[Claviger]

My boss is an INTJ..

my boss glazes over when I try to explain things. Anything that is more than a 1-2 liner and my boss goes directly to autopilot.

Some things I know for certain about my boss:
1: moderately high IQ, not amazingly high, but somewhat above average
2: Very childish, acts like a teen and is 25 (I am 30)
3: Very juvenile sense of humour
4: College graduate

What I don't get is that my boss will glaze over on something IMPORTANT and then when asked about the topic acts like it doesn't matter when the boss cant regurgitate the information that I spend a multitude of hours gathering and watering down to a level my boss can grasp in a 1-2 liner......

how do I get the boss to understand that when glazing over and not able to respond to questions and the person has to come to me instead (when they shouldn't) it makes not only the boss look like a lazy fool, but it makes me look bad to in that I didn't keep the boss aloof of what is going on? Really, how do I engage an INTJ (btw boss is more of a social retard than I am and I am an INTP lol ).


INFURIATING

[Grey]

Does he 'zone out' during when you are discussing work? INTJs have a lot of variance, but that sounds very UN-INTJ - even if I inadvertently space from time to time during conversations, I always try to concentrate when someone is telling me something important (concerning assignments or other such matters, for example). Have you discussed this problem with him?

[Linesky]

What kind of important information are we talking about?

It seems like the guy needs to reconsider his priorities and not be judgemental so quickly.

Try to get him into a brief and open conversation at the right time (when he has enough time and patience):
I would try to make him listen by convincing him that listening to your research will benifit efficiency for the both of you and the work there is to accomplish.
If possible, I would also try to make clear the value of the work you're presenting in terms of the bigger picture, so that he wouldn't think it's unnecessary to dig into it.

[Claviger]

Does he 'zone out' during when you are discussing work? INTJs have a lot of variance, but that sounds very UN-INTJ - even if I inadvertently space from time to time during conversations, I always try to concentrate when someone is telling me something important (concerning assignments or other such matters, for example). Have you discussed this problem with him?

See, and that's what I thought. I thought that being of a similar personality that we would at least find some commonality in discovery learning. The zone outs are every time I speak with the boss. I have not said anything, as I think it would be quite rude to do so, however I also find it quite rude to zone out when I am basically giving a 20 minute dissertation on what I have been doing for the last 2 weeks in an analytical field where there is no room for error.

I wonder then, if INTJ is accurate, INTJ is a self assigned value by the boss, not from my own observations

I am totally incapable of figuring out who is what, I get lost in all the xxxx should do this but sometimes does what xxxy does, so xxxy can easily be confused as xxxx. Both are similar to yxxy but <insert slight difference> sets them apart. I have issues with the people component of this and the not clearly defined lines of what each of us are in the model unless self assigned.

[SilverScorpio17]

I haven't really met a childish INTJ yet. Then again, I haven't met that many INTJs to begin with.

I would definitely follow skyline's advice, if I even hear the word efficiency, I'll start listening. Maybe if you do it in writing somehow? Like an email maybe? Anyway, from the information you've provided, he doesn't really sound like an INTJ. I sometimes start daydreaming when people are talking to me, but never when it's about work/school or anything that's important. It might help if you stated that what you're about to say is important, and why it's important. Good luck.

[Highlander]

You are likely going into what he perceives as extraneous detail which he does not understand is important or how it fits into the big picture. My suggestion is that you start with the big picture first. Tell him for example that there are three things you'd like to cover. Start with the "1 liners" as you refer to it. Then be concise in articulating the most important details in support of them. Let him drive the discussion by asking questions until he understands it. Elicit his insights and guidance. Realize that he needs to understand the big picture and the relevant details but wants to understand only the important points and how they influence a decision or a conclusion. Involve him early, be prepared when you have discussions, don't take a personally when he drills down or appears critical. He is just trying to understand and to solve problems.

[Claviger]

You are likely going into what he perceives as extraneous detail which he does not understand is important or how it fits into the big picture. My suggestion is that you start with the big picture first. Tell him for example that there are three things you'd like to cover. Start with the "1 liners" as you refer to it. Then be concise in articulating the most important details in support of them. Let him drive the discussion by asking questions until he understands it. Elicit his insights and guidance. Realize that he needs to understand the big picture and the relevant details but wants to understand only the important points and how they influence a decision or a conclusion. Involve him early, be prepared when you have discussions, don't take a personally when he drills down or appears critical. He is just trying to understand and to solve problems.

Makes sense, let the boss drive the conversation rather than try to front load what I deem important. I think I am going to try being very vague and inspire questions so that it's more a self learning experience and I am the source of information rather than a I am yet another person briefing situation.

[SelfMadeBum]

Do NOT be vague, it reeks of incompetence.

Your problem is very likely that you're giving a lot of irrelevant peripheral information. Give only pertinent facts/figures directly related to the identified goal(s).

[very bored]

It also might be that he thinks you are just repeating yourself. What happens when you only say things once, or don't water it down? What will this guy pay attention to? It would be useful to know that.

[Highlander]

Do NOT be vague, it reeks of incompetence.

Your problem is very likely that you're giving a lot of irrelevant peripheral information. Give only pertinent facts/figures directly related to the identified goal(s).

I agree with this completely. You don't need to be vague at all to let someone drive the conversation with questions. You can frame up the key issues up front - concisely and clearly.

By the way, this is something I have struggled with all my life - the "zoning out" thing. It is usually because I am getting bored or frustrated with the irrelevant details as just described.