Based on the work of Myers-Briggs (Isabel Briggs Myers and Katherine Briggs) and on the personality classifications formulated by Carl Jung, personality style profiles (PSP) help us understand how our personality type affects the way we approach situations and how we may respond or behave and interact with others.
There are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ profiles, it is completely non-judgmental, but understanding how personalities are simply ‘different’ to our own, rather than inconsiderate or wrong, can help us to work together.
What are the practical benefits?
Why display our personality types on our emails?
A giver of encouragement and praise
The ENFJ primarily works by focussing externally, dealing with situations according to how they feel about the circumstances or how they fit in with their own set of values. Secondary to this is their intuition, which is focussed inwardly.
Of all the personality types, the ENFJ has the best people skills. Caring, understanding and with a genuine interest in others, they are able to draw even the shyest newcomer out of their shell. Ever ready to support and encourage their co-workers, they get great satisfaction from seeing others reach their potential.
Highly persuasive
Self-confident, popular and uniquely persuasive, ENFJs can generally get people to do what they want. If charm doesn’t work, they will chip away until the other person caves in.
While it isn’t in their nature to be self-seeking, some ENFJs can become quite artful and manipulative with others. They can also become excessive worriers, or overly sensitive to criticism. ENFJs with poorly developed Feeling traits can have problems with decision making, while those with poor Intuition can fail to see the possibilities of situations and make judgements based on predetermined rules.
Working alone
As the ENFJ is so outwardly focussed, they need to find time to spend by themselves. However, they tend to be very self-critical, especially when alone with their thoughts, and will actively avoid this, engaging in activities which involve other people rather than taking ‘time out’. Often, they will still feel isolated in a room full of people. ENFJs also have a natural tendency to place other people’s needs before their own, and this can lead to them making sacrifices in their own career just to help their colleagues.
More reserved than other Extravert types, ENFJs tend to hold back at meetings and debates. Even though they may feel strongly about something, they will only express their opinion if it does not clash with another person’s viewpoint. The primary aim of the ENFJ is to be supportive and responsive of others; they are the human catalyst of the group, preferring to back the ideas of others rather than strike out on their own. However, when they do express their own opinions, they are clear, open and succinct.
The ENFJ at work
At their best, the ENFJ is a bright, honest and self-confident worker with the potential to excel at any job that takes their interest. Fast-paced, energetic and with the ability to pick up a wide range of skills, they nonetheless like a well-ordered workplace and can sometimes be quite fussy about tidiness and organisation.
ENFJs are generally well-liked at work, and do well in jobs that involve interacting with people. If there is a social committee, they will generally be helping to run it. Their natural intuition and ability to say what people want to hear makes them perfect for a career in counselling – although their ability to motivate and inspire others also makes them suitable for teaching jobs, as they enjoy being in the spotlight.
No room for logic
ENFJs dislike jobs that use impersonal deliberation or logic, with no human element. Their minds revolve around the possibilities found in people, not facts and figures, and they focus far more on making plans than they do achievements. However, since they are constantly looking towards what is possible, they may become bored and disillusioned with the here-and-now.
Overall, ENFJs are warm, caring individuals with an uncanny insight into what makes people tick. The ENFJ is a valuable member of the team who will help others reach their full potential, but they must remember to balance this with their own needs.
