Two weeks ago, I took the Myers-Brigg test and learned that I am an INFP which is (Introvert(41%),  Intuitive(53%),  Feeling(75%), and  Perceiving(22%) which is the rarest type at 2% of the population. I always knew I was special (snicker, snicker). I was highly amused by the 75% percent Feeling assessment because this is me. I am all feelings, and have no problem expressing my feelings, much to the consternation of the people who know and love me.  But how will being all feelings affect my leadership style? Let’s see.

In a direct quote from my assessment, it states “Usually self-expression comes more easily to INFJs on paper, as they tend to have strong writing skills. Since in addition they often possess a strong personal charisma, INFJs are generally well-suited to the “inspirational” professions such as teaching (especially in higher education) and religious leadership. Psychology and counseling are other obvious choices, but overall, INFJs can be exceptionally difficult to pigeonhole by their career paths. Perhaps the best example of this occurs in the technical fields.

Many INFJs perceive themselves at a disadvantage when dealing with the mystique and formality of “hard logic”, and in academic terms this may cause a tendency to gravitate towards the liberal arts rather than the sciences. However, the significant minority of INFJs who do pursue studies and careers in the latter areas tend to be as successful as their T counterparts, as it is *iNtuition* — the dominant function for the INFJ type — which governs the ability to understand abstract theory and implement it creatively.

In their own way, INFJs are just as much “systems builders” as are INTJs; the difference lies in that most INFJ “systems” are founded on human beings and human values, rather than information and technology. Their systems may for these reasons be conceptually “blurrier” than analogous NT ones, harder to measure in strict numerical terms, and easier to take for granted — yet it is these same underlying reasons which make the resulting contributions to society so vital and profound.” (“INFJ Introverted INtuitive Feeling Judging” n.d.)

The above paragraphs really explained to me why I am struggling so hard at my current position. It involves a lot of tech and “hard logic” so I am at a complete disadvantage. It involves math, and I hate math. I know that in this country, you can be anything you want to be as long as you work hard at it, but that is not true. I will never be a mathematician and I am fine with that. As long as I know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, I am perfectly fine.

According to the assessment, the best career choices for me would be working in the humanities and the social sciences, and other occupations such as life coaches, teaching, and creative writing where I could use my natural affinity for wanting to save the world and writing skills to best use. Academia would be a good choice too, which is something that I am contemplating. But nothing in the assessment suggested that a leadership role would be a good fit, which is cool because being a leader is something that I never wanted to do because it comes with too much responsibility and will require me to work with people on a regular basis to which is icky to me these days. And after reading Leadership Matters by Anne W. Ackerson and Joan H. Baldwin, I know that leading a museum would not be a good fit for me occupational wise.

I would love working at a museum, being surrounded by historical books and artifacts, but I would like to do it from behind the scenes, perhaps as an archivist who is the protector of history books and files. Writing historical papers about the figures that have shaped the society we currently live in and making sure that people know their history because we are living in times in which people are attempting to rewrite history because it disturbs their sensibilities.

The main thing that I did gather from this assessment is that I am not a leader but a sort of renegade who likes to work from behind the scene in a safe cocoon, being bothered only when needed or when I want to be bothered. And that is fine with me.