Extraverted
Intuiting with
Introverted Feeling
STRENGTHS
Warm, sociable and friendly, ENFPs
are quick to form new relationships. Moved by deep feelings and emotions, they
communicate in an open, honest way. Using their Intuition to look beyond the
obvious known facts in a given situation, they are insightful, free-thinking,
perceptive individuals. Inclined to question conventional wisdom, they tend
to focus on the deeper hidden patterns and meanings behind surface forms and
structures, and enjoy approaching old problems from novel theoretical perspectives.
Spontaneous, enthusiastic and quick to act, they may find rigid systems and
procedures stifling. Lively, energetic and versatile, they enjoy variety and
change and will actively seek out new, exciting challenges. Valuing authenticity
and genuineness in their relationships, their friends and colleagues will appreciate
the support and encouragement they freely offer. Focusing on the broader picture,
they approach problems in a strategic, expedient way, seeking novel, creative
solutions to problems.
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
With their preference for Feeling, ENFPs
are warm, empathic, caring individuals. Directing their attention to the Extraverted
world of people and external events, they have a great interest in those around
them, and are sensitive to their colleagues' feelings and personal needs. Thus,
others will be quick to warm to them, greatly appreciating their infectious
enthusiasm and zest for life. Averse to discord and disagreement, they will
try to accommodate others¹ needs when possible. Flexible and free-thinking,
they are open to others' points of view, which they will evaluate with sensitivity
and tact. Empathic, co-operative and having a genuine concern for others¹ 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.
THINKING STYLE
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, they are motivated to look beyond the superficial
facts in a given situation in search of deeper, hidden truths. However, this
does not mean that they will lack interest in solving practical, real-world
problems. Rather, it means that they approach such problems by focusing on the
theoretical concepts that underpin the problem at hand. Focusing on the broader
picture, attending to the detailed requirements of a task may not come naturally
to them. Attuned to others' feelings, perceptive and empathic, they will be
sensitive to the impact their decisions will have on those around them. They
will generally prefer to learn about a subject by participating in lively informed
debate or discussion, rather than through private study or reflection.
HOW OTHERS MAY SEE YOU
Colleagues will value their insights into
others' feelings, motives and actions, and their tendency to take a strategic
view of the 'broader picture'. Avoiding dogmatism, they will be seen as open-minded,
independent thinkers. Perceptive and sensitive to others¹ needs, they will be
viewed as thoughtful, considerate and understanding. However, if colleagues
try to take unfair advantage of their genuine offers of help and support, this
may generate feelings of resentment. Quick to give, and actively seek, affirmation
and support from others, they may become disheartened if they feel their ideas
and opinions are not valued. On occasion, more cautious, detail-conscious colleagues
may worry about their readiness to discard established systems and procedures,
when seeking immediate solutions to current problems. Inclined to go off on
tangents, and become engrossed in their own thoughts, some may view them as
being a little disorganised or absentminded at times.
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.
