ENFP

A PR company i worked for in Northern Virginia hired a guy who worked as a coach if sorts in companies to establish better teamwork and collaboration. His expertise and one of his primary tools was giving everyone the Myers Briggs Personality Test, then using the results to coach and establish job descriptions and assign teams based on the results. It was no surprise to learn I am strongly ENFP.

The Results:

ENFP: VISIONARY, INSPIRER, ADVOCATE, CHAMPION IDEALIST (ONLY ABOUT 3% OF THE POPULATION IS THIS TYPE.)

Where do you prefer to direct your energy? EXTROVERT
How do you prefer to process information? INTUITIVELY (look into ideas; anticipate what isn’t obvious;
How do you prefer to make decisions? FEELING (decide using values or personal beliefs; on the basis of what I think is important or what I or others care about.)
How do you prefer to organize your life? PERCEIVING (go with the flow; maintain flexibility; respond to things as they arise.)

ENFPs are both “idea”-people and “people”-people. Champions consider intense emotional experiences as being vital to a full life ENFPs strive toward a kind of spontaneous personal authenticity, and this intention always to "be themselves" is usually communicated nonverbally to others, who find it quite attractive
They like looking at information from a global viewpoint, spotting patterns and relationships, that lead to an understanding of the key issues.
ENFPs are known for their abstract, creative approach to problem solving, which is based on a logical analysis of fundamental principles. More interested in understanding why things work, rather than simply perceiving how they work.
When they are committed to what they do, they are enthusiastic to the point of preaching to the entire world about it. For an ENFP, work must be fun and must contribute to something larger than merely collecting a paycheck. ENFPs are energetic and enthusiastic leaders who are likely to take charge when a new endeavor
needs a visionary spokesperson.
The main driver to the ENFP personality is Extraverted Intuition, whose purpose is to understand
the world as one Big Picture, seeking connections and meaning in everything. They are outgoing, fun, and genuinely like people. Their leadership style is one of soliciting and recognizing others’ contributions and of evaluating the personal needs of their followers. ENFPs are often charismatic leaders who are able to help people see the possibilities beyond themselves and their current realities. They function as catalysts.
For ENFPs nothing occurs which does not have some significance, and they have an uncanny sense of the motivations of others.Empathic, co-operative and having a genuine concern for others welfare, they will be popular team members. Initiating projects with great energy and enthusiasm, they will be keen to work for the common good. Expressing their views with great conviction, they plunge into things enthusiastically and enjoy creating novel solutions to problems as they arise.

ENFPs are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential.

ENFPs have a remarkable latitude in career choices and succeed in many fields. As workers, they are warmly enthusiastic, high-spirited, ingenious, imaginative, and can do almost anything that interests them.

ENFPs have an unusually broad range of skills and talents. They are good at most things which interest them. Project-oriented, they may go through several different careers during their
lifetime.

Wherever ENFPs go they have a characteristic ability to create a circle of friends and acquaintances and be at the centre of attention. They respect and preserve the opinions of the circle, taking an active part in defending and promoting them.
When in the midst of chaos and panic they are able to take control of the situation if there is no one else available or willing. However in day to day life they are usually quite disorganized and do not cope well with routine matters. They also do not perform well at all when it comes to
dealing with documentation.

Most ENFPs will say they are organized, but others might not see them that way

This type is found in only about 5 percent of the general population, but they have great influence because of their extraordinary impact on others.
ENFPs often follow a nonlinear career track and nontraditional routes to obtaining knowledge, qualifications, and skills.

Some careers that fit well with ENFPs’ skills as visionaries that thrive on creativity, people, and change are: Actor, Church worker, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Marketer, Musician, Project Manager, Senior Management, & Teacher.

The Inspirer
As an ENFP, your primary mode of living is focused externally, where you take things in primarily via your intuition. Your secondary mode is internal, where you deal with things
according to how you feel about them, or how they fit in with your personal value system.

ENFPs are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Their enthusiasm lends them the ability to inspire and motivate others, more so than we see in other types. They can talk their way in or out of anything. They love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it.

ENFPs have an unusually broad range of skills and talents. They are good at most things which interest them. Project-oriented, they may go through several different careers during their
lifetime. To onlookers, the ENFP may seem directionless and without purpose, but ENFPs are actually quite consistent, in that they have a strong sense of values which they live with
throughout their lives. Everything that they do must be in line with their values. An ENFP needs to feel that they are living their lives as their true Self, walking in step with what they believe is right. They see meaning in everything, and are on a continuous quest to adapt their lives and values to achieve inner peace. They're constantly aware and somewhat fearful of losing touch with themselves. Since emotional excitement is usually an important part of the ENFP's life, and because they are focused on keeping "centered", the ENFP is usually an intense individual, with highly evolved values.

An ENFP needs to focus on following through with their projects. This can be a problem area for some of these individuals. Unlike other Extraverted types, ENFPs need time alone to center themselves, and make sure they are moving in a direction which is in sync with their values.

ENFPs who remain centered will usually be quite successful at their endeavors. Others may fall
into the habit of dropping a project when they become excited about a new possibility, and thus they never achieve the great accomplishments which they are capable of achieving.
Most ENFPs have great people skills. They are genuinely warm and interested in people, and place great importance on their inter-personal relationships. ENFPs almost always have a strong need to be liked. Sometimes, especially at a younger age, an ENFP will tend to be "gushy" and insincere, and generally "overdo" in an effort to win acceptance. However, once an ENFP has learned to balance their need to be true to themselves with their need for acceptance, they excel at bringing out the best in others, and are typically well-liked. They have an exceptional ability to intuitively understand a person after a very short period of time, and use their intuition and
flexibility to relate to others on their own level.

Because ENFPs live in the world of exciting possibilities, the details of everyday life are seen as trivial drudgery. They place no importance on detailed, maintenance-type tasks, and will frequently remain oblivous to these types of concerns. When they do have to perform these tasks, they do not enjoy themselves. This is a challenging area of life for most
ENFPs, and can be frustrating for ENFP's family members.

An ENFP who has "gone wrong" may be quite manipulative - and very good it. The gift of gab which they are blessed with makes it naturally easy for them to get what they want. Most ENFPs will not abuse their abilities, because that would not jive with their value systems.

ENFPs sometimes make serious errors in judgment. They have an amazing ability to intuitively perceive the truth about a person or situation, but when they apply judgment to their perception, they may jump to the wrong conclusions.

ENFPs who have not learned to follow through may have a difficult time remaining happy in marital relationships. Always seeing the possibilities of what could be, they may become bored with what actually is. The strong sense of values will keep many ENFPs dedicated to their
relationships. However, ENFPs like a little excitement in their lives, and are best matched with individuals who are comfortable with change and new experiences.

Having an ENFP parent can be a fun-filled experience, but may be stressful at times for children with strong Sensing or Judging tendancies. Such children may see the ENFP parent as
inconsistent and difficult to understand, as the children are pulled along in the whirlwind life of the ENFP. Sometimes the ENFP will want to be their child's best friend, and at other times they will play the parental authoritarian. But ENFPs are always consistent in their value systems,
which they will impress on their children above all else, along with a basic joy of living.

ENFPs are basically happy people. They may become unhappy when they are confined to strict schedules or mundane tasks. Consequently, ENFPs work best in situations where they have a lot of flexibility, and where they can work with people and ideas. Many go into business for
themselves. They have the ability to be quite productive with little supervision, as long as they are
excited about what they're doing.
Because they are so alert and sensitive, constantly scanning their environments, ENFPs often suffer from muscle tension. They have a strong need to be independent, and resist being controlled or labeled. They need to maintain control over themselves, but they do not believe in
controlling others. Their dislike of dependence and suppression extends to others as well as to themselves.

ENFPs are charming, ingenuous, risk-taking, sensitive, people-oriented individuals with capabilities ranging across a broad spectrum. They have many gifts which they will use to fulfill themselves and those near them, if they are able to remain centered and master the ability of
following through.

ENFP "The Advocate": "Enthusiastic, expressive, emotional, warm, evocative, imaginative, original, artistic, improviser, perceptive, affirming, supportive, cooperative, positive, open responsive, sensitive, playful, fun-loving, multifaceted, gregarious, zestful, spontaneous,
idealistic, initiators of new projects and possibilities, agents of change. Their focus is on self-expression and possibilities, "what could be' rather than 'what is.' Life is a celebration and a creative adventure.

Enthusiastic initiators of new projects, relationships, and paradigms. Masters of the start-up phase. Lose interest when the project or relationship gets routine or when the primary goal is well on the way to accomplishment. Often eloquent in expressing their vision of a world where ideals are actualized. Frequently have a positive attitude in situations others would
consider to be negative. Work in bursts of enthusiasm mixed with times when little gets done.

Need careers that are personally meaningful, creative, and allow for full self-expression and that
contribute to other people in some way. Extremely versatile. They may have friends from many walks of life, a wide range of interests and hobbies, and they gain a professional level of mastery without formal training." Suggested careers: Public relations, actor, teacher.

WEAKNESSES:
ENFPs are well aware of their weaknesses, often being their own harshest critic; they may
sarcastically put themselves down before others do, because secretly they may expect to be humilated. Often the ENFP is reluctant to share intimate feelings unless in the company of deeply trusted relationships. Some ENFPs have difficulty being alone, especially on a regular basis.

ENFPs are strongly influenced by the opinions of others. ENFPs can exhibit preoccupation in their relationships, somtimes putting "all their eggs in one basket" and can tend to hyper focus on the other individual, in attempts to "fix" the other person or pull out their "real" emotions, transforming them into the perfect person. ENFPs may feel very anxious and preoccupied if the other partner is silent, non expressive, or withdrawn when coping with stress, instead of talking
through things. This can deeply hurt them. There often appears to be a silent pull of ENFPs to the wishes of authority figures, parents, and friends which may cause a dilemma as to loyalties and decision making. Although energetic and effervescent, the ENFP can sometimes be smothering in their enthusiasm. They do not understand why someone would not be charmed by their
enthusiastic display of affection and quirky jokes, because most people find them entertaining and
refreshing. They may try too hard to be what others want them to be, play the role of actor and entertainer, and feel in danger of losing touch with their true authentic selves when they don't receive appreciation and feedback for who they really are.

• Personality: ENFPs are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Their enthusiasm lends them the ability to inspire and motivate others, more so than we see in other types. They can talk their way in or out of anything. They love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it.

• Typelogic: ENFPs are pleasant, easygoing, and usually fun to work with. They come up with great ideas, and are a major asset in brainstorming sessions. Follow-through tends to be a problem, however; they tend to get bored quickly, especially if a newer, more
interesting project comes along. They also tend to be procrastinators, both about meeting hard deadlines and about performing any small, uninteresting tasks that they’ve been
assigned. ENFPs are at their most useful when working in a group with a J or two to take up the slack

• Teamtechnology: likes looking at information from a global viewpoint, spotting patterns and relationships, that lead to an understanding of the key issues
– Focuses more on
possibilities for the future than the here-and-now
– Enjoys change, challenge, and variety
– Try ideas out, to explore new possibilities and discover, by experience, which ones
work
– Change procedures to see if any improvement can be made, rather than just
operate them
– Be interested in evolutionary development, but with an eye on the strategy
– Be more interested in exploring ideas than bringing them to closure

• Personality type: People of this type tend to be: enthusiastic, talkative, and outgoing; clever, curious, and playful; deeply caring, sensitive, and gentle; highly innovative, creative, optimistic, and unique; adaptable and resourceful but sometimes disorganized
• Keirsey: The Champion Idealists (used to be called ‘Advocates’) are abstract in thought and speech, cooperative in accomplishing their aims, and informative and expressive
when relating with others. For Champions, nothing occurs which does not have some deep ethical significance, and this, coupled with their uncanny sense of the motivations of others, gives them a talent for seeing life as an exciting drama, pregnant with possibilities
for both good and evil. This type is found in only about 3 percent of the general population, but they have great influence because of their extraordinary impact on others.

• lifexplore: ENFPs are initiators of change who are keenly perceptive of possibilities, and who energize and stimulate through their contagious enthusiasm. They prefer the start-up
phase of a project or relationship, and are tireless in the pursuit of new-found interests.

ENFPs are able to anticipate the needs of others and to offer them needed help and appreciation. They bring zest, joy, liveliness, and fun to all aspects of their lives. They are
at their best in situations that are fluid and changing, and that allow them to express their creativity and use their charisma.

• CAPT: For ENFPs the dominant quality in their lives is their attention to the outer world of possibilities; they are excited by continuous involvement in anything new, whether it be new ideas, new people, or new activities. Though ENFPs thrive on what is possible and what is new, they also experience a deep concern for people as well. Thus, they are especially interested in possibilities for people. ENFPs are typically energetic, enthusiastic people who lead spontaneous and adaptable lives.

STRENGTH WEAKNESS
Idealists
Warm
Compassionate
Romantic
Idealistic
Wise
Yoda
Overly emotional
Bleeding heart
Mushy
Naive
Petty
Goals in life
• Harmony
• Good emotions
• Using intuition
• Know self better
Contributions
• When we realize that everyone has emotions, that emotions are probably more immediate and fundamental to human life
than purely logical thought, we can appreciate the needs of
Idealists and the potential contributions of Idealists' focus on
feelings and inspiration or its lack.
• Idealists may be especially aware of accepting-attending behavior and note its presence or absence more keenly than
others.
• Idealists are often instrumental in creating more harmonious
relations in the workplace and in boosting morale.
• Expect Idealists to seek ways they can please or delight
others.
Likes
• Feelings
• Harmony between people
• Spirituality and imagination
• Interactions with others
Dislikes and
irritants
• Strife and discord
• Those who value rules or ideas
more than people
• Insensitivity to others' feelings or plight
• Competition
Typical concerns
• Feelings
• Atmosphere
• Caring
• Morale
• Project-oriented
• Bright and capable
• Warmly, genuinely interested in people; great people skills
• Extremely intuitive and perceptive about people
• Able to relate to people on their own level
• Service-oriented; likely to put the needs of others above their own
• Future-oriented
• Dislike performing routine tasks
• Need approval and appreciation from others
• Cooperative and friendly
• Creative and energetic
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills
• Natural leaders, but do not like to control people
• Resist being controlled by others
Can work logically and rationally - use their intuition to understand the goal and work
backwards towards it
• Usually able to grasp difficult concepts and theories

DISTINCTIVES:
1. avoid being tied down to a rigid schedule that requires time management.
2. energized by last-minute pressure
3. See possibilities and make inferences
4. sensitive to people
5. See possibilities
6. Curiosity and flexibility
7. Good at seeing the big picture and trends
8. good at figuring out how to motivate different people
9. understanding behavior
10. adaptable to changing situations
11. get satisfaction from helping others