INTJ & Management Oxymoron?

**Tlalocnj** · 04-28-2008, 12:08 PM

Hello all INTJ's this is my first time so I thought I'd share a short story...

Once upon a time... Long ago... In a galaxy far far away

I started a new job with a small speciality retailer as their network (Cisco not Microsnot) engineer. After several years of implementing really solid technologies for the LAN, WAN, Disaster Recovery, relocating data centers, etc.. I found myself in a rut since technology was no longer a real chanllenge. This is not to say that I am a genious, but it got to a point that no matter what the technology was I would use the same methodical thougt process to design and implement a solution.

So, one day (9 years later) I found myself in a Leadership 360 excercise where I was in a room with a cross section of VP's and Directors challenged to solve a specific business problem. Now I've always assumed these people with the big titles had some mojo magic that allowed them to hold these prestigious positions of management. To my surprise none of these individuals had any "magical" insight to business or special glasses to see the big picture. Since it appeared that no one person wanted to lead this excercise, I went against the "I" and went to the white and started to break down the "business" problem as I would any technical problem and finally wrapped it up into three strategic action items. The lesson learned that day was essentially all problems are the same whether it be technical or business and just because you have a title doesn't mean you have the ability.

Not too long after that my boss was prompted to VP of IT and his position was left vacant. Looking for new challenges I put in for his old position as Director of Technical Services. Now this was a big jump since in the 15 years of my career the most I've ever managed was one person and now I am managing 13 diverse individuals.

I find that I am no longer in my comfort zone where I could easily say I was a self proclaimed king to a place where I am struggling to find my way like a lost beggar, but what's life without challenges. I've found the INTJ prayer to be quite comforting and although I know I have great ideas and passionately believe I can improve the operations I have yet to find a way to deliver that message to the troops in a way they can understand which would drive their support.

One chapter ends until the page turns....

Thanks,

INTJ trying to lead the lost

**rwyatt365** · 04-30-2008, 10:43 AM

Just use that "I" and you won't go (too far) wrong. You know what to do, even if you don't realize it yet.

PS - I'm green with envy over your Directorship, no one has yet to recognize my genius!

04-28-2008, 12:08 PM	#1
Tlalocnj New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	Hello all INTJ's this is my first time so I thought I'd share a short story... Once upon a time... Long ago... In a galaxy far far away I started a new job with a small speciality retailer as their network (Cisco not Microsnot) engineer. After several years of implementing really solid technologies for the LAN, WAN, Disaster Recovery, relocating data centers, etc.. I found myself in a rut since technology was no longer a real chanllenge. This is not to say that I am a genious, but it got to a point that no matter what the technology was I would use the same methodical thougt process to design and implement a solution. So, one day (9 years later) I found myself in a Leadership 360 excercise where I was in a room with a cross section of VP's and Directors challenged to solve a specific business problem. Now I've always assumed these people with the big titles had some mojo magic that allowed them to hold these prestigious positions of management. To my surprise none of these individuals had any "magical" insight to business or special glasses to see the big picture. Since it appeared that no one person wanted to lead this excercise, I went against the "I" and went to the white and started to break down the "business" problem as I would any technical problem and finally wrapped it up into three strategic action items. The lesson learned that day was essentially all problems are the same whether it be technical or business and just because you have a title doesn't mean you have the ability. Not too long after that my boss was prompted to VP of IT and his position was left vacant. Looking for new challenges I put in for his old position as Director of Technical Services. Now this was a big jump since in the 15 years of my career the most I've ever managed was one person and now I am managing 13 diverse individuals. I find that I am no longer in my comfort zone where I could easily say I was a self proclaimed king to a place where I am struggling to find my way like a lost beggar, but what's life without challenges. I've found the INTJ prayer to be quite comforting and although I know I have great ideas and passionately believe I can improve the operations I have yet to find a way to deliver that message to the troops in a way they can understand which would drive their support. One chapter ends until the page turns.... Thanks, INTJ trying to lead the lost
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04-30-2008, 10:43 AM	#2
rwyatt365 Core Member [261%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 10,464	Just use that "I" and you won't go (too far) wrong. You know what to do, even if you don't realize it yet. PS - I'm green with envy over your Directorship, no one has yet to recognize my genius!
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