ENFP – "The Optimistic Motivator"
Optimistic, people-focused extrovert with a dominant intuition function, can't stand drilling routine
Frequency of ENFP in the population
— Women
— Men
— Everyone else
E – Extraversion N – iNtuition F – Feeling P – Perceiving
They don't focus their attention on things, but rather on people and values. They are tireless, lifelong crusaders for perfection, authenticity, and spontaneity, and through them, people can truly become themselves. They have a tremendous ability to motivate others. It delights them when their efforts inspire others, and they do everything they can to help them. If they encounter incompetence or resistance, their conviction turns either inward as depression, or outward as vindictiveness. Their focus tends to be very direct. ENFPs are natural optimists, they see the best in people and are surprised when events don't unfold according to their expectations. They tend to be very creative, but take on far more projects than they are able to finish. They can handle just about any problem, and are especially good in situations where they can collaborate with other people. To be successful and beneficial to their organization, they need highly varied tasks. Their leadership is sometimes so forceful that they aren't always able to accept others' ideas, and those ideas need to be presented to them as if they were their own. They are always more interested in what could be than in what is. They need constant feedback and neither tolerate nor thrive where work requires repetition or strict adherence to rules. As supervisors and colleagues, they tend to be fun, charming, and gentle, though also unpredictable. They aren't particularly good at thinking ahead toward a calm, secure future. Their management style is characterized by considerable autonomy and broad authority granted to subordinates. They have a gift for handling the central task of getting work done through others without those people feeling manipulated. A hunger for excitement can easily lead them to neglect their more lasting responsibilities. Living life to the fullest is sometimes paid for with enormous mood swings, where enthusiasm alternates with depression.
Working with an ENFP?
✅ If they're going to excel at anything, it will be working with people.
✅ Their motivation comes from variety in their tasks.
✅ Their creativity needs some regulation — they tend to churn out ideas just for the sake of it.
✅ Give them feedback whenever possible, it's a source of learning for them.
✅ ENFP impatience needs to be kept in check.
✅ They don't cope particularly well with situations involving persistent resistance or disagreement from others.
✅ They're good at motivating and supporting a team. Delegating responsibilities isn't usually a problem for them.
Type by function in society, i.e. temperament: IDEALISTS (NF – water) (16.5% of the population)
They try to understand themselves and others. They try to work with the potential dormant within human souls. To change the world, and themselves, for the better, in keeping with their beliefs and ideals. They bring new ideas to humanity, and we find them in HR, among psychologists, visionaries, prophets, philosophers, writers, and religious or political leaders. Symbolically they correspond to the element of water.
✓ focused on the broad framework of interpersonal relationships
✓ like to express themselves poetically, metaphorically, artistically
✓ may come across to others as too soft
✓ leaders of social change
✓ need to find some personal meaning in the process
✓ take things more personally
16 Personality Types Compatibility Chart
Legend:
— Least ideal
— Conflicting
— One-sided compatibility
— Strong compatibility (requires some compromise)
— Ideal compatibility