ENFJs are encouraging leaders who aspire to help others and implement their vision for the world. They empathize with others’ motivations and needs, using this knowledge to bring out their potential. They thrive on harmony and being part of a group.
ENFJs love to encourage others and work towards a shared a goal. They have deeply held visions and beliefs. They are very aware of human suffering and flaws in the world, which they strive to make a better place. They feel called to serve a greater purpose.
Protagonist
Leader, Altruistic, Personable, Overly Idealistic, Intense
Motivations: Driven by altruism and empathy for others to achieve their vision
Values: Cooperation, connection, creativity, and personal beliefs
Fears: Being insignificant
3% of General Population; 2% of Men; 3% of Women
Extrovert (E):
Energized by being around others
Intuition (N):
Focused more on ideas, abstracts, and patterns
Feeling (F):
Decisions are made from the heart
Judging (J):
Perceived by others as organized and structured
Strengths & Weaknesses
Healthy personality types will often relate more to the strengths, while unhealthy types relate more to the weaknesses. However, most people are a combination of both.
Strengths:
ENFJs have a great ability to form genuine connections with others. They work to promote harmony and excel in conflict resolution. They have strong intuition and are quickly able to empathize with others. Their enthusiasm motivates and inspires others.
- Receptive
- Reliable
- Passionate
- Altruistic
- Charismatic
Weaknesses:
ENFJs overcommit because their excitement leads them to say “yes” often. Criticism is tough to receive because they are already over-critical of themselves. They struggle to make tough decisions that appear to lack compassion. They can also be out of touch with their own needs.
- Unrealistic
- Overly idealistic
- Condescending
- Intense
- Overly empathetic
Development
Like any personality type, ENFJs can be healthy, unhealthy, or anywhere in between. Here is what they look like at their best and at their worst.
At Their Best
At their best, ENFJs are encouraging leaders who care about others. They are naturally empathetic to the thoughts and feelings of others and provide gentle encouragement. Their passion and ideals lead them to strive for the vision they have for the world.
At Their Worst
At their worst, ENFJs spread themselves too thin leaving them unable to help anyone. In wanting to teach others about their ideals, they can become condescending. They can become too intense and pushy with the change they want to see in themselves and others.
Personal Growth
Though ENFJs have many great qualities, there are always areas for any type to grow in. Here are some tips for growth.
- Think about the details: ENFJs are so passionate and intuitive that they can dive into projects or activities without putting much thought into how everything will work out. It may be boring to consider the fine print or the mundane tasks needed to accomplish your task, but considering these things before committing can be very beneficial to everyone involved.
- Learn to say no earlier: ENFJs can get so excited about life that they tend to overcommit, and then later become overwhelmed or are unable to fulfill certain obligations. Examine your decisions before committing. This will also help you to not start and stop projects so frequently.
- Get comfortable with conflict: Being amicable and living in harmony is a great value to have, but this is not always achievable and that’s okay. Addressing conflict can help the ENFJ grow and even deepen their relationships.
Managing Conflict
Typically, ENFJs communicate in an open and direct way. They like socializing, flexibility, and being in control. They are people and task-oriented. They do not like routine tasks or being alone, because it makes them feel too disconnected from others. When confronted, they may appear manipulative, impulsive, and critical.
When ENFJs find themselves in conflict with others, it’s important for them to have action taken on the problem. They neglect their own needs often and aren’t good at separating their emotions from the problem. It will be hardest for ENFJs to communicate with those who care more about data and statistics rather than personal human experiences. When under stress, ENFJs tend to challenge or attack, or try to dictate the situation. Here are some tips for ENFPs to manage conflict:
- Learn to focus less on your emotions, and try focusing more on the facts
- Find a healthy balance between caring for others’ needs and your own
- Give yourself credit where credit is due
- Don’t be afraid to sit with bigger conflicts for longer than you’re comfortable with
Types they may struggle to communicate with:
Nurturing ENFJs
To take care of an ENFJ, it’s important to know what stresses them out and what they need to fill at ease. Below are some stressors for ENFJs, and also what others can do to help them feel cared for.
Stressors
- Judgement and criticism from people they value
- Feeling like a burden to society
- Having to focus on details
- Facing negativity from the community
Nurture
- Praise and acceptance from valued people
- Feeling like a contribution to society
- Focusing on intuition and the big picture
- Having positivity and encouragement from the community
The Human Connection 