Many books and online resources explain the strengths of the INFJ personality type. However, examining our strengths is only looking at one side of the personality coin. Ignoring the other side means being oblivious to an equally important part of your personality — your weaknesses. This blog post will take a look at a few of the greatest weaknesses of the INFJ personality type.

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Weaknesses of the INFJ Personality Type

The INFJs weaknesses come from the lesser developed parts of their personality and are amplified in high stress environments. Here is a look at some of the main weaknesses of the INFJ.

INFJs Lack Attention to Detail

Since INFJs naturally focus on the big picture, they can easily miss what’s right in front of them. Many INFJs struggle with paying attention to details. For example, an INFJ may remember the feelings or thoughts associated with a recent conversation with a friend, but not be able to recall the color of the shirt the friend was wearing.

Since attention to detail is a requirement in many careers, INFJs have to practice intensely focusing on details when they know they may need to recall them in the future.

INFJs are Easily Overwhelmed by Data

INFJs take in information through their dominant function, Introverted Intuition. While INFJs appreciate facts and figures, they can become easily overwhelmed by too much data as this generally conflicts with their preferred mode of processing information and making decisions.

For the INFJ, data is often interesting but usually unnecessary when it comes to most of their decisions. However, INFJs know that data is something they can use to translate their thoughts and ideas to be better understood in the outside world. Because they recognize data as a valuable communication tool, they struggle with their inability to handle it in large amounts. Like with details, data analysis requires an intense and exhausting amount of focus for the INFJ.

INFJs Don’t Prioritize Their Personal Needs

When INFJs don’t prioritize self-care, they become people-pleasers who put the needs of others above their own. This causes the INFJ to feel burned out, which leads to shutting themselves off from the outside world or indulging in unhealthy sensory experiences like binge drinking or self-harm.

In some cases, the INFJ may blame other people for their burn out — even if it’s entirely self-inflicted. The INFJ may think that their desire to please others is the fault of the other person or people and decide to shut themselves off from those relationships completely. This action is sometimes referred to as the INFJ door slam.

It’s crucial for INFJs to learn to listen to their own wants and needs and set appropriate boundaries in order for them to maintain healthy relationships with others.

INFJs are Perfectionists

INFJs are goal-oriented and have high standards for themselves and others. Due to their auxiliary Extraverted Feeling function, they seek to win the approval of other people and feel pressure to “have it together” at all times.

These qualities lead to a perfectionistic mindset for the INFJ. Because their primary focus is on what will or should be, INFJs feel disappointment when situations don’t live up to their ideals. INFJs have to focus on being mindful in their present circumstances. They also must keep in mind that reality won’t always meet expectation — and that’s OK.

INFJs Struggle With Self-Doubt

Since many INFJs have felt different from a young age, they may struggle with low self-esteem and self-doubt. If the INFJ doesn’t have positive reinforcement from friends and family (or grew up without such reinforcement), their struggle with self-doubt will be much more intense.

INFJs feel a strong need to live up to their perceived opinions of others and society as well as their own often unrealistic expectations. INFJs fear vulnerability because authentic exposure means the possibility of rejection and failure.

Many INFJs prefer to silently dream or even work toward their visions, but struggle when it comes to putting themselves out there in a way that allows others to give an opinion on the INFJ or their work.

Embracing Your Weaknesses as Part of Personal Growth

It is hard for anyone to hear the aspects of their personality that are less than ideal. Our natural inclination, when faced with critique, is to defend ourselves or even justify a weakness. Defense and justification come from our ego. The first step to growing from weaknesses is acknowledging their existence.

The second step is to accept our weaknesses. All people who want to reach their highest potential have to admit that they can’t be great at everything. The weaknesses of the INFJ are not necessarily areas that need to be perfect. But they are also not areas to ignore.

Instead, it’s essential to be patient with the underdeveloped parts of our personalities. Imagine them as children slowly learning a new skill. Developing past a weakness won’t happen overnight. In most cases, these more vulnerable aspects of your personality will never truly become a strength.

But that is OK. INFJs have plenty of strengths to offer the world. Many of the INFJs strengths are another personality type’s greatest weaknesses. So, embrace your weaknesses, be patient and kind with them, while aiming to grow into a stronger version of yourself.