ENFJ (extraversion, intuition, feeling, judging) is a four-letter acronym used to represent one of the 16 Myers-Briggs personality types. People with the ENFJ personality type tend to be responsible, outgoing, and loyal.
Key Takeaways
- Extroversion means ENFJs gain energy from interacting with others and enjoy social settings. They are typically outgoing, talkative, and thrive in dynamic environments.
- Intuition indicates ENFJs focus on possibilities and the big picture rather than concrete details. They are imaginative and future-oriented, constantly seeking new ideas and insights.
- Feeling highlights that ENFJs prioritize emotions and values when making decisions. They are empathetic and strive for harmony in their relationships.
- Judging reflects ENFJs’ preference for structure and organization. They are decisive, planful, and prefer to have things settled.
ENFJ tend to make good leaders as they are highly capable of facilitating agreement among diverse groups of people.
They are charismatic, have excellent communication skills, and are typically very organized and goal-oriented. However, they can sometimes neglect their needs while caring for others and might struggle with taking criticism or dealing with conflict.
Famous ENFJs include Oprah Winfrey, Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Maslow, Barack Obama, Pope John Paul II, and Maya Angelou.
ENFJ is one of the less common types in the population, especially for men. Among men, ENFJ is the second-rarest type. ENFJs make up:
- 3% of the general population
- 2% of men
- 2% of women
ENFJs are sometimes referred to as “the Giver,” “the Protagonist,” or “the Teacher.” ISTP is the opposite personality type of ENFJ.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Affectionate | Self-sacrificing |
| Harmonious | Overprotective |
| Reliable | Indecisive |
| Altruistic | Overly Idealistic |
| Sociable | Manipulative |
Warm and charismatic
ENFJs are naturally engaging and draw people to them with their genuine warmth and enthusiasm
They can form friendships with all types of people and captivate a wide audience with their irresistible charm.
As extroverts, ENFJs love spending time with other people. They like to be the center of attention and thrive on the energy from being in the company of others.
They have excellent people skills and a unique ability to communicate proficiently in large crowds or small groups.
They are also skilled at establishing harmony among diverse groups of people as their charisma can easily persuade others to their ideas.
ENFJs tend to have large social circles. They work hard to maintain strong relationships and will go to great lengths to care for their loved ones.
However, while ENFJs are highly sociable, they do need time alone to recuperate and organize their thoughts.
Empathetic and insightful
ENFJs are highly attuned to the emotions of others and possess a deep understanding of human nature.
They have a unique ability to understand what others feel while also recognizing the importance of allowing others to express themselves fully.
They enjoy helping others solve their personal problems as they strive to have a positive impact on the world around them.
But, ENFJs can sometimes be too empathetic to the point of being over-involved. They can tend to
take on other people’s problems as their own.
Idealistic and principled
ENFJs have strong values and strive to make the world a better place. They are passionate about justice and fairness, often advocating for social causes.
They preach authenticity and altruism and harbor a deep desire to be a force of positivity in the world.
They can be incredibly persuasive and influential, motivated to change people’s minds by their genuine desire to do the right thing and help others realize their potential.
They are driven to stand up for the people and ideas that they believe in because they genuinely believe they can make an impactful difference.
Great Leaders
People with the ENFJ personality type can make great leaders. They tend to be idealists who are driven to implement their visions and achieve their goals in order to benefit society.
ENFJs prefer structure and planning in their lives. They are efficient and decisive, able to take charge and make things happen
They are motivating and inspirational and feel passionate about the potential for humanity. ENFJs feel a personal responsibility to make the world a better place.
They can intuitively see opportunities for improvement in others and thus love to support people in becoming the best versions of themselves.
They are so interested in devoting their time to others, though, that sometimes they neglect their own needs in the process.
Hobbies
ENFJs have a thirst for knowledge and are constantly seeking personal growth. This suggests they might enjoy hobbies related to:
- Reading: Exploring new ideas and perspectives through books could be a source of enjoyment and intellectual stimulation for ENFJs.
- Travel: Immersing themselves in different cultures and broadening their horizons might appeal to ENFJs’ sense of adventure and desire for growth.
- Spiritual exploration: ENFJs’ strong values and search for meaning might lead them to explore different spiritual practices or philosophies.
ENFJs are deeply relational and thrive on meaningful connections with others. This suggests they might enjoy hobbies that involve:
- Social gatherings: ENFJs are energized by social interaction and likely enjoy hosting parties or attending events that allow them to connect with people.
- Volunteering: Their strong values and desire to make a positive impact on the world might lead ENFJs to volunteer for causes they care about.
- Teaching or mentoring: Sharing their knowledge and inspiring others is deeply fulfilling for ENFJs, making teaching, coaching, or mentoring potential hobbies
Careers
ENFJs are enthusiastic problem-solvers who are particularly skilled at resolving conflicts and creating harmony.
They can excel in essentially any people-oriented field, but tend to feel particularly motivated when they can help others learn and grow.
- Teaching and Education: ENFJs’ passion for inspiring others and facilitating growth makes them naturally drawn to teaching. Their empathy, communication skills, and ability to connect with students on an emotional level make them effective educators.
- Counseling and Social Work: ENFJs’ empathy, insight, and desire to help others make them well-suited for roles in counseling and social work. Their ability to listen actively, provide support, and guide individuals towards positive change is invaluable in these fields.
- Healthcare: ENFJs’ compassion and care make them valuable members of healthcare teams. They might excel as nurses, therapists, or in other roles that involve direct patient care and support.
- Leadership and Management: ENFJs’ natural leadership qualities, combined with their organization and decisiveness, make them effective managers and leaders. They excel at inspiring teams, setting clear goals, and fostering a positive work environment.
Work Environments
ENFJs are energized by social interaction and thrive in workplaces that value collaboration and teamwork.
Their empathy, warmth, and communication skills make them excellent at building relationships and fostering a harmonious atmosphere.
Roles that involve interacting with people, such as teaching, counseling, or social work, often appeal to ENFJs
The ideal work environment for an ENFJ is one that is harmonious, progressive, and people-centered. They enjoy working on a team where everyone can feel comfortable expressing their opinions and is motivated by the same core vision.
They thrive in environments that emphasize a clear humanitarian mission and are aligned with their personal values.
ENFJs look for work that allows them to support others and encourage their growth.
Personal Relationships
ENFJs bring a wealth of positive qualities to their relationships:
- Feeling-Driven: ENFJs prioritize empathy, harmony, and emotional well-being in their relationships. They are naturally warm, caring, and supportive partners. This aligns with their Feeling preference, which guides their decision-making and interpersonal interactions.
- Meaningful Connections: ENFJs seek deep, authentic relationships with individuals who share their values and inspire personal growth. They don’t waste time on superficial connections. This stems from their Introverted Feeling (Fi), which emphasizes a strong inner moral compass and authenticity.
- Harmony and Growth: ENFJs are skilled at creating harmonious environments and nurturing their relationships. They are proactive, organized, and decisive in taking care of loved ones and planning thoughtful gestures. This aligns with their Judging preference, which values structure and closure.
Compatible Matches: ENFJs and INTPs
- Shared Intuition and Intellectual Connection: Both ENFJs and INTPs are intuitive thinkers who enjoy exploring abstract concepts and engaging in thought-provoking conversations. This shared intellectual curiosity can create a strong foundation for their bond.
- Complementary Thinking and Feeling: The INTP’s dominant Thinking function can offer a healthy counterbalance to the ENFJ’s dominant Feeling function. This difference can foster growth as each partner learns from the other’s perspective and approach to problem-solving.
- Mutual Respect and Understanding: Although their core functions differ, both ENFJs and INTPs value authenticity and direct communication. This can lead to a foundation of mutual respect and understanding in their relationship.
Tips for Interacting With ENFJs
Friendships
The ideal friend for an ENFJ appreciates their compassion and support, and accepts the care that they naturally offer.
As people with this personality type enjoy helping others, it is important to make an ENFJ feel appreciated and acknowledged.
It is also important to make an effort to understand the ENFJ’s feelings and values and offer your own support in return.
Relationships
Similarly, as the significant other of an ENFJ, you should let your partner know how much you appreciate their generosity and care.
ENFJs believe relationships are built on trust and mutual support, so you should also be willing to provide the same love and kindness in return.
Parenting
As parents, ENFJs tend to have a more hands-on approach. They take a very active role in their children’s lives and enjoy guiding them through the world.
They can be overprotective and stifling, making it difficult for their children to learn and explore on their own.
They can also hold high expectations for their kids and become disappointed when they do not live up to these expectations.
However, they love their children deeply and tend to create encouraging and supportive home lives.
Cognitive Functions of an ENFJ
The MBTI suggests that the four different cognitive functions (thinking, feeling, intuition, and sensing) form a hierarchy where each function is either directed outwardly (extroverted) or inwardly (introverted). The order of these functions determines one’s personality.
The dominant function is the primary aspect of personality, while the auxiliary and tertiary functions play supportive roles.
Dominant: Extraverted Feeling
- ENFJs are outward-turning individuals who love being surrounded by others. They have engaging social behavior and draw energy from their social relationships.
- They are intuitively aware of other people’s feelings and tend to place the needs of others before their own.
- When making decisions, ENFJs tend to place a stronger emphasis on subjective emotions than on logic and facts. They are primarily concerned with how a decision will impact others.
Auxiliary: Introverted Intuition
- ENFJs like to think about the distant future rather than focus on the here and now.
- They create unique ideas, thoughts, and patterns as they process information about the world around them in order to make sense of complex or abstract concepts.
Tertiary: Extraverted Sensing
- This function of the ENFJ personality can lead these individuals to take in concrete details and sensory information from their environment, allowing them to appreciate the present moment.
- While ENFJs like to think about the distant future, they tend to be very aware of their immediate surroundings.
Inferior: Introverted Thinking
- ENFJs are highly organized and structured individuals who like to stick to a predictable schedule and routine.
- They want to feel in control of the world around
them. However, this is an inferior function, so many ENFJs do not feel confident in their own ability to be balanced and in control.
Test
Answer these questions to find out if ENFJ might be your personality type:
- Do you often find yourself naturally taking on leadership roles in group situations?
- Are you highly attuned to others’ emotions and needs?
- Do you enjoy spending time with people and feel energized by social interactions?
- When making decisions, do you tend to prioritize how they will impact others over purely logical considerations?
- Are you often described as charismatic, warm, or inspiring by others?
- Do you have a strong desire to help others reach their full potential?
- Are you skilled at facilitating harmony and agreement among diverse groups of people?
- Do you prefer planning and structure over spontaneity in your daily life?
- Are you driven by a desire to make a positive impact on the world and society?
- Do you sometimes neglect your own needs while caring for others?
If you answer “yes” to most of these questions, you may have ENFJ personality traits. However, remember that personality is complex, and a professional assessment would be needed for a definitive personality type determination.
Take the MBTI (Paper Version)
What is an ENFJ personality?
An ENFJ personality, based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, is characterized by the preferences for Extroverted (E), Intuitive (N), Feeling (F), and Judging (J). ENFJs are warm, empathetic, and charismatic individuals who excel in understanding and connecting with others. They are natural leaders, often driven by a desire to help people and positively impact the world.
ENFJs are skilled communicators, able to inspire and motivate those around them. They tend to be well-organized and value harmony in their relationships. However, they may struggle with taking criticism or setting personal boundaries, as they are highly attuned to the emotions and needs of others.
Is ENFJ a rare personality?
ENFJ is a relatively rare personality type, making up about 2-3% of the general population. As extroverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging individuals, ENFJs are known for their warmth, empathy, and leadership abilities.
Although not as rare as some other personality types, their unique combination of traits allows them to significantly impact their personal and professional lives, often excelling in roles that involve helping, teaching, or inspiring others.
Sources
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Myers, K. D., & Kirby, L. D. (2015). Introduction to type: A guide to understanding your results on the MBTI assessment. Sunnyvale, CA: CPP.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. (2019, May 28). New World Encyclopedia, . Retrieved from https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator&oldid=1020015.
Myers, Isabel B.; Myers, Peter B. (1995) [1980]. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type. Mountain View, CA: Davies-Black Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89106-074-1.
Pittenger, D. J. (2005). Cautionary Comments Regarding the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 57(3), 210-221.
The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®. The Myers & Briggs Foundation: MBTI Basics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/
