Protectors (RMI)

Protectors are the quiet fibers which hold families, societies or organizations together by preserving order and tradition. They are the cornerstones of every group to which they belong. Diligent (D) and dedicated, these personality types thrive on creating stability and being a useful part of society.

Protectors respect the practical and see rules and protocols as being the logical off-shoot of practicality. Rules provide them with a correct or singular way of doing something leaving little room for anyone to go in a renegade direction or indulge in “dangerous” improvisation.

For Protectors, those are challenges to the fixed order and such forward or impulsive thinking may even seem threatening to everything they stand for. That doesn’t mean these personality types never change nor accept the new and untried. It’s just that change doesn’t come easily, and they need a lot of proof that deviating from “how it’s always been done” is worth it.

The phrase “time-honored” resonates with the Protectors. They have a great respect for the past and are unabashed traditionalists. When time-honored ideas and strategies are in play, it gives them a sense that everything is secure and going to work out as it is should.

Because of their reverence for the past, Protectors often hold more conservative values when it comes to politics, religion or social order. People belonging to these personality types are comforted and energized by the assurances they get from a well-worn path. However, they do need to practice caution as sentimental nostalgia can sometimes paint the picture of an idealized past that never actually existed. Sometimes improvements are needed, but a faulty model based on fictional past can prevent important change from happening.

Because of their painstaking approach, Protectors do well in positions that need the worker to pay attention to detail and protocol. This makes these personalities suitable for a role in almost every business since most need somebody to attend to those things which require precise accuracy.

Protectors work in the background making sure that things happen as they should: trains arrive on time, all the right people show up for the right meeting, all the books are balanced and payroll is delivered, research data is properly entered on the right spreadsheet, people are seated next to the right people at a banquet and so on. They have an eye for detail and have no trouble doing work others might consider tedious. These personalities are happy just making sure they dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s.

As Introverts (I), Protectors are not excessively social people nor do they search out adventure. They are friendly and get along well with others at work. When not at work, Protectors are more likely found with their families keeping home and hearth together rather than out seeking new experiences. These personality types place a lot of value on their families and their loved ones and are loyal to them. Protectors often see families as the cornerstones of society, and they, in turn, serve as the cornerstones to the cornerstones.

Protectors have little use for theory or abstractions as they take in the information from the world much as it comes to them. What they see is, for the large part, what they get. However, it’s important to remember this is a preference and not a sign of their abilities. As an example, as Protectors watch a movie, the plot, the dialogue, the costumes, the music, the scenery or the action are more likely to interest them over more ethereal themes and symbolic material.

However, it would be very wrong to think that Protectors are intellectually incapable of discovering deeper meanings. They are not necessarily shallow people. It’s just the more abstract aspects of the film would not be where their interest dwells. These personality types would find little purpose in having a conversation about such things. That which appeals to their Realistic (R) nature is just more likely to catch their attention.

The dedicated Protectors do not always get the credit they deserve. They quietly achieve their mission of preserving the fabric of society, and then they leave it to other people to take the bow. However, this doesn’t mean that these personality types aren’t pleased when they do receive recognition. It’s just they are usually too busy getting the job done to stop long enough to receive applause.