An intuition personality type refers to someone who prefers to look at the big picture, focus on future possibilities, and make decisions based on their gut instincts or intuition. This is contrasted with sensing personality types who prefer concrete facts, details, and the present moment. Intuition and sensing are two of the main preferences identified by the Myers-Briggs system of personality types.
People with an intuition preference are often described as imaginative, abstract, creative, theoretical, and focused on patterns and meanings. They are more interested in the future than the past and enjoy thinking about possibilities rather than practical realities. When making decisions, they rely more on hunches and intuition rather than facts and data. Their thought process tends to be more spontaneous and nonlinear as they make connections that sensing types may miss.
Some quick facts about the intuition personality:
- Represented by the letter N in Myers-Briggs personality types (ENFP, ENTP, INFJ, INTJ)
- Make up about 25-35% of the general population
- Prefer ideas, patterns, theories, metaphors, symbols
- Think more about possibilities than practicalities
- Focused on the future more than the past
- Enjoy abstract concepts and imagination
- Trust hunches and follow their inspiration
Intuition types thrive when given the freedom to explore ideas and use their imagination. They dislike too many rules and procedures. They are often seen as innovative thinkers who come up with new ways to solve problems. However, they may also be viewed as impractical or unrealistic by more practical, down-to-earth sensing types.
Common Strengths
People with an intuition preference have some common strengths related to their personality:
Visionary Thinking
Intuition personalities have a talent for big picture, visionary thinking. They enjoy pondering ideas, patterns, and meanings and imagining future possibilities. This allows them to be very innovative in developing new theories, solutions, and ideas.
Abstract Problem Solving
These types easily grasp abstract concepts and handle complex theoretical problems. Their nonlinear thinking allows them to see solutions that more linear thinkers may miss.
Creativity
Their imagination and interest in patterns and meanings makes intuition types highly creative. They thrive when given freedom to brainstorm and use their ingenuity.
Open-Mindedness
People with this preference are often very open-minded and enjoy playing with ideas and possibilities. They are willing to embrace innovation and new ways of thinking.
Insight
Intuition personalities often have powerful insights. Their ability to make connections and see patterns can lead to profound realizations and predictions.
Spirit of Innovation
These types naturally think outside the box, challenging conventional wisdom in pursuit of improvement. They drive progress with their instinct for imaginative solutions.
Desire for Growth
People with this preference have a strong desire to grow, learn, and improve themselves. They enjoy developing their knowledge and abilities.
Common Challenges
While having many strengths, some common challenges come with the intuition preference as well:
Dislike of Routine
Intuition types often chafe at too many rules, procedures, and repetitive tasks. They thrive when given flexibility and discretion.
Boredom with Details
They tend to be bored by details, facts, and minutiae. They prefer to focus on interesting patterns, theories, and future possibilities.
Impracticality
With their focus on concepts, imagination, and abstract ideas, they may overlook practical considerations and realities.
Unstructured Approach
Their nonlinear, spontaneous thinking style may result in a scattered, disorganized approach at times. They may lack focus or direction.
Head in the Clouds
Their future orientation and imagination can make them seem unrealistic or like they have their heads in the clouds. Big picture focus can come at the cost of grounded thinking.
Forgetfulness
Intuition types may be so focused on patterns, meanings, and future ideas that they lose track of facts, details, and day-to-day considerations.
Uncomfortable with Routine
Repetitive tasks, excessive rules, and micro-managing may stifle the ingenious intuition style. Too much structure limits their creativity.
Difficulty Focusing
With their open, exploratory thinking style, focusing in on one thing for a long time may be challenging for intuition personalities.
Workplace Strengths
In the workplace, an intuition personality brings many assets to the table:
Innovation
Their ingenuity, abstract reasoning, and comfort with possibilities help intuition types develop creative solutions and innovative ideas. They can envision where the industry or company needs to head in the future.
Change Management
People with this preference often have an easier time embracing change and new directions. They can help motivate and lead adaptation to change initiatives.
Strategy
Intuition personalities have strong strategic thinking skills given their visionary, big picture perspective and ability to grasp abstract ideas.
Problem Solving
These types shine when solving complex theoretical problems. Their capacity for pattern recognition and nonlinear thinking aids them in finding hidden solutions.
Teaching
Their enthusiasm for ideas and possibilities makes intuition types natural teachers. They enjoy developing theories and passing on their insights.
Crisis Management
In moments of crisis or uncertainty, their ability to rapidly take in patterns and insights helps intuition types respond effectively amid chaos.
Culture Building
They often champion innovation, creativity, open-mindedness, and growth in the workplace—qualities that support a vibrant, engaging culture.
Product Development
Intuition personalities have the ingenuity and vision to dream up imaginative new products. Their abstract thinking helps them stand apart.
Workplace Challenges
While gifted in many ways, intuition preferences also come with some potential workplace blind spots:
Impractical Ideas
Their innovative ideas may sometimes lack grounding in practical realities. They may need sensing types to vet and refine visions.
Administrative Tasks
Routine administrative or detail-oriented tasks are not natural fits for their skillset. They may need support completing meticulous work.
Follow-Through
With their focus on possibilities, following through on implementation and execution may be less developed. Turning visions into realities requires discipline.
Organization
Their nonlinear, spontaneous approach may lead to disorganized habits. Strong systems and structures may aid their productivity.
Concrete Skills
Mastering concrete know-how or technical skills may not be intuitive people’s strong suit. Hands-on learning and competencies may require extra effort.
Short-Term Focus
Their future orientation makes it important to balance vision with managing short-term priorities and details. Coaching can assist.
Tolerance for Routine
Boring, repetitive tasks are draining for them. They may neglect important details if forced into too much routine.
Workload Balance
Their curiosity can cause them to take on too many projects. Prioritization and assessing workload limits helps prevent burnout.
Intuition vs. Sensing
To better understand the intuition style, it is helpful to contrast it with its opposite—the sensing preference. Sensing types prefer concrete facts, realism, and hands-on experience rather than abstract ideas and theoretical imagination. Some key differences:
| Intuition | Sensing |
|---|---|
| Focuses on patterns, meanings, connections | Focuses on facts, details, specifics |
| Trusts hunches and insights | Trusts experience and evidence |
| Imaginative, visionary thinking | Practical, realistic thinking |
| Emphasis on future possibilities | Emphasis on present realities |
| Enjoys the symbolic, abstract | Enjoys the concrete, tangible |
| Moves quickly from idea to idea | Moves step-by-step in linear fashion |
As we can see, intuition types leap rapidly among patterns and future ideas while sensing types build carefully from facts and real-world practice. Intuition risks possibilities while sensing values practicality.
Famous Intuition Personality Types
Looking at well-known intuition dominant personalities gives us further insight into this style:
Elon Musk
The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX is known for pursuing big, visionary ideas from electric vehicles to colonizing Mars. He is an archetypal INTJ personality type.
Jeff Bezos
The Amazon founder is another INTJ characterized by intense innovation, abstract strategic thinking, and transformative visions.
Marie Curie
This famous scientist made groundbreaking intuitive leaps in her research that led to advances like the discovery of radiation. She exemplified intuition personality as an INFJ.
Albert Einstein
Considered one of history’s greatest abstract, theoretical thinkers and an iconic INTP personality type.
Mark Zuckerberg
The Facebook CEO is an ENTJ characterized by strong intuitive abilities to read patterns in technology and envision bold new platforms.
Walt Disney
The animator and theme park pioneer was an ENFP known for his endless imagination and creativity in bringing magic to millions.
Nicola Tesla
The prolific inventor and futurist engineer was able to visualize ingenious technologies like AC electricity in his mind’s eye as an INTJ.
Maya Angelou
This visionary poet and civil rights activist used her prodigious imagination and open-mindedness to create inspiring works that transcended her era as an INFJ.
Career Paths for Intuition Types
Some career paths tend to be particularly rewarding for those with intuition preferences:
Creative Fields
Artist, musician, writer, designer—intuition types thrive when tapping into their imagination.
Entrepreneur
Visionaries who start their own innovative companies benefit from trust in their inspirations.
Engineer
Technical fields focused on designing future systems, architecture, and products suit their abstract reasoning abilities.
Strategist
Careers developing long-term plans and solving complex challenges reward their big picture perspective.
Scientist
Research roles focused on theory development, models, and discovering patterns suit them well.
Futurist
Imagining possibilities and where society is headed allows them to leverage their strengths.
Professor
Teaching programs where they can shape curriculum and explore ideas appeals to their interests.
Social/Political Activist
Their passion for growth and improvement drives them to advocate for progress.
Workplace Tips for Intuition Dominant Managers
For managers and leaders with an intuition preference, here are some tips for success:
Value detail-oriented workers who can help ground your ideas. Don’t dismiss practical considerations.
Make sure visions are broken down into actionable steps. Follow-through requires concrete planning.
Set deadlines and due dates to avoid losing track of time or what is needed now versus later.
Don’t give creative team members too much structure. Allow freedom and autonomy to foster innovation.
Prevent burnout in yourself and others by not overloading people with new ideas and projects.
Make time for brainstorming and strategic thinking. Don’t let your days become solely reactionary.
Balance thought and action. Don’t just generate ideas—prioritize and execute a focused plan.
Check in onDETAILS to avoid errors. Have an organized system for following through.
Put someone in charge of logistics and planning while you focus on imagination and possibilities.
Reward those who deliver concrete results, not just creative ideas. Tangible impact should be valued.
Conlusion
In summary, an intuition personality leads with imagination, pattern recognition, and an orientation to future possibilities. This allows for ingenuity, innovation, and a capacity for highly abstract thinking. However, possible blind spots around practical considerations require intuition types to balance with sensing traits in colleagues who excel at details, realism, and hands-on work. With self-awareness and collaboration, intuition personalities have tremendous potential to make visionary contributions using their unique gifts. Organizations need their abilities to imagine what is possible and drive progress through creative thinking.