As Michael Segovia, a senior consultant at The Myers-Briggs Company, explains to mbg, ENFPs are known to be spontaneous, creative, personable, energetic, and future-focused. And John Hackston, head of thought leadership at The Myers-Briggs Company, adds that they’re also enthusiastic, caring, and people-centered. These folks love to try or share new things, from ideas to experiences, but they can have some difficulty with follow-through. And Segovia adds that they’re also likely to feel overwhelmed or have a sudden change in emotions if they’re forced to make a decision before they’re ready for it. They tend to be supportive and good listeners, making their partners feel seen and appreciated, he notes, adding that meaningful conversations to share dreams, feelings, and thoughts matter to them deeply. According to Hackston, while they want to feel a deep connection to a romantic partner, they also want someone they can have fun with. “This may be overwhelming or too intense for some people, so the ideal romantic partner is likely to be someone who either reciprocates these characteristics—another ENFP, for example—or someone happy to be spontaneous and go with the flow” (aka likely another perceiving type). And as Segovia adds, ENFPs can be “more difficult to be understood by types that value stability and routine.” Statistically speaking, research has shown that people who have intuition and feeling in common have a greater than 70% chance of compatibility. That means an ENFP will be most compatible with an ENFJ, INFJ, INFP, or another ENFP. Hackston and Segovia also note that it’s not uncommon for an ENFP to change careers, and even career paths, multiple times throughout their life. Ultimately, they’re creative problem solvers and thrive by learning new things and thinking outside the box, Segovia says. “They feel attracted by the opportunity of working alongside different people—especially those who also express their creativity when facing challenges,” he adds. ENFPs like the freedom to follow their own process, so deadlines can be stressful for them. Because of this, ENFPs may find themselves interested in entrepreneurship, Segovia tells mbg. And as Hackston adds, they’re also attracted to jobs where they can motivate and inspire others, combine innovation with teamwork and their values, and of course, be creative or even artsy. Segovia echoes this point, adding to be aware of other commitments so you don’t bounce around, overcommit, or overwhelm yourself. And speaking of overwhelming, “Schedules and deadlines are generally inevitable in the workplace, so try to create mechanisms to balance them with your creative process to avoid stress triggers,” he adds. And lastly, according to Segovia, its important ENFPs remember to honor who they are first and foremost, “while learning how to flex to the opposite side of your preferences when the situation calls for it” (i.e., tapping into your logic or “thinking” when the “feeling” side is running the ship).
