- Introduction.
- Public’s impression of ENFJ
- ENFJ: Extroverted Emotional Type with Introverted Intuition
- Characteristics and decision-making process for primary and auxiliary functions
- Difference between ENFJ and ENFP
- Differences between ENFJ and INFJ
- Impression to the surroundings
- To reinforce introverted thinking (Ti) in inferior functions
- Communication Features
- Reactions during stress and points for improvement
Introduction.
I will summarize the following perspectives on each MBTI personality type.
- Public Impressions
- Characteristics of the primary and auxiliary functions and the decision-making process
- Impression to the surroundings
- Inferior Functions and How to Enhance Inferior Functions
- Communication Features
- Reactions during stress and points for improvement
In this issue, we discuss ENFJ.
Public’s impression of ENFJ
If you Google ENFJ, you will find related searches such as “ENFJ popular,” “ENFJ bad character,” and “ENFJ people-pleaser.
Described as “protagonists,” celebrities include Barack Obama, Sean Connery, and Jennifer Lawrence.
ENFJ: Extroverted Emotional Type with Introverted Intuition
ENFJ cognitive functions in order of development are as follows
- Primary function (the function you are most aware of): extraverted affect (Fe)
- Auxiliary functions (functions that function well but are difficult to recognize in oneself): introverted intuition (Ni)
- Third function: extroverted sensation (Se)
- Inferior function: introverted thinking (Ti)
The following is a brief description of how each cognitive function affects an individual’s perception and behavior
| cognitive function | Inward (i) | Outgoing (e) |
| Intuition (N) | Pattern recognition – inner insights and future predictions | Explore new possibilities – ideas and abstract concepts |
| Thinking (T) | Logical analysis – building internal theories and organizing thoughts | Objective judgment – decision-making for efficiency and fairness |
| Emotion (F) | Deep empathy – a deep understanding of personal feelings and values | Social harmony – forming emotional connections with others |
| Sensation (S) | Details of reality – reflection of inner concrete memories and experiences | Actual experience – direct interaction and action with the outside world |
Fe-Ni: A vision of the future is created in one’s own mind and then one tries to realize it while prioritizing the feelings and needs of others.
Characteristics and decision-making process for primary and auxiliary functions
Extroverted Feeling (Fe): prioritizes the feelings and needs of others
Sensitive to what others are feeling and what they need, and act accordingly. For example, if they notice that someone in the group is in trouble, they immediately help that person and try to maintain overall harmony.
Introverted intuition (Ni): a vision of the future
Use introverted intuition (Ni) to consider visions and goals for the future from a long-term perspective. Gain insight into how current actions will affect the future and find ways to achieve the best long-term outcomes.
The combination of Fe-Ni allows ENFJs to take the actions necessary to achieve their long-term goals while supporting others.
ENFJs are extroverts (E) and have a planned, orderly (J) personality, making it relatively easy for them to fit into society. However, because they have deep inner beliefs and values that are unique to Type N (Intuitive) and are sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, they may feel that expressing their deepest beliefs may disrupt the harmony of others. Therefore, they may feel hesitant to express their beliefs and may find it difficult to live.
Difference between ENFJ and ENFP
Both ENFJs and ENFPs are extroverted and emotionally oriented personality types but differ in their combination of cognitive functions and behavioral priorities.
ENFJs have extroverted feelings (Fe) as their primary function and consider their vision of the future (Ni) while prioritizing the feelings and needs of others. ENFPs, on the other hand, have extroverted intuition (Ne) as their primary function and act based on their internal values (Fi) while exploring new possibilities and ideas; ENFPs are more concerned with “what I think.
There is also a difference between P and J. ENFPs are rather bored and lose motivation when they see the results, whereas ENFJs make a plan and do it right to the end.
ENFJs tend to be frustrated when they do not see a vision to achieve (Ni), but ENFPs tend to take action to try first and explore their interests one after another.
Differences between ENFJ and INFJ
Both ENFJs and INFJs have the same primary and auxiliary functions, but have different priorities: due to differences in E and I, ENFJs tend to be more active in group activities and social events, while INFJs are more interested in building deep one-on-one relationships.
For example, when a new project begins in the workplace, ENFJ gathers everyone’s opinions and ensures that everyone is satisfied with the project. They hold regular meetings to listen to the problems and opinions of team members and try to create an environment where everyone is comfortable working together.
On the other hand, INFJs first develop a long-term vision for the project in their own mind and develop a strategy based on that vision. Then, they hold one-on-one meetings with key team members to clarify their roles and responsibilities; by building deep trusting relationships individually on a 1:1 basis, they seek to support members in fulfilling their roles with confidence.
Impression to the surroundings
- Empathic and Compassionate: ENFJs are sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, highly empathetic, and supportive of others. They are often seen by those around them as kind and approachable.
- Excellent leadership skills: as a natural leader, you have the ability to successfully organize and lead a team or group toward a goal. Has the ability to encourage and motivate others and is often respected by those around him or her.
- Sociable and Friendly: Likes to interact with people and has a sociable and friendly attitude. They are able to quickly get along with new people and tend to be popular in social settings.
- Overly intrusive: A strong desire to help others can sometimes lead to over-interference. This can come across as intrusive to those around them. Care must be taken not to be too nosy or caring.
While ENFJs are empathetic, have good leadership skills, are sociable and charismatic, they tend to be self-sacrificing, overly empathetic to others and tend to go deep into and overly interfere with the problems people are facing.
Personally, I think ENFJ can be summed up in Barack Obama’s famous presidential speech “Yes! We can! It seems to me that it accurately embodies ENFJ’s consciousness of having an ideal for the future and realizing it together.
To reinforce introverted thinking (Ti) in inferior functions
The inferior function of ENFJ is introverted thinking (Ti). This function analyzes information and concepts internally and seeks logical consistency. It seeks to understand things as a coherent system and emphasizes the elimination of contradictions; Ti plays an important role in many areas, including scientific research, programming, problem-solving, and logical argumentation.
ENFJs may find it difficult to make decisions based on objective data or logical analysis because they prioritize empathy with others and emotion-based decision-making.
Develop logical thinking skills
Participate in activities that require logical thinking. For example, regularly play games such as chess, puzzles, Sudoku, etc.
Learn to make decisions based on data and facts
Practice gathering data and facts to make decisions in everyday life. For example, collect and analyze data for household budgeting and health care.
Cultivate critical thinking
Try to develop a critical perspective when evaluating information in everyday life. For example, learn how to read news articles and scientific reports to logically question and check facts.
Incidentally, the types in which this introverted thinking (Ti) is most developed are ISTPs and INTPs; ISTPs and INTPs are excellent, or rather natural, at logical analysis and building internal logical systems.
The way ISTPs and INTPs think and approach things, and the logical way they speak, may help ENFJs to find balance and may be helpful in many ways.
Communication Features
- Tend to insist on what is right based on your own beliefs: If you are told what to believe or think, you tend to say it back firmly. If they think something is unfair or wrong, they speak up about it.
Reactions during stress and points for improvement
ENFJs may experience a series of typical reactions when exposed to stress, with an over-expression of their primary function, extraverted affect (Fe), or the emergence of an inferior function, introverted thinking (Ti), which is usually under-used.
Reactions under stress
- Tendency to be self-sacrificing: Sometimes they put their own needs on the back burner in favor of the needs and feelings of others. This self-sacrificing attitude can lead to stress and burnout.
- Tendency to depend on the approval of others: Sensitive to and dependent on the approval and recognition of others. They may lose sight of their own values and needs by trying too hard to meet the expectations of those around them.
- Emotional: Can be highly affected by emotions, and can become emotional easily. May have difficulty controlling emotions when under stress or pressure.
- Excessive Logical Analysis: When Ti emerges unhealthily, it is no longer able to make decisions based on normal intuition or emotions and may try to analyze things excessively and logically. If this goes too far, they may become callous and critical.
- Tend to be troubled by the meaning of life: ENFJs originally had high expectations and potential for their values, social significance, and mission. They are sensitive to the feelings and needs of others and seek to make positive contributions to society. However, under stress, these characteristics are reversed, and they tend to be troubled by deep philosophical questions such as “What is the meaning of my existence?” and “Does my life really have meaning?
- Runaway of ideals: Because ENFJs are confident in the ideals they have in mind (Ni in the second function), they may carry out what they mistakenly think is good for the other person through Fe in the first function, without confirming the other person’s intentions. If the other person does not show appreciation for this, we wonder why they do not understand us. and become disheartened.
Key Points for Improvement
- Practice setting boundaries: practice setting healthy boundaries with others and avoiding excessive self-sacrifice. It is important to have the courage to say “no” when necessary. Deciding to spend a certain amount of time per week on self-care is also a good idea.
- Balance logical thinking: Practice incorporating logical analysis in moderation, but be careful not to overdo it. For example, refer to facts and data when making decisions, but ultimately consider one’s intuition and feelings as well.
- Realistic goal setting: Set realistic and achievable goals to bridge the gap between ideal and reality. Accumulating small successes can increase self-esteem and reduce stress.
ENFJs have high expectations of the world, their own potential and values, and a strong desire to fulfill them. They are highly empathetic toward others through their primary function, extraverted affect (Fe), and are sensitive to people’s feelings and needs. However, when empathy is excessive, they may be seen as nosy or caring. Also, because Fe is their primary function, they prefer to interact with others and act in groups, and they value social harmony.
On the other hand, due to introverted intuition (Ni), an auxiliary function, I always have a vision or ideal of the future within me. When ENFJs find that this vision diverges from reality, they may feel deeply discouraged and stressed; they are often troubled by the fact that reality does not change as they would like and by the gap between their ideals and reality. Nevertheless, they continue to strive to realize their vision and their strong will to help others.
