This post is drawn from our coaching videos, which are specifically intended for certain personality types. In this case, the insights are drawn from interviews of successful INTJ e INFJ leaders who have mastered this topic as a career accelerant. You can also watch the video at the bottom of the article to learn more.
Imagine you’re the CEO of a Fortune 500 firm with more than 250,000 employees. How many issues would you expect to face in any given week? Probably more than one person could handle in 60-70 hours… That’s why I love the story of “Joanna” who sat in this role for years at the top of the food chain for one of our biggest clients. Her secret of success? Getting AWAY from the office for lengthy stretches of time in order to free up her brain to focus on the long-term strategy of the business and to come up with transformative new ways of operating that ultimately unlocked hundreds of millions of dollars of additional revenue.
You see, as an INTJ, her greatest value to the organization wasn’t in the day to day issue-solving. Her colleagues would report that she would disappear one afternoon and come back at lunch the next day with some crazy new breakthrough that would fundamentally shift how the business functioned.
I guarantee she would not have had those epiphanies had she remained involved in each of the pressing items that came across her desk.
If you’re an INTJ ou INFJ, let’s start with a question: When was the last time you had a truly brilliant idea? Not just a good one – but the kind of idea that stops you in your tracks, makes you think, "This could change everything.” Now, think about where you were and what you were doing when that idea hit you. Odds are, you weren’t in a high-pressure brainstorming session or frantically typing away at your desk.
For people with your cognitive preferences, there’s a reason for that. Your brain doesn’t work like most others when it comes to generating ideas. And understanding this difference can unlock a whole new level of creativity and productivity.
The Science Behind Your Idea Process
Here’s something fascinating: research by Dario Nardi, a neuroscientist studying personality and brain activity, shows that INTJs e INFJs tend to have a unique pattern when generating ideas. Unlike most types, whose brains light up in specific regions during the ideation process, your brain enters a state of low activity across all regions.
What does that mean? Dario’s take (he’s an INTJ too) is that your brain needs to quiet down to do its best work. Your most brilliant ideas are more likely to emerge not when you’re actively thinking about a problem, but when you’re in a calm, relaxed, almost meditative state. Washing dishes, taking a walk, driving, or even zoning out in front of the TV—these are the moments when your brain connects the dots and delivers those “aha!” moments.
The Percolation Period
As you’ve probably noticed – and maybe even given yourself a hard time about – your best ideas don’t tend to show up right after the question is posed. For INTJs e INFJs, there’s a 2-to-48-hour window after a topic is introduced when your brain is quietly mulling it over in the background. It’s like a slow-cooking process—your brain is simmering the ingredients, letting the flavors develop, until the perfect solution emerges.
This is why traditional group brainstorming sessions can feel so frustrating and un-productive for you. While other types thrive on rapid-fire idea generation in a group setting – and benefit from an opportunity to talk through the initial concepts – your brain needs time and space to work its magic.
Four Strategies to Harness Your Idea Power
#1: Schedule Thinking Time
Life gets busy, and it’s easy to get caught up in the endless cycle of execution. But if you don’t carve out dedicated time for reflection, you’re cutting off your best ideas before they have a chance to surface. Block out quiet, uninterrupted time in your calendar—daily or weekly—and treat it as sacred.
#2: Don’t Force It
Your ideas won’t come faster just because you’re trying harder. In fact, the opposite is true. Step away from the problem, focus on something else, and let your brain do its thing. Whether it’s a walk in nature or folding laundry, find activities that allow your mind to wander.
#3: Manage Expectations
Let the people around you—colleagues, family, friends—know that you’re a “2-to-48-hour person.” Explain that your best ideas take time to percolate, but they’re worth the wait. This not only sets realistic expectations but also gives you the space you need to deliver your best work.
#4: Embrace Quality Over Quantity
You’re not the type to churn out dozens of ideas in a single session—and that’s okay. The ideas you do come up with are often game-changers. Trust in your process and focus on the depth and impact of your ideas, rather than the sheer number.
The Payoff
Here’s the great news: when you build time for percolation into your life, the results are extraordinary. You’ll find that your ideas are not only more innovative but also more aligned with your goals and values. And as you lean into this process, you’ll likely notice a ripple effect—greater clarity, more confidence, and a stronger sense of purpose in your work and life.
So, give yourself permission to step away, slow down, and let your mind wander. Your next big idea is out there, waiting to emerge. All it needs is a little time to percolate.
