ENFJ Description
ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it's usually not meant as manipulation -- ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.
ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.
ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don't resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.
ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.
TRADEMARK: "The first shall be last"
This refers to the open-door policy of ENFJs. One ENFJ colleague always welcomes me into his office regardless of his own circumstances. If another person comes to the door, he allows them to interrupt our conversation with their need. While discussing that need, the phone rings and he stops to answer it. Others drop in with a 'quick question.' I finally get up, go to my office and use the call waiting feature on the telephone. When he hangs up, I have his undivided attention!
ENFJs direct their energy towards the outer world of actions and spoken words. They try to build harmony in important personal relationships. Their lives are organized on a personal basis, seeking to develop and promote personal growth in people they value.
What makes an ENFJ tick?
The Dominant function is the judging one of Feeling. Characteristics associated with this function include:
Contributions to the team of an ENFJ
In a team environment, the ENFJ can contribute by:
Personal Growth
As with all types, the ENFJ can achieve personal growth by developing all functions that are not fully developed, through actions such as:
As stress increases, 'learned behavior' tends to give way to the natural style, so the ENFJ will behave more according to type when under greater stress. For example, in a crisis, the ENFJ might:
ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it's usually not meant as manipulation -- ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.
ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.
ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don't resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.
ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.
TRADEMARK: "The first shall be last"
This refers to the open-door policy of ENFJs. One ENFJ colleague always welcomes me into his office regardless of his own circumstances. If another person comes to the door, he allows them to interrupt our conversation with their need. While discussing that need, the phone rings and he stops to answer it. Others drop in with a 'quick question.' I finally get up, go to my office and use the call waiting feature on the telephone. When he hangs up, I have his undivided attention!
ENFJs direct their energy towards the outer world of actions and spoken words. They try to build harmony in important personal relationships. Their lives are organized on a personal basis, seeking to develop and promote personal growth in people they value.
What makes an ENFJ tick?
The Dominant function is the judging one of Feeling. Characteristics associated with this function include:
- Makes decisions on the basis of personal values
- Is appreciative and accepting of people - enjoying company and seeking harmony
- Assesses the impact of decisions on others, being sympathetic or compassionate
- Takes a personal approach
- seek stable, harmonious relationships
- tend to adapt to the environment, taking on board those values that are held as important by friends and family, or society as a whole
- express the appreciation that is felt towards others
- tend to consider others' feelings before his/her own
- be sensitive to praise and criticism, and seek to conform to others' reasonable expectations
- focusing the (outer world) Feeling on ideas and possibilities for people
- looking for meaningful relationships
- aiming to understand people, gaining insight into their personality and motivation
Contributions to the team of an ENFJ
In a team environment, the ENFJ can contribute by:
- promoting insight and common understanding amongst the team
- facilitating discussions, encouraging contributions from all team members by asking questions in a structured way
- seeking to arrive at consensus decisions
- generating team spirit though the ENFJ's own energy and enthusiasm
- focusing on areas of agreement and building on others' proposals
- bringing discussions to positive conclusions
- talking too much
- assuming they know the needs of others - in trying to help them develop insight, the ENFJ can appear bossy
- avoiding conflict and not giving criticism when it is needed
- taking criticism personally
- focusing so much on interpersonal issues that cost and other impersonal considerations are not adequately addressed.
Personal Growth
As with all types, the ENFJ can achieve personal growth by developing all functions that are not fully developed, through actions such as:
- learning to observe and accept the negative aspects of those people they admire
- finding an independent and objective means of verifying their insights about people
- pausing and thinking, encouraging others to articulate their own needs, and using active listening to verify understanding
- undertaking a critical appraisal of a situation or person, and expressing disagreement or criticism when it could be of value to the recipient
- focusing on impersonal details when making decisions
- listing options and undertaking a formal process of evaluation against criteria, including a cost benefit analysis
- establishing a long term goal, working towards it, but being prepared to modify it in the light of experience and developing circumstances
- letting others develop at their own pace
As stress increases, 'learned behavior' tends to give way to the natural style, so the ENFJ will behave more according to type when under greater stress. For example, in a crisis, the ENFJ might:
- get everyone organized
- express appreciation for their efforts
- contribute creative ideas, but overlook current realities
- fail to consider the cost implications
- being very critical and find fault with almost everything
- doing things to excess - e.g.: eating, drinking or exercising
- asking for irrelevant information
- ignoring others' feelings
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