How To Write an ENTJ Character

Series: The Psychology of Character Creation

One of the most interesting personality types to explore in fiction is the ENTJ – also known as the “Commander” or “Fieldmarshal” – because of their leadership skills, ambition, and strategic thinking. Here’s a quick guide on how to write an ENTJ Character.

Understand the ENTJ personality type:

Before you start writing an ENTJ character, you need to understand the traits that define this personality type. ENTJs are confident, decisive, and goal-oriented individuals who thrive on challenge and competition. They are natural leaders who enjoy taking charge and organizing people to achieve their goals. They are also highly analytical and enjoy using their logical thinking to solve problems, like INTJ’s but draw energy from those around them. 

Give your ENTJ character a clear goal:

ENTJs are very ambitious characters. To make your ENTJ character feel authentic, give them a clear objective that they are working towards. This goal should be challenging and require them to use their skills and intelligence to achieve it. Whether it’s building a successful business, winning a political campaign, or saving the world from a disaster, your ENTJ character should be focused on achieving something significant. Make sure the goal is something that the character cares deeply about and is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish it.

Create a strong personality:

ENTJs have a strong personality, and your character should reflect this. They should be confident, assertive, and unafraid to speak their mind. They should also have a quick wit and be able to think on their feet. Don’t be afraid to make your character a little intimidating – that’s part of what makes ENTJs so dynamic. Also consider the Character Arc you want your character to go through. While your ENTJ character may start out assertive or overly ambitious, they should also learn and grow as the story progresses.

Show your ENTJ’s leadership skills:

ENTJ’s are considered dangerous because of their natural charisma coupled with their ability to lead. They are natural-born leaders who are good at organizing people and delegating tasks. Show your ENTJ character taking charge of situations and inspiring others to follow them. This could be through mentoring a subordinate, negotiating with a rival, or rallying a group of people around a common cause. It’s also a good way to dash their hopes and dreams if their overconfidence causes them to fail.

Balance their strengths and weaknesses:

Even the most successful people have their weaknesses, and your ENTJ character should be no different. They’re decisive and talented leaders, but taken to far and these traits can be oppressive and unyielding. They may be overconfident or struggle with empathy. Unhealthy ENTJs can be overcontrolling, and ruthless. They may also have a hard time listening to others or struggle with making personal connections. These weaknesses make your character more relatable and human. 

Show their strengths and weaknesses:

While ENTJs are often seen as strong and confident leaders, they are not invincible. Make sure to give your character some weaknesses or flaws that they will need to overcome in order to achieve their goal. This will make them more relatable and help your readers connect with them on a deeper level.

Consider their relationships:

ENTJs can be difficult to get close to, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have relationships. They have a hard time professing their love, but will often show it in small but meaningful ways. If they complement you, you can be sure it was authentic and sincere. Show your character’s relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners. Explore how their personality affects these relationships and how they navigate them.

Here are some attributes to add to your ENTJ Characters:

• Blunt
• Self-Confident
• Practical
• Enjoys challenges
• Inspiring
• Authoritative
• Rational
• Judgemental
• Natural Strategist
• Restless

Here are some ENTJ Characters:

• Lord Voldemort
• Kaz Brekker
• Jude Duarte
• Evelyn Hugo
• Aelin Galathynius
• Aaron Warner 
• Edward Rochester 
• Tywin Lannister

In conclusion, writing an ENTJ character can be challenging, but it’s also a lot of fun. Use these tips to create a compelling character that readers will love. Remember to balance their strengths and weaknesses, give them a clear goal, and show their leadership skills. With a little research and creativity, you’ll have a character that readers won’t forget.

Hope this guide on how to write an ENTJ Character helps.

Want to learn more about the Meyers-Brigg 16 Personalities? Click Here

Up Next: How to Write an INFJ Character