Specialist (RSI-D)

Specialists are free-thinking individuals with a “live and let live” attitude, who use their own experience, logic, and rationality to gain insight, develop new skills, and make decisions. This mentality enables them to find a flexible and fulfilling path through life, whatever may happen.

This type doesn’t always need a grand ideal to chart a successful course, nor do they adhere to a particular life or work philosophy. They guide themselves by their exploration rather than following a theoretical approach. In their work and personal practices, they acquire experience and insight through such eclectic exploration, retaining and employing anything that works.

Given this approach, Specialists aren’t fond of the purely abstract or theoretical. They rarely guide themselves by speculation or try to make sense of things merely by trying to grasp them intellectually. These are hands-on types who believe in learning by doing, preferring to experiment and freely play with different approaches instead of just imagining, reading about, or discussing them.

In such practices, Specialists pay attention to details, striving to be successful in whatever they apply themselves. This, coupled with their inclination to try things out, makes them good at acquiring and mastering various skills, crafts, and abilities. They especially gravitate toward creating, repairing, or improving things, skilfully using tools as a means of accomplishing something practical.

They typically also enjoy disciplines and skills involving their bodies, like sports, athletics, and manual skills. So adept are they that people often think they’re working from some kind of instinct, as the amount of thought that goes into their actions isn’t always evident. But their skill is driven by clever thinking as well as physical aptitude.

Specialists’ thoughts can be very independent. They like to rely on their logic, reasoning, and abilities more than on other people. They usually only ask for help after they’ve exhausted all their skills and knowledge by trying everything they could think of – which is a considerable range of approaches.

When this type does ask someone to help them, they’ll also seek to understand how that person manages to find a solution or perform a task. Specialists want to try it out themselves to get accustomed to it, as they tend to feel they can truly understand something only when they can pull it off successfully on their own.

Being on their own isn’t usually a problem for this type. As Introverts, Specialists need their solitary time to recuperate and revitalize themselves. But unlike some Introverts who prefer daydreaming, thinking, or reading, Specialists like to be more active. They may engage in some kind of spontaneous tinkering, crafting, or even physical activities and games.

Specialists value the freedom to live their lives as they see fit, as well as to engage with the world and do their work as they like – and they extend this courtesy to other people. This type rarely enters direct confrontations, typically preferring to get out of someone’s way instead of arguing with them, though they’ll defend their freedom.

With their “live and let live” attitude, Specialists don’t go around trying to convince people their way is superior, nor engage in long discussions over what approach is ideal. They tend to believe people learn best from experience, not discussions and talk. For this type, actions speak louder than words, and they both express themselves through action and pay attention to the actions of others.

When it comes to their expression, Specialists prefer tasks that are hands-on and not overly structured, so that they have room to work in their own way. They aren’t prone to planning things in detail before diving in, preferring to be more flexible and dealing with things as they come. This type is comfortable with leaping without much looking, even if they must leap alone.

But despite their independence, Specialists do enjoy when others show appreciation for their skills and ability to get the job done. They work hard to develop their expertise and enjoy being thought of as competent – and, more importantly, they’re willing to show what they can do. Their readiness, unconventional thinking, and adaptability can make them great assets within a team.