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Developing Your Type – ESTP

Developing Your Type – ESTP

By Donna Dunning

ESTP Logical Responder: Act and Adapt

“It’s easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission.”

4.3% of the population

Type Dynamics for the ESTP

Dominant (Se): Outwardly acting on the facts and details of the immediate situation

Auxiliary (Ti): Inwardly logically interpreting data based on their experience

Tertiary (F): As they mature, consider personal as well as logical consequences of actions

Inferior (Ni): Developmental challenge is visioning and future, long-term planning

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

The ESTP Preferred Mode

Logical Responders use Extraverted Sensing (Se) as their core approach to work and living. ESTPs usually take a practical approach and are interested in taking immediate action. They tend to be observant and are often interested in solving problems and trying new things.

Logical Responders thrive in situations where they have variety and flexibility. They want to experience and enjoy the moment. If you are a Logical Responder, you are likely at your best when you are actively responding and interacting with the environment around you.

Adding a Secondary Approach

Logical Responders tend to trust and use a decision making process that evaluates options based on impersonal, logical, analysis.

This decision making approach provides direction and ensures the ESTP doesn’t get distracted by whatever is most interesting right now. Others usually won’t see this secondary process as the evaluation and prioritizing of options tends to happen internally. You will see this approach indirectly when the ESTP acts on what seems most logical to do next.

Development Pathway

ESTPs will likely be convinced to develop their non-preferred preferences when they can see practical, logical reasons to do so.

As Logical Responders develop, they learn to add a more compassionate component to their decision-making. For example, a young ESTP may move forward quickly in a direction to gain the most logical and immediate rewards. A more mature ESTP may learn to take time to look at how other people will respond to, and be affected by, his or her actions. ESTPs will be motivated to look at how others will respond when they realize that others may block or slow down progress if their opinions are not considered.

Over time Logical Responders can also learn to place more emphasis on the long-term implications and consequences of actions. They will be motivated to do this when it serves their preferred mode of operating. For example, an ESTP can be convinced to make long-term plans to create more effective, flexible working arrangements. Using a personal, strategic approach can also serve the Logical Responder by providing a way to prepare for the future.

Developmental Tips for the Logical Responder

  • Use your casual, in-the-moment approach selectively since others may misinterpret this as irresponsible or flippant.
  • Make your decisions more balanced by imagining how each option will affect the people involved and adding this data into your analysis of the situation.
  • To hone your process of personal analysis, listen carefully to others to hear how they are interpreting the situation or your actions.
  • When making choices, consider the long-term as well as short-term implications and consequences.
  • When solving problems, instead of just getting things up and running, consider slowing down to make a more complete overhaul when necessary.

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

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

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 at 9:00 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.

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