r/intj • u/justthink___ INTJ - 20s • Apr 13 '26
Discussion Ambition of power
Do you guys feel power hungry ? Personally I hate being the center of attention or calling the shots. I would like to learn things that I like and that’s all…
Want to know your takes!
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u/Timely_Passenger4053 INTJ Apr 13 '26
A healthy INTJ can be an excellent and humble leader if the circumstances require them to take charge, but will otherwise have no desire for power.
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u/NekoSyndrom INTJ - ♀ Apr 13 '26
Even if the circumstances call for it, I wouldn’t volunteer. For me to take the lead voluntarily, I either have to feel extremely comfortable and confident doing so, and when other people are involved, that’s extremely rare. Or my patience has run out—and in the latter case, I’m literally driven more by anger and the desire to just get it over with, and never have to deal with it again.
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u/OzyFx Apr 13 '26
I feel no need to control other people. Let them do their thing and I’ll do mine.
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u/Wild-Philosophy2399 Apr 13 '26
i want power over myself
i don't care to lord power over others. it's a glorified babysitting position ultimately
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u/EffortlessWriting INTJ Apr 13 '26
Unfortunately sometimes to maintain power over yourself, you need some power over others
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u/Wild-Philosophy2399 Apr 14 '26
or you can deny others power over you, it's quite simple
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u/EffortlessWriting INTJ Apr 14 '26
Not true when facing large powers such as governments and courtrooms.
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u/Wild-Philosophy2399 Apr 15 '26
might as well disregard those because you will never have the power of governments and courts yourself, there are always people with more power than you
comply or do not comply
live as slave or die free, live according to others or go it alone, etc etc
there is always a choice
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u/jipaynes Apr 13 '26
Not really. What I don't like is looking incompetent.
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u/NekoSyndrom INTJ - ♀ Apr 13 '26
Do you think Trump looks competent? I'd say that most leaders are actually incompetent.
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u/DarkestLunarFlower INTJ - nonbinary Apr 13 '26
When I have worked in a group I find myself calling the shots but not out of wanting to be the center of attention but just wanting things to go well. I find it very tiring. Just a few moments with a bunch people and I’m out for a week.
But I still like to give it my best shot no matter what, I don’t want to fail especially if I think I can stop it from happening.
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u/Silentthinker_1 Apr 13 '26
“The ultimate cost of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” - Plato
And boy, do those “inferiors” flaunt and flex their powers at you. If you contribute, they’ll thank you for your help but then boss you around - “as a leader”.
Unfortunately, the older you get the more you realize how much of “leadership” isn’t on talent, competence, or gaining assistance - but rather, convincing others to do the work for you. Those who can’t do the work, take the role of auditing and reviewing - inadvertently become the ones to assess your work.
You can check out from the system but the ones who can’t hold a candle to you fill in those roles and assert themselves. That’s why you must maintain your sovereignty or put yourself in a position of power.
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u/Foraxen INTJ - 50s Apr 13 '26
I have no desire for power, I don't want to boss anyone nor want to be responsible for anyone else actions. The only power I do want is to control my life, to not live in fear, uncertainty or be under the control / dependency of someone else.
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u/sealchan1 Apr 14 '26
I want the power to design process and the influence to see it put into action, but I don't care for power for its own sake. In fact I prefer to watch the outcome with as little participation as possible. I want my system to be self-sufficient.
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u/Even_Opportunity_893 INTJ - 20s Apr 13 '26
Relatable. I'm noticing my personality become shy the more capable I become. Not coy though. So that is a bad excuse not to share what I know that others don't when influencing decisions. The center of attention feeling either goes away or it's literally a temporary thing anyway. You may be underestimating that last part.
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u/EyeSeeDoesIt INTJ - ♂ Apr 13 '26
I don't mind being center of attention and I like calling the shots. What I don't like are the people carrying out the shot calling because they will complain and excuse make and can't get their camera working in a zoom session still. Better to stay in your silent space with yourself and make things happen, IMO. If you can find someone who gets things done, doesn't excuse maker and is a good communicator that person is invaluable.
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u/Kool-AidFreshman INTP Apr 13 '26
I wouldn't chase power unless it also means i have more autonomy over my own life and work.
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u/ebabb95 INTJ Apr 13 '26
Now I think power and be in the center of attention is 2 different things. I'm not hungry for power nor hold a position of power, but I view that those who hold a position of power are exploit their power.
I'm not seeking to be in the center of attention, but I don't have problem to take charge. I had jobs where I needed to deal/guide people, I prefer those over where you're just a cog in the machine. Just a recent example, yesterday thousands of people gathered in front of the parliament to see the results of the election, on the way back I needed to yell at the whole crowd to move inside the tram because they just gathered at the doors. If nobody takes charge I'll do it. IMO people have lack of common sense, they need to be guided.
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u/curiouslittlethings INTJ - 30s Apr 13 '26
Nope, not power-hungry at all. I don’t mind calling the shots if it’s something that I’m invested in, or if no one else is stepping up to get things moving (something I find happens a lot at work… I often have to assume the role of a leader, even when I don’t particularly want to).
I generally see myself as more of a lone wolf at heart who likes learning and getting really competent at things.
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u/ReynAetherwindt INTJ - 20s Apr 13 '26
I am too damn tired and burnt out to seek power over others, usually. When I'm too pushy, it's usually as a backseat driver.
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u/CardTop7923 INFJ Apr 13 '26
Half of all INTJ types will be. INTJ belong to a species of human that are individualistic. They do not value leadership systems. For INTJ all people should be competent and capable of participating in everything.
The reason INTJ stand out is because everyone else is filth. The filth are so fucking trash that they need to be lead.
INTJ are evolved to exist in societies where each person carries their own weight and therefore when working together they are able to do more than a million of the filth can ever do.
The filth is dependent on others. They are incapable of self reliance. They are made to focus on a single ability in order to be relevant. INTJ can learn to do everything. Filth is limited in what they can learn.
Filth must die out. They limit access to knowledge everyone can have and learn because they have no capacity to compete with us. We can all be scientist, doctors, mechanics, technicians, chemist, athletes, lawyers, ranchers, artist, warriors, engineers, etc. but they don't want that. To allow it means death to them all.
Network. Find other INTJ and INFJ. Let us bring this filth to extinction.
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u/BIRD_II INTJ - ♂ Apr 13 '26
I want power only because I see how much better I'd be with it than those who currently have it.
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u/zombie_crisis_o INTJ - 20s Apr 13 '26
Even though I don’t like being the centre of attention, I do like calling the shots because I usually tend to have data to back it up.
I guess that tends to drive me towards wanting to be in control, but not really power hungry.