Personality Profile - ENFP
ENFPs direct their energy towards the outer world of actions and spoken words. They seek to develop new potential, explore new possibilities, and create new situations that yield the expectation of something better. They often enjoy work that involves experimentation and variety.
The Dominant function is the perceptive one of iNtuition. Characteristics associated with this function include:
• Likes looking at information from a global viewpoint, spotting patterns and relationships that lead to an understanding of the key issues
• Focuses more on possibilities for the future than the here-&-now
• Enjoys change, challenge, and variety
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The perceptive iNtuition function is extraverted. That is, iNtuition is used primarily to govern the outer world of actions and spoken words. The ENFP will, therefore:
• Try ideas out to explore new possibilities and discover, by experience, which ones work
• Change procedures to see if any improvement can be made, rather than operate them
• Be interested in evolutionary development, but with an eye on the strategy.
• Be more interested in exploring ideas than bringing them to closure
The iNtuition function is primarily supported by introverted Feeling judgment; that is, Feeling judgment is used primarily to manage the inner world of thoughts and emotions. This will modify how the iNtuition is directed by:
• Focusing the (outer world) iNtuition on ideas and possibilities that relate to people
• Inwardly appreciating the contributions of others, though not expressing it that often.
• Internally rejecting any options that conflict with the ENFP's values - though others might not express or see the rejection.
The classic temperament of an ENFP is Apollonian, or Choleric, for whom a basic driving force is the search for meaning or purpose.
Contributions to the team of an ENFP In a team environment, the ENFP can contribute by:
• Acting as a catalyst for change and encouraging the team to change together
• Focusing on areas of agreement and building on others' proposals
• Where there are areas of disagreement, exploring a wide range of options to see if a point of agreement can be found.
• Contributing creative ideas, particularly those involving people
• Including others in the process of developing ideas and vision and being very accepting of contributions, even of varying quality
• Generating team spirit through the ENFP's energy and enthusiasm
The potential ways in which an ENFP can irritate others include:
• Losing sight of the primary purpose of the discussion and going off on tangents
• Initiating too many projects and not being able to deliver on all of them
• Talking too much
• Introducing too much change and not leaving well-established, workable routines alone.
• Making errors of fact
• Wanting to pursue ideas without fully thinking through the consequences in, say, cost terms
Personal Growth As with all types, the ENFP can achieve personal growth by developing all functions that are not fully developed, through actions such as:
• Being selective about starting projects, and producing plans to help identify which ones can be delivered
• Pausing and thinking, and recognizing that others will accept the ENFP and his/her ideas more if given sufficient time to make their own contribution
• Being more accepting of existing routines that work well
• Investigating the facts, and documenting them, before interpreting what they mean
• Listing options and undertaking a formal process of evaluation against criteria, including a cost-benefit analysis
• Changing his/her vision to fit more closely with what is possible
• Expressing the appreciation that is felt towards others
Recognizing Stress As stress increases, 'learned behavior' tends to give way to the natural style, so the ENFP will behave more according to type when under more significant stress. For example, in a crisis, the ENFP might:
• Involve people in brainstorming ideas
• Be democratic about choosing the solution to use
• Provide a lot of drive, but try to do too much • Make errors of fact or ignore routine matters that might nevertheless be essential
Under extreme stress, fatigue, or illness, the ENFP's shadow may appear a negative form of ISTJ. Example characteristics are:
• Being pedantic about unimportant details
• Doing things to excess - e.g., eating, drinking, or exercising
• Being critical of others and finding fault with almost everything
• Taking charge without consideration for others
The shadow is part of the unconscious that is often visible to others onto whom the shadow is projected. The ENFP may, therefore, readily see these faults in others without recognizing them in themselves.
Leadership Style
Participative Leadership: This particular Leadership Style encourages and accepts input from one or more group participants (Elders) in the Decision-making and Problem-Solving process. This basic leadership style tends to give a central figure the final say. In contrast, Biblically, the Holy Spirit retains the final say, communicated through the plurality of Leadership (i.e., the Church
Elders). This leadership style tends to be more effective since no leader can be an expert in all areas of concern. Each member participates within their area of expertise, knowledge, humility, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. That said, within any group dynamic, one person stands out as the 'Visionary,' providing direction and guidance. Ideally, this should be the Pastor. Applying a Leadership style does not negate the use of the other two styles (i.e., authoritative and delegative styles). The participative leadership style is my primary emphasis, keeping with my character and passion for ministry. Good leaders utilize all three styles depending on the group dynamic. For example:
• Use an authoritative style if a group member lacks knowledge about a specific procedure.
• Use a participative style with group members who understand the objectives and their role in the task.
• Use a delegative style if the group member knows more than you do about the task.