Investigator Archeytpe

Your value action, service, loyalty and justice.

Investigator

As an investigator, you are driven by a desire to be self-sufficient, to observe, and to understand. You find solace in your own mind and prefer to monitor the world around you from that space rather than directly involving yourself in what others are doing.
You are a master of problem solving. Others on your team benefit from your ability to remain calm and look at situations objectively, and they know you can be trusted to get to the root of the problem.
Because you are the master of your own world, you value privacy and independence. You prefer to keep your social circle small and are fiercely loyal to your friendships. You are committed to high standards in everything you do, and you want to master as many skills as possible.

Your Core Beliefs:

As an investigator, your time and energy are precious resources. You preserve these resources and prioritize the things that will help you advance your goals, choosing not to waste your precious resources on frivolous matters. When the people around you threaten to deplete your energy reserves, you withdraw from their demands and focus your efforts on restoring balance to your inner world. You do not like imposing upon others, and you do not like when others impose upon you. You fear being incompetent, feeling vulnerable, and opening up to others. Fear is a healthy emotion that alerts us when it is time to get prepared. Fear alerts us to the fact that something needs assessing. When you live in the space of fear it can become paralyzing and confusing. The feelings of anxiety and overwhelm can present themselves as guarded and tense. The opportunity is to embrace the fear as your friend. Shift the shallow breath to a deep breath and ask yourself, “Is this fear justified?” If so, “What do you need to prepare for?” It is also an opportunity to shift your story. Are you telling the story of high standards vs perfectionism, independence vs isolation, or inner peace vs indifference?

Invitation:

So, before you read the shadow side, I invite you to see this as an opportunity for growth. Feedback is often not your friend as your inner critic tries to twist it into a reflection of you not being good enough. Your intentions are pure, yet they can create discord in your collaboration.
When the investigator is not serving you to be your best, you may find yourself closing off from those around you. Your ability to recognize when you are being depleted of energy and set boundaries accordingly is a healthy way to protect your wellbeing, but if you are not mindful of how you set these boundaries, you may seem indifferent or dismissive to the needs of those around you. A compassionate acknowledgement of their needs while also communicating your own need to step back when overwhelmed can help you avoid a misunderstanding.
Your independence is an admirable quality that allows you to accomplish tasks without needing assistance from others, but you do not always have to go it alone. When working toward collective goals, it can be beneficial to hear input from others. Leaving space for collaboration and conversations with your team will bring more ideas to the table for you to consider. Your keen mind can then fit pieces of many good ideas together into one excellent idea, like solving a puzzle.
While you often feel the need to retreat into your own space in order to gain clarity and the energy to keep moving forward, sometimes turning away from collaborative opportunities with your team can deprive you of the shared excitement and generation of new ideas. There is nothing wrong with taking time for yourself, but there is something to be gained in sharing spaces with like-minded individuals.
Life is not always easy for the investigator. Your desire to remain self-sufficient can make asking for help feel like admitting defeat, and it can be difficult to work closely with others when doing so leaves you feeling exhausted. You strive for perfection in all you do, but sometimes you feel like you can’t try something until you know you will do it perfectly, and that pressure can impede your progress.
Investigators make good detectives, crisis negotiators, secret agents, researchers, and philosophers.

Examples

  • Sherlock Holmes

  • Spencer Reid in Criminal Minds

Life’s Lesson Questions:

  • Can I allow space for collaboration, or do I need time to think on my own?

    Can I begin working on this task imperfectly and refine it later?

  • Do I have everything I need, or am I diminishing my needs to avoid asking for help?

  • How can I communicate my boundaries in a way that is not dismissive?