ESTJ

The Supervisor

The ESTJ personality type is Extraverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging, which means they are energized by time spent working with others, are practical and detail oriented, make decisions based on logic and past experience, and value organization, efficiency, and hierarchy. Disciplined, decisive, and dutiful, ESTJs are eager to take responsibility and they deliver a job well done. They are direct, and honest communicators, but they can appear harsh and become impatient with others’ emotions. ESTJs trust structures of authority and feel personally responsible for upholding the laws, rules, and regulations that they feel keep society running smoothly.

What Is an ESTJ Personality Type?

ESTJ is an acronym used to describe one of the sixteen personality types created by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers. It stands for Extraverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging. ESTJ indicates a person who is energized by time spent with others (Extraverted), who focuses on facts and details rather than ideas and concepts (Sensing), who makes decisions based on logic and reason (Thinking) and who prefers to be planned and organized rather than spontaneous and flexible (Judging). ESTJs are sometimes referred to as Supervisor personalities because they tend to take charge and make sure things are done correctly.

ESTJ in a Nutshell

ESTJs are hardworking traditionalists, eager to take charge in organizing projects and people. Orderly, rule-abiding, and conscientious, ESTJs like to get things done, and tend to go about projects in a systematic, methodical way.

ESTJs are the consummate organizers, and want to bring structure to their surroundings. They value predictability and prefer things to proceed in a logical order. When they see a lack of organization, the ESTJ often takes the initiative to establish processes and guidelines, so that everyone knows what's expected.

ESTJ Values and Motivations

ESTJs are conventional, factual, and grounded in reality. For the ESTJ, the proof is in the past: what has worked and what has been done before. They value evidence over conjecture, and trust their personal experience. ESTJs look for rules to follow and standards to meet, and often take a leadership role in helping other people meet expectations as well. They concern themselves with maintaining the social order and keeping others in line.

ESTJs often take on a project manager role at home as well as at work, and excel at setting goals, making decisions, and organizing resources to accomplish a task. The ESTJ wants to achieve efficient productivity and typically believes this is best accomplished when people and systems are well organized.

How Others See the ESTJ

ESTJs command a situation, with the sense that they know how things should go and are ready to take charge to make sure that it happens. They are task-oriented and put work before play. Confident and tough-minded, the ESTJ appears almost always to be in control. ESTJs appreciate structure and often begin to organize as soon as they enter a room. They want to establish the ground rules and make sure everyone does what they’re supposed to. ESTJs are often involved in institutions: clubs, associations, societies, and churches, where they usually take a leadership role. They typically connect with others through sharing ritual and routine. Social interaction for ESTJs often means following an established tradition to engage with others in a structured way. ESTJs tend to respect and seek out hierarchy. They want to know who’s in charge, and will assign levels of responsibility if none exist. Once a structure is in place, ESTJs typically trust authority figures and expect obedience from people of lower rank.

How Rare Is the ESTJ Personality Type?

ESTJs make up:

9% of the general population
11.3% of men
7% of women

Famous ESTJs

Famous ESTJs include:

Colin Powell
Judge Judy Sheindlin
Michelle Obama
Martha Stewart
Alec Baldwin
Dr. Laura Schlessinger
George Washington
Sandra Day O’Connor
Mike Wallace
Vince Lombardi

ESTJ Quotes

"The ESTJs solve problems by expertly applying and adapting past experience. They like work where they can achieve immediate, visible, and tangible results."

- Isabel Briggs Myers, Gifts Differing

"These Supervisors are eager to enforce the rules and procedures, and they can be serious about seeing to it that others toe the mark—or else face the consequences."

- David Keirsey, Please Understand Me II

"As a general rule ESTJs will rise to the top of almost any organization."

- Otto Kroeger, Type Talk at Work

Facts About ESTJs

Interesting facts about the ESTJ:

On personality trait measures, likely to score as Contented, Energetic, Prejudiced, Self-Satisfied, and Practical
More likely than other types to exhibit Type A behavior
Of all types, scored highest in coping resources (with ENFP)
Ranked 3rd highest in marital satisfaction among all types
Among top four types in college GPA
Least likely of all types to think about suicide in college
Among most likely to stay in college
Among types most satisfied with their work
High-ranking personal values include Health, Financial Security, Achievement, and Prestige
Overrepresented among bank officers, financial managers, and business owners

ESTJ Hobbies and Interests

Popular hobbies for the ESTJ include building and repairing things around the home, gardening, volunteering, community service, and playing and watching sports.

Molly Owens

Molly Owens is the founder and CEO of Truity. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley and holds a master's degree in counseling psychology. She began working with personality assessments in 2006, and in 2012 founded Truity with the goal of making robust, scientifically validated assessments more accessible and user-friendly. Molly is an ENTP and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she enjoys elaborate cooking projects, murder mysteries, and exploring with her husband and son.