ISTP Weaknesses

Although ISTPs have many wonderful skills and strengths that can benefit everyone around them, they also have blind spots that can negatively impact them if left unchecked. If ISTPs don’t learn to manage or overcome potential areas of weakness, their strengths may be overshadowed and their positive impact dampened.

ISTPs are logically-minded, even in emotional circumstances. They may not always be acutely aware of the impact their words or actions have on others’ feelings, which means they’ll likely offend other people sometimes. However, with practice, they can work on being more self-aware and softening their approach with others. 

Because ISTPs tend to avoid planning things out, they also have difficulty setting their sights on a long-term goal. Instead, they often seem to just follow a path to see where it leads, rather than leading themselves toward a big goal. When a long-term goal becomes important for them to work toward, ISTPs should learn how to do the work along the way, rather than putting it off.

Their natural spontaneity often keeps them too comfortable with the idea of risk, which means they may not have the strongest grasp of every risk they’re taking. In order to prevent this from causing damage, it’s important that ISTPs make a conscious effort to spend a little more time thinking through decisions.

Because they feel they need to be ready for unexpected excitement at any time, they can have a tendency to struggle with making firm commitments to other people. However, when these commitments matter to friends, family, or coworkers, ISTPs should learn to stick by a promise, even if it may make them uncomfortable.

When ISTPs make the effort to recognize and overcome their blind spots, they can take steps toward self-improvement. Implementing small changes, one at a time, can lead to major growth and long-term development.