Keirsey Temperament and Self-Analysis of Christopher Stultz
The Keirsy Temperament assessment returned a profile that I was not expecting, however does
seem to describe me pretty well. I was listed as a Crafter, part of the Artisan family, and my personality
profile was ISTP. Again this was not the profile result I was expected, but that will be discussed later. As
for an Artisan in general, the individuals in this class tend to be fun loving, bold, spontaneous, as well as
optimistic, realistic, and focused on the here and now. Artisans feel at home in the real world, full of
solid objects that they can manipulate. The Artisan family is broken into 4 profiles of individuals, the
Promoter (ESTP), the Crafter (ISTP), the Performer (ESFP), and the Composer (ISFP). I fell into the profile
of the Crafter. Crafters are quick to learn new methods or procedures and then apply them to situations
as they arise. They are also “masters of tools” according to the overview on the Temperament
Discovery Report website. The ability of Crafters to learn techniques to use with new machinery allows
them to operate it with unmatched skill and precision, even if it takes a long period of time. In the final
paragraph of the overview is a line that I feel describes me, and actually made me laugh when I read it.
It states, “Crafters do not "work" with their tools, but rather, "play" with them.” I find myself doing this
all the time.
As a Crafter, I am prone to many interesting behaviors. When placed in a project like situation, I
am likely to accomplish what I think the objective is, get it done as quickly as possible, and focus on
being the best, given my competitive nature. I would also tend to use many tools, whether I am just
learning or heavily experienced, to complete the task at hand. I would also display behavior that may
be intrusive or of over confidence. I tend to want to be “where the action is”, involved in all aspects of
the project, even those which I am not part of. Also, based on the Crafter type, I am likely to spend my
free time “playing” with tools that I have encountered to better apply them and be even more
competitive. I would also tend to find something stimulating to keep my attention, relaxing and
daydreaming are words not in my vocabulary. The more I can do, the more I can learn. When in public
or at a social gathering I tend to do my own thing, go where I want to go. As for relationships, I seek out
low maintenance interactions that allow me to stay independent. However when looking for a
significant other, I would be attracted to those with strengths in areas where I feel week, such as those
that are not as focused or competitive. Also, when I am alone and not focused on “playing”, I find the
need to be with someone overwhelming. I need to be around others, even if not interacting, to feel
comfortable.
The interesting fact about my profile results is that it is different from the results I obtained last
semester in MGMT 326 when I took the MBTI test. I was listed as an ISTJ, which is very similar to the
ISTP that I received this time. I then took the Keirsey test a second time to see what would happen. I
answered questions that I was slightly indecisive about with the opposite answer that I selected the first
time. There were only about 4 or 5 questions I changed and my result was to be profiled as a Guardian
Inspector with the ISTJ designation. During discussions last semester I felt that the ISTJ designation
described me fairly well, as I now feel the ISTP category does. In both cases I am classified as an
introvert, sensor, thinker, with the only difference being with the last letter. Because of this I think I am
more prone to judging, but still close to perceiving, somewhat like riding the fence between the two. As
far as the description of the Artisan Crafter, I feel it matches my perception of my personality quite well.
I am often optimistic, realistic, and focused on the here and now. However, my focus on the here and
now is often part of a long term goal. That is one difference I see from my perception to the description.
I am also at home in the realistic world. A good example of this is in the forms of entertainment I use,
play, and interact with. I don’t tend to watch sci-fi movies or shows, or even play sci-fi games. I am
more often watching movies and shows that are feasible and realistic, such as CSI, ESPN, and action
adventure movies. I play games that are based on real world situations such as sports. However, with
my girlfriend who will be discussed later, I often find myself watching cartoons and animation movies or
shows, an example of attraction to traits opposite my own. I also find it easy to learn new computer
programs, operational procedures, and new machinery or equipment. I use a logical process to
remember what to do by thinking why it’s better. I often don’t read instructions that correspond to
these tools, and would rather learn through experimentation. I also “play” with these tools even after
the demonstration and use has ended. I can remember a certain instance in which I continued to use a
design program for nearly two hours after the class had ended, and continually played with it out of
class for the next few weeks. During my “play time” I was in my own world, but as soon as I stopped, I
found myself searching for others to share my experience with. As for relationships, I feel I match the
Crafter very well. My current relationship is one of low maintenance interactions, which still allow me
to be independent. I have found myself attracted to my girlfriend on a personality level more for her
strengths in areas of my weakness, such as her non-competitive nature and outgoing nature. I often
find it difficult to leave my comfort zone of friends to make new ones, but she seems to do it with little
hesitance. I also feel attracted to her ideas, which are not near as grounded and thought out as mine.
This last situation is where I find myself being the most pessimistic and realistic. I often contradict her
ideas and try to propose more rational, realistic ones. I feel I am more towards the ISTJ than the ISTP
given my perception of self organization, having time framed schedules, and deciding quickly. However,
MBTI states that ISTP are well suited for engineering, which is my area of study, given their ability to
analyze a situation to find the root of a problem, and then swiftly implement a solution.
After reviewing the personality profile for both Artisan Crafters and Guardian Inspectors, and
comparing these to my perceived personality, I feel that I am prone to display many behaviors that
would enhance my leadership capabilities, and a few that would hinder it. For instance, the Artisan
Crafter tends to competitive and focused on the goals of a project. However, the downfall is that
Crafters often overlook the long term for short term accomplishment. I have experienced this first
hand. When I first became involved heavily in group work, I found myself determined to complete the
project and have it better than everyone else’s and was so competitive that I often tried to extend my
part into others. I was not only competitive with other groups, but within my group as well. I also
would focus more on completing the project than recognizing what long term goals were associated
with it. For a specific example, during a class designed to develop and read construction documents, I
would often use the software effectively to develop the project, but would take shortcuts to avoid
spending excessive amounts of time to understand what each command was capable of. The result is
that now, when understanding that software would be more beneficial than being able to follow the
step by step, cookie cutter directions, I need to re-learn the commands. That being said, I also feel that
the use and mastering of tools would be beneficial to leaders. As stated in Global Leadership: The Next
Generation, one of the five emerging characteristics of global leaders is technology savvy. Because
Crafters tend to “play” with the tools and even spend their free time investigating better techniques, it
allows the Crafters to be on the edge of the technology curve. I have again noticed this in my personal
experience as well. While I cannot afford the newest, most advanced pieces of equipment, I often find
myself becoming a walking brochure. I know what the tool does, where you can get it, how much it
costs, and why it makes life easier. I also find myself using new programs and products, either in class or
through free trials, on my course work, even when it’s not required. It may make the problem more
complicated at first, however, it is believed that it will make similar problems easier to solve in the
future. Another downfall that comes to mind is the weakness in developing and understanding ideas
that are “out there”. This often makes brainstorming a very difficult activity, and with new, innovative
businesses developing, a leader will need to think outside the box to gain the necessary competitive
advantage. During brainstorming activities I find myself becoming more pessimistic and trying to
rationalize everyone’s idea. It is hard for Crafters and for Inspectors to generate ideas for quantity
rather than quality, as is required during brainstorming. However, once ideas have been selected the
Crafter and Inspector are often the best to look to. They can review, test, and implement the idea
quickly and with good results, especially in the short term. I also feel that because of my low
maintenance interactions the formality in a business setting is quickly dismissed, allowing more
involved, personal type conversations with fellow employees. This would allow subordinates to be more
open, as they would see a Crafter as a more open, laid back individual. This is quite different in the
Inspector case in which the individual is very rigid and organized, often coming across as bossy. Overall,
I feel that Crafters and even Inspectors would make good leaders, especially given their logical and
critical thought process and desire to be on the cutting edge of technology. Their fallbacks are easily
overcome once they are recognized. I have noticed in my own personal development that once these
fallbacks are identified, I was able to concentrate more on the effort during the activity or situation to
create a positive outcome. I have also noticed that sometimes it’s ok to be bossy and organized, while
other times it’s better to go with the flow and create strong personal relationships.
The chart on the following page details well how each personality type’s strengths aide in
other’s weaknesses. Often personality types that are similar in one aspect, such as cooperation in the
Guardians and the Idealist, are counteracted by differences in thinking styles, such as realistic or
abstract, and in views on time and place. By creating the proper balance of personality types within a
group and with the requirement of sharing leadership, all the weaknesses of any one type disappear.
As for my personality type, much can be improved through leadership sharing, especially with the
Rationales and the Idealists. Their abstract thought process provides new ideas to be tested by the
Artisans. The Rationale’s analysis and planning provide the path for accomplishing future goals, even
though they are skeptical of the future. The Idealist future orientation also keeps the Artisans from
forgetting about what is to come. Artisans are also the most beneficial to the Idealists, in my opinion, as
the realistic approach to problems keep the abstract ideas in check. For example there is no need for an
outlandish, extravagant, expensive solution that has never been done before to solve a problem that has
already been solved with a simple, realistic, time proven solution. Overall, I feel that each scenario is
different and maybe better suited for one type of leader. However, if given the opportunity it may be
beneficial to include ideas and strategies from all types to prevent any one personality from stealing the
show.
Works Cited
Goldsmith, Marshall, Cathy Greenburg, Alastair Robertson, and Maya Hu-Chan. Global Leadership: the Next
Generation. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2003.
"Keirsey Temperament Sorter." Wikipedia. 10 Feb. 2008
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keirsey_Temperament_Sorter>.
Kreiner, Greg. "Leadership and Structure." MGMT 326 Class. Penn State University, PA.
"Psychological Personality Test Results." Advisor Team. 9 Feb. 2008
<http://www.advisorteam.org/user/user.aspx>.