If you’re reading this post, there’s a high chance that you’re trying to work out if you’re an INTJ vs ENTJ personality type. These two types are sometimes confused because they share a number of characteristics. Both types are focused, intellectual, and organized. They also have an incredible ability to foresee how things will play out in the future.
But there are also some core differences between how these types think and experience the world. In this post, we explore these differences. If you’re unclear about your type, we hope this helps you.
So here are five differences between the INTJ vs ENTJ personality types:
1. Communication style.
INTJs and ENTJs are both direct and logic-oriented in the way they communicate. While both have strong opinions and stand up for what they think is right, ENTJs tend to be more outspoken than INTJs.
INTJs tend to speak in a quieter voice and come across as reserved. They listen more than they talk and sometimes drift off because they get caught up in their thoughts.
When having a conversation, INTJs will likely use subtle gestures. In general, INTJs will keep their thoughts to themselves when they first meet people.
Nonetheless, they are genuinely curious about other people’s points of view and when they are interested in a topic, they will ask a lot of questions. INTJs can need time to collect their thoughts and they might not always respond in the moment.
On the other hand, ENTJs tend to speak more loudly. They come across as energetic and enthusiastic. ENTJs often use broad gestures to communicate their thoughts and tend to be comfortable initiating conversations, certainly more so than INTJs.
In addition, ENTJs are generally more comfortable with eye contact. They come across as outgoing but they may take a while to open up.
ENTJs often clarify their thoughts by talking things through, which means their opinions may change quite literally as they are speaking. They may restate their thoughts and will often seek input from others.
2. Making decisions.
INTJs and ENTJs both make decisions based on what makes logical sense to them. This is because they value facts and metrics. In addition, both types feel comfortable when there are measurable milestones.
INTJs tend to take more time to make a decision. Even though there’s a high chance that they know what best aligns with what makes logical sense to them, they prefer to take time to make sure that it’s definitely the case.
Essentially, they need to run each decision through their inner decision-making framework before coming to a conclusion. This is because INTJs are very in tune with their inner world.
ENTJs are more likely to make a decision based on what feels most natural in the moment. They make choices based on similar criteria to INTJs but they are usually quicker to come to a conclusion about how they want to move forward.
This is because they feel less of a need to process their thoughts internally compared to INTJs. That’s not to say that ENTJs don’t think deeply. However, at times, ENTJs can be impulsive. INTJs can make rash decisions too, but it’s a rarer occurrence.
3. Friendships.
Both INTJs and ENTJs value deep, meaningful connections. But they tend to thrive in different situations. INTJs feel most comfortable in intimate settings with a small number of people, whereas ENTJs need to engage with others more often in order to feel their happiest.
INTJs prefer one-on-one interactions with people. Meeting a friend for a quiet coffee or going for a walk in the park suits an INTJ perfectly. They need more alone time too and they can find large groups overwhelming.
This extends to the way they work. INTJs often prefer to work alone and they can find busy offices distracting, especially if they need to concentrate.
It’s fairly rare for INTJs to strike up conversations with strangers and they will often have a small group of close friends.
ENTJs enjoy group interactions more than INTJs. They appreciate deep connections just as much, but they feel more energized from being in a bigger group.
If an ENTJ spends the evening discussing abstract topics with a group of friends over dinner, they’ll come away feeling motivated and full of enthusiasm.
ENTJs feel most comfortable working with other people and they enjoy collaborating. In addition, ENTJs are more likely to initiate conversations with people that they don’t know than INTJs, and they tend to have larger social circles.
4. Openness.
Even though these types are two of the most private personality types, ENTJs are slightly more open than INTJs. This is especially the case when it comes to sharing their everyday lives.
INTJs are particularly difficult to get to know. They can certainly hold a conversation when they want to but they don’t usually give much away, particularly when you first meet them. It might almost seem like they are guarding their thoughts and feelings.
INTJs are private which means they are careful to decide who they let into their inner world. They aren’t necessarily shy, it’s more that they prefer to avoid spending time and energy talking about things that they don’t see as valuable or interesting.
ENTJs tend to be a little more open. They are less cautious about what they choose to give away about themselves on a more superficial level.
However, they are very private about their feelings. Of course, it takes them time to build trust with ENTJs, more so than you might think, which means they won’t be sharing their deepest, darkest secrets with you right away.
But they are more willing to talk about what’s going on in their life, how their work is going, their current passions, etc. This means it’s easier to get to know an ENTJ, at least to a certain level.
5. Solitude.
INTJs need more alone time than ENTJs because they are more sensitive to external stimuli, such as noise and bright lights.
While INTJs value deep connections, they recharge in solitude. Socializing, particularly with large groups or in loud places, can be exhausting for INTJs. They can start to feel drained quite quickly. If they don’t get enough alone time, they tend to become irritable and restless.
ENTJs tend to spend more time with people and interacting with the world than INTJs. However, it’s worth noting that ENTJs need alone time too.
They’re one of the more ‘introverted extroverts’. The main difference is that they are able to spend much longer without alone time than INTJs.
Up until a point, they draw energy from social settings, particularly if the situation involves brainstorming and discussing deep topics.
INTJ vs ENTJ frequently asked questions
So now we have explained the key differences between the INTJ vs ENTJ personality types. Even for those who have explored personality types in depth, it can still be hard to tell the difference between these two types.
Let’s now look at some frequently asked questions about each personality to help make it clearer for you.
Are INTJs vs ENTJs more unconventional?
It’s a tough question to answer, as it really depends on how you define “unconventional.” Overall, it’s fair to say that both INTJs and ENTJs are pretty unconventional in the way they think. They have the ability to come up with new ideas and they have unique thought processes.
Plus, when it comes to social norms and expectations, both INTJs and ENTJs are pretty nonconformist. They’re the type of people who are more likely to march to the beat of their own drum, and they’re not afraid to stand up for what they believe in – even if it means going against the grain.
Where they differ slightly is that ENTJs are more likely to take risks so they can come across as more unconventional to others. INTJs have a more inwardly focused unconventional side.
Are INTJs vs ENTJs more independent?
INTJs and ENTJs are both independent compared to a lot of other personality types.
However, they tend to achieve independence in different ways. ENTJs are often more outgoing and assertive than INTJs, which means they appear more independent in their actions and choices. ENTJs are also less likely to second-guess themselves, which can lead to a greater sense of confidence in their decisions.
INTJs, on the other hand, are more introspective and thoughtful in their approach to independence. They typically take more time to make decisions and may consult with others before taking any action. However, once an INTJ has made up their mind, they can be just as confident and self-assured as an ENTJ. In general, INTJs are more self-sufficient than ENTJs and need less external validation.
Are INTJs vs ENTJs more imaginative?
When it comes to imagination, both INTJs and ENTJs tend to excel. These two personality types are often drawn to fields that combine creativity with logic. They are both highly intuitive and are inspired by the world around them.
Some might say that INTJs are more imaginative because they have a rich inner life. INTJs are more likely to spend time daydreaming and pondering their thoughts. This allows them to come up with creative solutions, but it might take them some time.
Some people might say that ENTJs are more imaginative because they’re always coming up with new ideas and thinking out loud. ENTJs are more likely to be drawn to outside stimulation. They are constantly seeking new experiences and adventures. While this can make them very imaginative, it can also mean that they are less able to focus on one task or project. ENTJs are more likely to be able to brainstorm in the moment.
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If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our individual INTJ and ENTJ posts which delve deeper into each personality type. Also, if you haven’t already, take our free personality test.
Last but not least, you might enjoy our post about INTJ vs. ISTJ.
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