Do you ever wonder about the below-the-surface forces that help you get up in the morning, drive your decision-making, and ultimately impact how you operate in the world? There are ways to uncover your personality type and better understand your motivation and preferences — most notably through the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). When you are able to better understand what makes you tick, you can maximize your skills, and natural abilities in your interpersonal relationships and career.
The ENFP personality type is one of 16 different types described in the MBTI. If you are an ENFP, you are people-centered, creative, focus on possibilities, and have an innate enthusiasm for new ideas, experiences and people. While there are significant strengths to this personality type, it is important to dig deep to draw attention to possible blind spots.
What Does ENFP Mean?
Referred to as the “Champion” or “Encourager” personality type, ENFP stands for the four cognitive functions that help this group of individuals process information and make decisions. This acronym stands for extraverted, intuitive, feeling, and perceiving — serving as one of the core MBTI personality types.
Breaking it down, ENFP indicates a person is energized by time spent with others (extraverted), focuses on big-picture ideas and concepts rather than small details (intuitive), makes decisions based on feelings and values (feeling), and gravitates toward spontaneity and flexibility rather than organization and planning (perceiving).
Characteristics of an ENFP
If you are an ENFP, you are likely driven by a desire to apply your skills and passions to better humanity. Your personality is energetic, warm and enthusiastic, with a motivation to help other people explore and tap into their full creative potential. Situations where you have the freedom to innovate are the ones in which you thrive the most.
These additional characteristics are also common among this personality type:
- Social
Because ENFPs are outgoing, their preference is to go out rather than stay in, and they thrive on having conversations with others to process their thoughts externally. - Thoughtful
As great problem-solvers, ENFPs enjoy figuring out how things are connected and work together. - Peaceful
ENFPs avoid conflict by keeping the peace and encouraging those around them. - Adventurous
They gravitate toward new experiences and possibilities while tending to avoid strict routines, schedules, and rules. - Creative
Hobbies and interests of an ENFP might include writing, creating, art appreciation, playing musical instruments, listening to music, theater, and reading fiction.
ENFP strengths and blind spots
No matter your personality, there are strengths and weaknesses that come forward in certain professional and personal situations. By determining what drives your motivation and preferences, you are better equipped to positively interact with people of different backgrounds and value systems.
Strengths associated with the ENFP personality include:
- Relating to others
- Positive attitude
- Flexibility
- Creative problem solving
- Communication
Weaknesses associated with the ENFP personality include:
- Trouble focusing
- Stressing about the details
- Need for approval from others
- Disorganization
For ENFP personality types — those who are enthusiastic, charismatic, and creative — it is important to actively seek situations where you have the freedom to be innovative. While ENFP strengths are driven by extroversion, it is important to watch out for the potential for disorganization and stress over small details to ensure the best experiences. When choosing a career path, ENFPs would be best served in service-oriented roles with significant flexibility, and when navigating personal relationships, it is important to find moments where you can grow stronger in the relationship.
Interpreting Your MBTI Results
The results from the MBTI instrument are used to help participants become aware of their unique personality attributes and preferences. If you are found to be an ENFP personality type, there are no right or wrong preferences, and even though there may be a preference for doing one activity or task over another, it doesn’t mean you do not have the ability to successfully do both — it simply provides insight into different interests, behaviors, and perspectives.
MBTI results and mental health
Through understanding your own preferences and personality type, you can learn more about how certain situations may impact you, how you prefer to communicate and how you impact others. Being able to communicate can help you stay mentally healthy and create long lasting relationships. While all preferences are equal, each features different strengths and challenges, and by making yourself aware, you can better appreciate how others play a role in contributing to a situation, task, or problem-solving. Having a deeper understanding of yourself, you’ll be able to better avoid situations that cause you stress or anxiety, and know how to better take care of you and your mental health.
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