Extraverted
Feeling with
Introverted Intuiting
STRENGTHS
With their preference for Feeling,
ENFJs are thoughtful, caring, compassionate individuals. Loyal and dependable,
and having a strong sense of duty and responsibility, they believe it is important
to adhere closely to established systems and procedures. Keen to plan ahead,
methodical and detail-conscious, they will be committed to complete tasks on
schedule and to the required standard. Having an insightful, perceptive view
of life, they focus on the deeper hidden patterns and meanings behind surface
forms and structures. However, although they are orientated towards the abstract
and theoretical, they do not approach life in a cool, analytical or distant
way. Rather, having a genuine empathic concern for those around them, they have
a friendly, expressive, social presence. Quick to give, and seek, social support,
they will prefer to learn about a subject by participating in lively informed
debate or discussion, rather than through private study or reflection.
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Orientated towards the Extraverted world
of people and external events, ENFJs are enthusiastic, energetic, outgoing individuals.
Friendly, supportive and caring, they have a warm, personable social presence.
Thoughtful and considerate, they take a genuine personal interest in those around
them. Compassionate, understanding and sensitive to others' needs, they dislike
conflict, disagreement and discord, which they will work to resolve by actively
seeking compromise and consensus. As a result, supervising others' work may
not come naturally to them. When working in teams they will wish to have a well
defined role, and to be set clearly defined goals. Committed, loyal team members,
they are keen to work for the common good, and often act as catalysts, bringing
out the best in their colleagues and friends. Active, enthusiastic facilitators,
who enjoying organising people, tasks and situations, they will be keen to contribute
to the team effort.
THINKING STYLE
Using their Intuition to look beyond the
obvious, known facts in a given situation, ENFJs tend to focus on the fundamental
principles and concepts underlying a given task or problem. Thus, they approach
practical, real-world problems by first understanding the problem from a theoretical
perspective. However, despite their creative, intellectual approach to problems,
their preference for Feeling enables them to maintain a strong awareness of
the interpersonal dimensions of the task at all times. Moreover, being attuned
to the feelings of others, they will be sensitive to the impact their actions
will have upon those around them, with their decisions taking into account the
personal and emotional needs of their colleagues. Approaching tasks in a clear,
orderly and methodical way, they will not lose sight of the detailed aspects
of the task. Marshalling theoretical concepts in an orderly and methodical manner
to support their arguments, they are ordered in their thinking.
HOW OTHERS MAY SEE YOU
Known for their sound grasp of theoretical
concepts and fundamental principles, colleagues will respect their ability to
approach problems in a systematic, orderly manner. However, more down-to-earth
colleagues, who are less interested in the subtle nuances of a problem, might
on occasion worry that they may lose sight of practical, day-to-day realities.
Perceptive, empathic, caring individuals, their colleagues will view them as
thoughtful, considerate and understanding. However, if others spurn their genuine
offers of help and support, they may feel hurt or rejected. Sensitive to others¹
needs, and preferring to manage by consensus, their egalitarian style may be
misinterpreted by some as indicating an inability to take difficult, unpopular
decisions. Well organised, dependable and reliable, they will be trusted to
see tasks through to the end. Committed, co-operative and loyal, they will be
popular team members who are keen to contribute to the team effort.
After publishing his seminal work on psychological types in 1921, Jung did little further work in this area. However the importance of his work was recognised by the mother and daughter team, Elizabeth Myers and Catherine Briggs. Realising that if Jung's ideas were to have any practical application it would be necessary to develop an easy method for assessing a person's psychological type, Myers and Briggs published the first type indicator in 1949. Moreover, they developed the now famous four-letter type code as a short hand way of describing a person's type.In addition to providing a short-cut route for describing a person's psychological type, the four-letter code also reveals a set of complex personality dynamics which provide insights into the order in which the preferred psychological processes are likely to manifest themselves in the person's daily life.
The way to discover the dynamic relationship between these psychological processes is by examining the middle two preferences; SN for perceiving, and TF for judging, types. These are referred to as functions. For any type, one of these functions is dominant and this dominant function is used in the preferred world (external or internal as indicated by the EI preference), with Extraverts using their dominant function in the external world and Introverts using their dominant function in the internal world. Moreover, the function which the type code indicates is not preferred is called the auxiliary function. Thus, if either the S or N function were indicated as being the preferred function, then either the T or F function would be the auxiliary function.
So, introverts are more likely to exhibit their auxiliary function when relating to the outer world, whereas their dominant function will be used mainly when relating to the inner world, and will thus not be readily accessible for others to see. In contrast, because Extraverts use their dominant function in the outer world, it will be available for all to see.
