MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INVENTORY

TYPE ENFJ-T

PERSONALITY (“Protagonist”)
Summary
People with the ENFJ personality type (Protagonists) feel called to serve a greater purpose in
life. Thoughtful and idealistic, ENFJs strive to have a positive impact on other people and the
world around them. These personalities rarely shy away from an opportunity to do the right
thing, even when doing so is far from easy. ENFJs are born leaders, which explains why these
personalities can be found among many notable politicians, coaches, and teachers. Their passion
and charisma allow them to inspire others not just in their careers but in every arena of their
lives, including their relationships. Few things bring people with the ENFJ personality type a
deeper sense of joy and fulfillment than guiding friends and loved ones to grow into their best
selves.

ENFJs tend to be vocal about their values, including authenticity and altruism. When something
strikes them as unjust or wrong, they speak up. But they rarely come across as brash or pushy, as
their sensitivity and insight guide them to speak in ways that resonate with others. ENFJ
personalities have not only an uncanny ability to pick up on people’s underlying motivations and
beliefs but also a knack for understanding how others are feeling just by looking at them. At
times, they may not even understand how they come to grasp another person’s mind and heart so
quickly. These flashes of insight can make ENFJs incredibly persuasive and inspiring
communicators. This personality type’s secret weapon is their purity of intent. Generally
speaking, ENFJs are motivated by a sincere wish to do the right thing rather than a desire to
manipulate or have power over other people. Even when they disagree with someone, they
search for common ground. The result is that people with the ENFJ personality type can
communicate with an eloquence and sensitivity that are nearly impossible to ignore – particularly
when they speak about matters that are close to their hearts.

When ENFJs care about someone, they want to help solve that person’s problems – sometimes at
any cost. The good news is that many people are grateful for this assistance and advice. After all,
there’s a reason that these personalities have a reputation for helping others improve their lives.
But getting involved in other people’s problems isn’t always a recipe for success. ENFJs tend to
have a clear vision of what people can or should do in order to better themselves, but not
everyone is ready to make those changes. If they push too hard, their loved ones may feel
resentful or unfairly judged. And while this personality type is known for being insightful, even
the wisest ENFJs may sometimes misread a situation or unwittingly give bad advice.

People with this personality type are devoted altruists, ready to face slings and arrows in order to
stand up for the people and ideas that they believe in. This strength of conviction bolsters an
ENFJ’s ability to guide others to work together in service of the greater good. But their greatest
gift might actually be leading by example. In their day-to-day lives, ENFJs reveal how seemingly
ordinary situations can be handled with compassion, dedication, and care. For these personalities,
even the smallest daily choices and actions – from how they spend their weekend to what they
say to a coworker who is struggling – can become an opportunity to lead the way to a brighter
future.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths include:

 Receptive – People with the ENFJ personality type (Protagonists) have strong opinions,
but they’re far from closed-minded. They recognize the importance of allowing others to
express themselves fully. Even when they don’t agree with someone, they recognize that
person’s right to voice their truth.
 Reliable – Few things bother ENFJs more than the prospect of letting down a person or
cause that they believe in. People with this personality type can be counted on to see their
promises and responsibilities through – even when it’s difficult to do so.
 Passionate – ENFJ personalities brim with interests, and they take great pleasure in
pursuing their hobbies – whether that’s hiking, cooking, dancing, growing houseplants, or
something else entirely. As a result, they rarely find themselves at a loss for something
interesting to do.
 Altruistic – ENFJs are known for harboring a deep desire to be a force for positive
change in both their personal lives and their professional pursuits. Their unwavering
inclination toward fairness often compels people with this personality type to advocate
for those who are unable to do so for themselves. Their joy lies in seeing those around
them thrive, making their altruism heartfelt and sincere.
 Charismatic – Determined and inspiring, ENFJs often find their way into leadership
roles. Whether they’re captain of their softball team or a leader on the world stage, they
excel at engaging in conversation, captivating people’s attention, and rallying people
together behind a common goal. ENFJ personalities also have a profound capacity for
empathy that oftentimes causes the people they come across to feel truly seen and valued,
further bolstering their natural allure.

Weaknesses include:

 Unrealistic – Many ENFJs put pressure on themselves to right every wrong that they
encounter. But no matter how hard these personalities try, it just isn’t realistic for them to
solve all of the world’s problems. If they aren’t careful, they can spread themselves too
thin – and be left unable to help anyone.
 Overly Idealistic – ENFJ personalities tend to have clear ideas about what’s right and
what’s wrong. They often think that everyone shares these fundamental principles – or, at
least, that everyone should share these principles. So it can come as a genuine shock to
ENFJs when people violate their core values, such as truth or justice.
 Condescending – People with this personality type enjoy teaching others, particularly
about the causes and beliefs that matter so much to them. But at times, ENFJs’ attempts
to “enlighten” others may come across as patronizing – not the most effective strategy for
persuading other people, unfortunately.
 Intense – When it comes to self-improvement, ENFJs are rarely short on energy or
determination. But they may not recognize that not everyone shares these qualities. At
 times, these personalities may push others to make changes that they aren’t ready for – or
simply aren’t interested in making in the first place.
 Overly Empathetic – Compassion is among this personality type’s greatest strengths.
But ENFJs have a tendency to take on other people’s problems as their own – a habit that
can leave them emotionally and physically exhausted.

Careers
Thanks to their emotional intelligence and social skills, ENFJs can excel in nearly any people-
oriented field, such as human resources, event management, recruiting, or public relations. That
said, they tend to feel especially motivated in positions where they can guide others to learn, grow,
and become more independent. Many people with the ENFJ personality type gravitate toward
careers with an altruistic purpose, such as social work, teaching, counseling, coaching, health care,
or public interest law. Rather than fading into the background, people with this personality type
are known for their leadership abilities, and they often find themselves in positions of influence.
ENFJs can be found in public office and at the helm of all sorts of organizations – from
nonprofits and religious groups to scrappy start-ups and corporate empires. ENFJs may also find
themselves in jobs as consultants, advisors, and managers.
Wherever they work, they rarely lose sight of their core mission: to improve people’s lives.
These types intuitively pick up on the needs of their clients, customers, or employees, and then
they draw on their creativity to meet these varied needs in innovative, unexpected ways. As a
result, ENFJs are able to bring sincerity, integrity, and even idealism to jobs in sales, customer
service, marketing, advertising, and product development. Focused and driven, people with the
ENFJ personality type are always up for a good challenge. That said, certain challenges motivate
them more than others. Work that is repetitive, isolated, or otherwise constrained can be
frustrating for them, as these roles don’t allow them to exercise their vibrant creativity or make
contributions that feel meaningful. These personalities want to see the impact they’re having, not
to plug away at tasks all on their own.

ENFJs feel fulfilled and energized by work that allows them to step back and reflect on the big
picture. For these types, leaving a positive legacy is a key priority. This doesn’t mean that they
have to solve a problem as grand as world hunger (although, knowing them, they certainly would
like to). But many ENFJ personalities do use their professional energy to resolve at least some of
the deeper issues that the people in their community are facing. Versatile and insightful, ENFJs
bring a wealth of strengths to their career. At times, they may feel stuck or bored, wishing that their
daily tasks could make more of an obvious difference in the world. But with their altruistic, creative
spirits, ENFJ personalities almost inevitably find ways to use their work – whatever it might be – to
contribute to the greater good.

Workplace Habits
People with the ENFJ personality type (Protagonists) are warm, idealistic, charismatic, creative, and
social. With this wind at their backs, these types can thrive in many diverse roles, at any level of
seniority. Moreover, ENFJs are generally likable and good-natured – qualities that can propel them
to success whenever they have a chance to work with others. As employees, ENFJs are ambitious
and organized. Not only do they push themselves to prove their merit and make a good
impression on their managers but they also tend to strive to make a positive impact within their
organization. Perceptive and dedicated, people with this personality type can take on multiple
responsibilities with competence and good cheer.

Unfortunately, some managers may take advantage of ENFJs’ work ethic by making too many
requests or overburdening them with extra work. Although these personalities are more than
capable of standing up for themselves, they may still accept all of these additional tasks in order
to keep the peace and avoid letting others down. As colleagues, ENFJs stand out for their desire to
collaborate. They are always on the lookout for opportunities to create win-win situations and help
their coworkers reach their full potential. In fact, ENFJs are the most likely personality type to offer
to help people in their network get jobs or make other beneficial connections. For these
personalities, helping others succeed serves as a success in and of itself.

That said, ENFJs’ tendency to take charge may sometimes ruffle their coworkers’ feathers. With
their strong drive to lead, these personalities may sometimes be tempted to make decisions or
suggest changes that go beyond the scope of their authority – leading their colleagues to ask, “Hang
on, who put you in charge?” Many ENFJs feel called to roles as managers and leaders. With their
charisma, their insight, and their inspiring way of expressing themselves, people with this
personality type often shine when given the opportunity to lead a team – and they make sure that
their team shines as well.

ENFJ managers tend to see each member of their team as a person with important gifts and
unique potential. As a result, working for ENFJs can feel meaningful and exhilarating – it’s a
chance to develop as a person and as an employee.

That said, their idealism may prevent ENFJs from recognizing the real limitations of their
employees. At times, managers with this personality type may give team members assignments
that they simply aren’t ready for – an approach that all too often backfires. Fortunately, ENFJs
can use their emotional intelligence and personal judgment to find a balance between
encouraging their employees to grow and pushing them too far.’

Conclusion
What you have read so far is just an introduction to the complexities of people with the ENFJ
personality type (Protagonists). Along the way, you may have muttered to yourself, “Wow, this
is so accurate, it’s a little creepy,” or “Finally, someone understands me!” You may have even
asked, “How do they know more about me than the people I’m closest to do?”
If you feel understood right now, it’s because you are. Years of research have given us fresh
insights into the unique strengths and challenges of ENFJs like you. We understand your
creativity, your passion, and your commitment to doing the right thing, but we also understand
the dark side of your personality type: the nagging fear that you might not reach your full
potential and make the most of your one wild and precious life.