By Donna Dunning

Having coached several people with ESTP preferences through career and learning processes, I noticed they prefer activity to reflection and practical applications more than theoretical knowledge.

Action and Reflection

I have previously discussed the importance of incorporating both action and reflection when learning, deciding, and planning.

For someone with ESTP preferences, reflection may be less appealing than action.

One individual described his career path this way:

“If I didn’t like a job, I simply quit and immediately found another one… It never occurred to me to stop and analyze why I didn’t like the first job and why I chose the second job.”

When operating in his preferred mode, the individual is able to jump in and capitalize on unexpected opportunities. Taking advantage of happenstance is a valuable way to operate.

However, our strengths are often linked to our challenges. Later in his career, this man found it beneficial to take time to analyze themes in his work satisfaction and he chose to leap a little less often with a bit more forethought.

For more on this, see these posts:

Thoughtful Action: Personality type – The Joy of Flex

Acting and Reflecting

Making Good Decisions

Interested in learning more about how ESTPs tend to act and interact? Here are a few posts you might like.

Responders (ESTP and ESFP) Personality Type Preferences and Stress

Developing Your Type: ESTP

Narratives of Type: Responders (ESTPs and ESFPs)

Is there an ESTP in your Life?

Introduction to Type and Communication describes in detail how personality preferences influence communications.

If you live in the USA, Introduction to Type and Communication is now available on Kindle.