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Developing Your Type – ENFP

Developing Your Type – ENFP

By Donna Dunning

ENFP Compassionate Explorer: Innovate and Initiate

 “Follow your dreams.”

8.1 % of the population

Type Dynamics for the ENFP

Dominant (Ne): Outwardly focused on possibilities for enhancing human potential.

Auxiliary (Fi): Inwardly evaluating ideas according to their personal values.

Tertiary (T): As they mature, assess situations objectively as well as personally.

Inferior (Si): Developmental challenge is considering facts, data and current realities.

My previous blogs – Understanding Type Dynamics: Dominant Functions, Understanding Type Dynamics: Auxiliary Functions, and Taking Personality Type Beyond Your Preferences have more information on type dynamics.

The ENFP Preferred Mode

Compassionate Explorers use Extraverted Intuition (Ne) as their core approach to work and living. ENFPs usually take an energetic approach and are interested in ideas and possibilities. They tend to actively play with new concepts and pursue new ventures.

Compassionate Explorers thrive in situations where they have variety and flexibility. They want opportunities to try new things and re-invent old ways of doing things. If you are a Compassionate Explorer, you are likely at your best when you are engaging in open-ended activities and discussions.

Adding a Secondary Approach

Compassionate Explorers tend to trust and use a decision making process that evaluates options based on personal values and how people will be affected.

This decision making approach provides direction and ensures the ENFPs don’t get lost trying out the many options they can imagine. Others usually won’t see this secondary process as the evaluation and prioritizing of ideas tends to happen internally. You will see this approach indirectly when the ENFP decides to act on one of the ideas they have been considering. 

Development Pathway

ENFPs will likely be convinced to develop their non-preferred preferences when they can see how using these parts of their personality will broaden their options or create more options or flexibility for others.

As Compassionate Explorers develop, they learn to add a more objective component to their decision-making. For example, young ENFPs may try out many different options as long as the option fits with their values and provides an opportunity for self-expression or growth. A more mature ENFP may learn to look more objectively at an option and analyze the pros and cons before taking action. They will be motivated to use this process when they realize that a careful analysis will help them to head in the right direction and make a valuable dream or goal come true.

Over time Compassionate Explorers can also learn to place more emphasis on the practical side of situations. They will be motivated to do this when it serves their preferred mode of operating. For example, an ENFP can be convinced to inventory the facts and realities of a situation when they realize they must do so to explain their ideas to others or to move forward. Using a logical, practical approach can also serve the Compassionate Explorers by providing a way to check if their ideas and ideals are viable.

Developmental Tips for the Compassionate Explorer

  • Make your decisions more balanced by imagining the logical implications and consequences of each option as well as looking at personal and humanistic considerations.
  • To hone your process of objective analysis, practice making a logical argument to defend a decision.
  • Take time to identify and analyze the gap between where you are now and where you want to be in the future.
  • When asked to complete a task or project, don’t overestimate what you can do. Accurately assess the facts and practical constraints of the situation.
  • Map out a sequential, practical plan for accomplishing a goal.

You will find an overview of the two types of Explorers, their career success stories and strategies, and occupations that attract them on the Explorer main page.

What’s Your Type of Career? includes a section on career and life development strategies for Explorers.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 14th, 2011 at 8:44 am and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “Developing Your Type – ENFP”

  1. Williamdut says:

    I truly appreciate this article post.Really thank you! Want more.

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