Personality Zone

Capitalizing on the Guardian’s Style of Intelligence

First in Series of Four

When the career makes use of the type of intelligence of each personality style, everyone benefits.  The individual likes the job better and the company benefits from having an employee who is good at their job.

Guardians have a natural intelligence in logistics – making sure the right thing is in the right place at the right time.  However, natural ability benefits from being exposed to tried-and-true training in logistics skills demonstrated in various majors.  The logistics of performance arts is different from the logistics in computer science.  Guardians benefit when they think of courses in terms of logistical knowledge. All four types of Guardians emphasize different aspects of logistics intelligence. 

Supervisors (ESTJs) have directing logistical intelligence and enjoy a chance to lead.  They have a natural talent for planning and for getting people to commit to action.  They also have a talent for seeing how to get things done more quickly than some other types. They rely on proven methods to be effective. 

Ariceli majored in civil engineering and thought she would have great job prospects.  She was particularly impressed with how much planning needed to go into major engineering projects and how each needed to be planned out ahead of time to keep the project to a tight time schedule.  She thought she would be particularly good at making sure that people kept to an effective schedule.  If you’re a Supervisor, how does your major help develop your directing logistical intelligence?

Inspectors (ISTJs) have sequencing logistical intelligence. They can easily design any process which has steps.  They use their marvelous memory for storing many examples of how things work.  They make sure resources are fairly allotted and preserved.  Their sequencing is so precise that they have an eagle eye for discrepancies and errors and find inaccuracies personally embarrassing.

Lincoln was majoring in computer science.  He liked working by himself.  When he first started writing code, he did it in pieces.  As he learned more, he saw that if he developed subroutine code in a particular linear sequence, it was more effective in achieving his end goal.  He saw how he could develop concise and well-organized libraries that he later could combine in effective ways to make code clearer and more efficient.  In time he was able to look at hundreds of lines of code and spot flaws in logic or syntax.  If you’re an Inspector, how does your major help develop your sequencing logistical intelligence?

Providers (ESFJs) have social logistical intelligence which allows them to promote smooth social relations for everyone.  Providers don’t want anyone to be left out; they prefer social harmony. They are good at planning events and naturally add touches that celebrate social traditions. 

Tim majored in business.  In his freshman year he was instrumental in setting up a study group in his fraternity to help himself and others do well in certain business classes.  He was known in that group for spotting social connections for business opportunities.  Tim’s professors emphasized the need for developing connections to increase the number of good job offers.  Tim took this advice seriously and planned ahead by joining in a business academic club which fostered connections into the business community.  If you’re a Provider, how does your major help develop social logistical intelligence?

Protectors (ISFJs) have preserving logistical intelligence.  Protectors keep both people and things safe.  They don’t like waste.  Protectors will do whatever it takes to make sure there are no problems.  Protectors notice when people are not comfortable and will act to change the situation. 

Dema majored in graphics design.  She’d always been told she was a good artist.  Once she got to college, she wondered if she was creative enough.  Some classmates seemed to spontaneously produce elaborate, eye-catching designs while Dema took the time to plan out what she wanted to do.  Once she had decided what she was trying to communicate to her audience, she could execute it quickly. She took under her wing students who were having problems in any art class and helped the instructor clean up any messes at the end of class. When the college had an exhibition, her graphics were praised for having clean lines and giving the viewer a sense of being at home.  She now has a job offer pending for when she graduates.  If you’re a Protector, how does your major help develop preserving logistical intelligence?

This series on Capitalizing the Type of Intelligence for each personality type continues with Idealists on April 8, Rationals on April 15, and Artisans on April 22.