It's just that they'd rather be <I>doing<N> than <I>planning<N>. They would rather be producing results than be bogged down in bureaucratic red tape. They would rather be putting out fires than designing fire drills. The tougher the problem and the quicker they can get to it, the better. ISTPs could probably embody the slogan of World War II's SeaBees, a group of engineers that accomplished so much against so many odds: "The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes a little longer." 

ISTP women, like other T women, have a particularly difficult problem with role identity and career fulfillment. Often, when Introverted-Thinking is combined with Sensing-Perception one finds a loner who loves the tactile world of craftsmanship. The very word, reflective of generations past, can hardly be said in the female ("craftswoman") or androgynous ("craftsperson") forms. Indeed, there is little historically that lends itself to affirming the ISTP woman. At the turn of the century, for example, the ISTP was typified by the tool-and-die maker, the self-taught engineer, the tinkerers who played with the early automobiles -- racing them, refining them, constantly handling each part until it was as finely tuned as possible. The grease monkeys, the athletic perfectionists, the oil barons and drillers, the early pilots who flew unpredictable crafts over uncharted courses -- all these typify the ISTP spirit. It is for them that the institutes of technology were born a century ago to sharpen the skills of this craft-oriented type. Little of the above comes close to describing the nurturing, gentle traits often ascribed to females. And when it comes to job choices, there is little here that is readily perceived by the public as "woman's work." 

And yet there are many ISTP women who are capable, competent, and willing to work at many of these highly technical jobs. Over the last two decades, they have increasingly embraced traditionally male occupations, from forest ranger and fire fighter to emergency room surgeon and special police officer. But all of these roles can leave the ISTP woman questioning her own gender identity while simultaneously alienating the males, who may see her as a "turf invader." The ISTP's disdain of routine and flair for the untried are uncharacteristic of women in this society and are generally not well received in a workplace environment bent on structure and schedule. When the ISTP female appears in a male-dominated role - and proves herself to be as competent as her male counterparts -- she sets herself up for endless scorn. Doing "man's work," and doing it better, is not the way to be popular on the job in today's sexist world. It can also raise doubts within the ISTP herself: "Am I normal to like such work? Is there something wrong with me?" She has a need for constant reassurance that the her femininity is not measured by or wrapped up in any particular vocation. Both men and women must understand that one's femininity (or masculinity) is not defined by one's job or competence. 

ISTP women are more likely to see a job as genderless and be drawn by its special thrills or tangible and immediate rewards. But by breaking from societal norms, they find themselves in direct competition with their male colleagues. It is sad that when an ISTP woman excels at work, so far removed from traditional roles, it becomes major news, whether it is a women who gets a court order to become a municipal firefighter or a sports reporter who finds herself in a locker-room dispute. Such overdramatization, while perhaps encouraging to other ISTP women, tends to make the individual the exception instead of the norm for a considered section of the population. Furthermore, with the media involved, sides tend to be taken immediately - men versus women -- and the real occupational desire and the potential contribution of the ISTP gets lost in the process.  

Much as they disdain management theories, ISTPs are uncomfortable with management practice, too. The ISTP's overall management style can be abrupt, direct, and often unorthodox. It's a let's-do-it-and-not-talk-about-it approach to motivating others. The problem, of course, is that many other types need to talk about it before doing it. (Extraverts may want to talk about it <I>ad nauseum<N>.) As such, when ISTPs climb the management ladder, it is only done so long as it seems to be an exciting game. As the game wears thin, so do ISTPs' patience; they will be ready to move on at the slightest provocation. If they stick to it, they'll eventually find some way to upset the applecart, if only for the thrill it. 

In a society that throws out and replaces rather than repairs -- possessions, people, ideas, whatever -- it is difficult to appreciate what skill, exactness, and perfectionism the ISTP brings to life. For the ISTP, the naked eye is a perfect plumb, the ear is the instrument that tunes complex machinery into perfect harmony, the nose analyzes and interprets the various aromas for the florist, the chef, or the gardener. These are accomplishments of the senses, and to rely on some technical machinery for such expertise is to deny the special gifts of the ISTP. 

A strength of the ISTP is the ability to self-start and to work independently. As we've said, they're better independent workers than team players. Their perfectionism combined with their personal integrity results in a job well done with minimal supervision. Generally, projects that allow some flexibility of schedule are readily accomplished. They'll get the job done on time, but not necessarily on your schedule; they do not do well with PERT charts. 

The ISTP's flexibility allows them to adapt easily to unscheduled events that may unglue a more structured type. As long as the ISTP can see the work progressing, interruptions are almost welcome because they keep things from becoming too dull or routine. Change Orders or Project Modification Sheets are frequently met with the response, "No problem." This fits perfectly the ISTP model: flexibility grounded in common sense. 

Still another strength of ISTPs is their ability to amass technical data without being burdened by the need to create outcomes, schedules, predictions, or any of the other results often demanded by the workplace. This makes them excellent as research analysts, albeit somewhat slow to publish results. This is not in conflict with what we earlier described as the ISTP's need to do rather than think or plan. In their endless gathering of data, it is the doing -- the pursuit of information -- that is what's exciting; indeed, the next steps -- analyzing and processing the data - are activities that leave the ISTP cold. We have a colleague who has collected thousands of completed Myers-Briggs answer sheets. While he has scanned them and garnered some fascinating insights from them, he has done practically nothing with that information, and finds little need to do so. (Other types would find this anathema: Extraverts would want the public recognition, iNtuitives would enjoy exploring the possibilities, Feelers would want to use the data to help others, and Judgers would want to wrap the project up and move on.) 

The bugaboos of the ISTP at work can be summed up in three words: routine, administration, and paperwork. Such statements as "We've always done it that way," "We've never done this before," or "This is the way it should be done" are invitations for an ISTP to break the rules or bend the routine just for the thrill of it. While any of the Perceiving types can become bored with administration, ISTPs in particular have trouble seeing the need for such boring work. For the ISTP, files are where you put things you'll never use again, ledgers are for figures you'll never need again, and Day-Timers are where you keep data you never really want. "Life is easy," says the ISTP. "Live it one day at a time and don't sweat the small stuff. Use your time and energy wisely today, and tomorrow will take care of itself." And what kind of paperwork do you possibly need to keep the world in tune -- technically, artistically, and functionally? Paperwork, the ISTP believes, was conceived by someone who wants to keep others from getting things done.

<b>Workplace Contribution:<n>
Solves problems practically and immediately with a calm, clear thinking resolve

<b>Pathway to Professional Growth:<n>
Must learn that the complexity of people and relationships deserves consideration and offers no quick or short-term fix

<b>Leadership Qualities:<n>
Sets an example to act independently and to attend to the needs of the short term,
unencumbered by tradition, procedure, or interpersonal demands

<b>Team Spirit:<n>
Teams are often an irritation and a diversion from effective, practical work which is best done alone}