Following on from out tutoring MBTI tips for each MBTI type is our Coaching tips for each of the MBTI personality types.

Coaching tips for each MBTI personality type

It follows, then, that the best way to maximize our output in a WFH environment is to better know our personalities—and those of our dispersed colleagues.

An efficient (and intriguing) way to manage this personality wrangling is via the tried-and-tested Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Generally regarded as one of the most accurate personality tests out there, the MBTI is widely applied within the business world, with 89 of the Fortune 100 companies utilizing it.

THE 16 PERSONALITY TYPES

Based on Carl Jung’s Theory of Psychological Types, the MBTI is a self-reported personality survey that has been around in various shapes and forms since the 1940s. Respondents answer a series of simple questions about their feelings and preferences, eventually aligning with one of 16 personality types.

Each of these types is identified by four letters, starting with an E or an I (for extrovert/introvert) followed by S or N (sensibility/intuition), T or F (thinking/feeling), and finally a J or a P (judgment/perception). Each type also has a descriptor, e.g., “the analyst,” to further characterize the personality type in action.

Once you know your team members’ types, the thinking goes, you can better assign them to projects which match their preferences, proficiency, and proclivities. You can also communicate more effectively if you have a better idea of how people process information.

Coaching MBTI personality types

Remote working ISTJs coaching tips

ISTJs are well organized, which is a major asset in a remote working environment.

 They don’t need much management or checking up on, just email them a to-do list at the start of the week, and you can trust them to quietly get on with it. They’d also be the perfect type to organize and streamline any shared space online, from Dropbox to Google Docs.

remote team personality types

Coaching tips for remote working INFJs

INFJs are excellent judges of character, so it would be a major asset to have them sit in on virtual interviews. Just don’t put them centerstage in any Zoom meetings if you can avoid it: They don’t thrive on attention, and work far better behind the scenes.

Remote working INTJ coaching tips

INTJ’s are usually more comfortable communicating by text, so they’ll often need to be nudged into picking up the phone or jumping on a Zoom call when it’s more beneficial. 

They’re extremely deadline-focused, but there’s also a danger they can rush to hasty decisions, particularly without colleagues nearby to check their impulses. Sometimes INTJs need to be reminded to stop for a second, take their time, and let ideas germinate, rather than just rushing straight at them.

remote worker personality types

Coaching tips for remote working ISFJs

 ISFJ’s typically display incredible attention to detail, so they’re great for checking over others’ work, editing shared documents, or looking over pitches and proposals at the final stage.

 They’re also very good at following rules and inspiring others to do the same, so put them in charge of any time tracking software you use—and watch them increase the efficiency of the entire team.

Remote worker ISTP tips

ISTP’s will feel the impact of missed day-to-day interactions with their teams most of all, so they’ll benefit from scheduled one-on-one digital meetings to maintain drive and focus. 

They’re the team member most likely to turn off their camera in a meeting, open another window, and start surfing the net—so they do need to be managed.

remote team personality types

Coaching tips for remote working ISFPs

ISFP’s live in the moment and can become completely wrapped up in their work. 

Working from home and without colleagues physically monitoring them, they can burn out quite easily, so need to be reminded to take an hour for lunch and finish the working day at a reasonable time. Their energy is an asset, but it sometimes needs to be harnessed and directed in the right direction by others.

remote worker INFP coaching tips

INFPs tend to have very deep-seated values, which can cause problems because frustrations can stew when they’re offended. 

This is amplified when working remotely as grievances can linger for longer, so managers need to encourage them to get any concerns out into the open. 

Otherwise, the key to getting the best out of this group is to encourage and reinforce meaning in their work. In other words, if their projects align with their values, this group can be an unstoppable force.

INTP Coaching tips for remote workers

INTP’s enjoy having the freedom to do things in an original way and to be listened to, because they come up with the smartest solutions.

Their weak spot is that they often neglect to share decisions and solutions. That trait can become even more pronounced when working from home if there’s an INTP on your team, encourage them to use shared documents and software as much as possible.

remote worker ESTP COACHING TIPS

ESTP’s can be quite impatient, so give them a day’s worth of tasks in a project tool rather than any long-term targets. They’re also often very good at firefighting because the thrill of the moment is exciting to them. As a general rule, Entrepreneurs are great at thinking outside the box, so don’t put them inside one by stifling their creativity.

Coaching tips for ESFP remote worker types

ESFP’s like to sparkle in front of others, so remote working can drain them. Wherever possible, get them involved in videos, voiceovers, podcasts, or any project that involves creative performance. They’ll also be superb in remote pitches, as they’ll bring persuasive energy which could otherwise be lacking via computer screen.

remote worker ENFP type coaching tips

ENFP’s excel at both idea-generation and collaborative projects, so they’d be a major asset in brainstorming sessions and any big picture thinking. Their weakness is that they’re not the best starter-finishers, so deadlines can be an issue. 

That can be exacerbated when working remotely when they don’t always see messages or respond quickly enough to colleagues. As a result, they often need gently managing in order to realize their high creative value.

Coaching tips for ENTP type remote workers

ENTP’s are very good at debating, so play to their strengths. This group tends to be great on new ideas and products, as well as bigger discussions about how to move the business forward. 

They’re also adept at impressing clients and pitching for new business, so you want them on any game-changing Zoom calls. You just might need to remind them to mute themselves occasionally. Since, if unchecked, they may dominate conversation.

remote worker personality type ESTJ coaching tips

ESTJs love to organize themselves, other people, and the world around them, which can be an asset but can also come across as bossy and aggressive. 

In particular, when they’re dishing out instructions without any face-to-face contact. They often need to be reminded to be tactful with others, particularly in an environment where they’re primarily communicating via email or messaging apps, leaving their sentences open to greater interpretation.

remote team personality type ESFJ coaching tips

ESFJ’s make the best project managers, because people love working for them. They’re organized, as well as thoughtful, so are ideal for bringing projects together on time. Thanks to their caring, patient nature, they’d also be a strong choice for remote onboarding of new starters.

remote worker personality type ENFJ coaching tips

Who they are: ENFJ’s tend to forget their own needs in favour of the greater good, and that can sometimes be detrimental. Not just in terms of burnout, but also when completing their own tasks. However, with this group, the positives vastly outweigh any negatives.

It’s always a good idea to have Protagonists lead group discussions, even if they’re not in a leadership role because they excel at it. They should be your go-to Zoom meeting host. At the heart of any situation involves discussion, consensus, and the bringing together of people and ideas.

remote team personality type ENTJ coaching tips

 ENTJ’s naturally like big pictures and big decisions, and that can create problems when working from home. They don’t always see the finer details when implementing plans. In a remote working environment, that puts them at greater risk of pushing through decisions without properly taking in the views of others. 

remote worker personality types