If you know an ENFP or are one yourself, you are likely aware that this personality type tends to hold the all-or-nothing stance toward things in life. So today, we will discuss this element of the ENFP and examine how they see and process the world around them. This includes work, hobbies, artistic endeavors, and personal or romantic relationships.
ENFPs are energetic and impulsive and are highly curious about the world and other people. They are outgoing, enthusiastic, highly spontaneous, and loathe the mundane. A significant trait of theirs is that they get bored quickly and often come across as all-or-nothing individuals.
If you speak with an ENFP, they will likely admit that they have a problem with following through with things they are not 100% invested in. And this is due to them becoming bored and distracted by things that are more exhilarating than what they are currently engaged in. This is something that others may struggle with, but in this post, we shall examine the nature of the ENFP.
Are ENFPs All Or Nothing?
When we consider the ENFP, one thing that stands out is that they value individuality. Their primary goal in life is often to pursue happiness for themselves and those around them. Therefore, they will be found throwing themselves into these indevours rather quickly, without a second thought, and they do not do things in half measure.
They enjoy the ability to express themselves through whatever they are involved in, and personal freedom is something they hold dear. At times, it may seem as though they are slightly haphazard about their decisions, but this is due to their willingness to go wherever inspiration leads them.
One thing that is wonderful about this personality type is that they enjoy bringing people along on the journey they set out on. They are the life-source of the party and are excellent when it comes to interpersonal skills, and are the sort who enjoys being the center of attention.
However, this does not dictate that they merely wish to always have a good time. Yes, they are confident and outspoken, but this does not equate to them negating the ability to work hard and efficiently or hindering their ability to succeed in their careers.
In fact, contrary to what one may perceive of them, their all-or-nothing attitude allows them to invest deeply in something they are passionate about. And whether it be the course they are studying or their work, they may very well give it their absolute best. This is if they enjoy and thrive in the environment and appreciate what they are working toward.
They often do well in situations where creativity is appreciated and applauded, though, as they value spontaneity, being allowed to let go and shoot for the stars. This may mean that they require some directing at times, but that will not put them off, and if they are invested, they will work hard and with passion.
Balance in life is an excellent skill, and one of the personalities that tend to nail it pretty often is ENFPs. If you examine someone of this personality, you may find they (over time) learn how best to get the right balance. This is between enjoying themselves and pursuing their goals or the deadlines that need to be met.
This skill, though, needs to be learned and cultivated initially (especially at a younger age) ENFPs struggle with this area in particular. They will make commitments with the full intention to follow through. However, then, their spontaneity gets the better of them at times, and they throw themselves at something more appealing.
Are ENFPs Stubborn?
The thing about ENFPs is that they are visionaries and dreamers, most of whom wish to change and transform the world, aid in its evolution, and push society to greater heights. They possess great ambition and are inspiring to others due to their ability to picture the world as it could be. They are sometimes open-minded individuals, but we will return to that now.
This is a contradictory statement; the ENFP is often just as stubborn as being willing to have an open mind. This is because they have specific morals and values they will defend as they hold them dear to their hearts. Interestingly enough, although they might clash with others, they respect people who are courageous enough to do the same.
This can cause friction and serious debates, but the ENFP will admire that you prioritize specific beliefs. Still, they are not pushovers, so the best way to approach them is by looking for commonality and attempting to make compromises where possible.
By doing this, especially in relationships and work situations, you will be able to capitalize on the fact that once you have them invested, they will give it their all.
One challenge, though, is that you need to ensure that they will be giving it their all (the opposite is that they could become stubborn and opt for the “nothing” choice). They can often contradict themselves, as their thoughts and ideas constantly alter and move quickly. Hence, you need to be flexible to keep up.
As things progress, be willing to hear their new concepts and ideas about things. However, also note that you may need to gently rein them in so that the task or journey can remain on course and not deviate too far from the original game plan. They may suddenly come up with entirely bizarre ideas that are out of this world, and bringing them back to reality is vital.
Additionally, ensure that the way you approach them does not come across as harsh criticism. For example, their personal and professional identities are often blurred, so be gentle. This is because they are the sort to throw their heart and soul into things they find worth investing in. And they struggle to separate themselves from their relationships, work, and hobbies.
Taking A Look At The ENFP From An External Perspective
ENFPs are all about people and enjoy focusing on potential, plausibility, and endless possibilities. They are typically highly energetic and have a warm, welcoming demeanor. They also bring a contagious enthusiasm with a waterfall of new and innovative concepts when tackling anything. This could relate to interpersonal relationships, project ideas, or engaging activities.
Although ENFPs are the all-or-nothing sort and can be stubborn at times, you will be surprised to discover that they also thrive on loving, aiding, and encouraging people around them. They are agile and adaptable to new situations and scenarios. They make others feel at ease during times of disruption by using their excellent communication skills, wit, and humor.
They are primarily nonjudgemental regarding people and their ambitions and thrive on big, bold dreams.
Along with their love for people comes an enjoyment of expressing new and creative ideas. Also, they like to delve deeper than factual elements of people and wish to learn what motivates and inspires them and what they want to achieve out of life.
They are naturally creative, which comes across in their thinking, processing, and communicating. If given a chance, they will talk about creative possibilities endlessly. Nothing dampens their mood more than having to discuss cold hard facts and elements of the reality of things; they want to let their imagination process these things and come up with possibilities.
Owing to their remarkable imaginations, these individuals are drawn to anything artistic. This is due to them seeing it as a means and chance for people to express elements of themselves and their ideas. It offers a manner that permits more abstract translations of things. It also provides an alternative manner of comprehending the human experience.
Their ways are commonly seen as unconventional, and others might perceive them as scattered and out of touch with reality and the physical world around them. However, they are the ones who prioritize human connections, and they advocate for imaginative self-expression. They disregard the mundane and genuinely value experiencing life intensely and passionately.
The Strengths Of An ENFP
ENFPs possess many strengths. One that is likely the most obvious is their imagination and the fact that they can utilize it for artistic purposes and problem-solving. With this comes the element of disregarding “traditional” ways of working through things. They detest routine and following habits but rather prefer being unrestricted.
Along with their ability to find creative ways around things are their exceptional communication skills and how they go about utilizing them. They are people who are unafraid to initiate conversations with anyone. They have a gift for drawing others out and maintaining discussions that flow, either socially or in working situations.
They have a strong social awareness and are conscious about matters that should be heard. They are generally willing to be the mouthpiece people need in times of plight. They do not merely pretend to be compassionate. Instead, they will back up kind words with action and, if faced with injustice, will not remain quiet.
Despite being the all-or-nothing type breed, they do, in fact, make excellent leaders, and this often occurs organically and is an intuitive part of their makeup. Their confidence and ability to take on daunting responsibilities, while being the sort of leader who quickly gains peoples’ trust, make them suitable candidates for a role that requires an attitude that motivates and inspires others.
The Weaknesses Of An ENFP
ENTPs have extensive imaginations. By now, we are fully aware of this. Still, being overly sensitive is one thing we might not immediately perceive to be linked to this. Their minds often overthink things, and this can become a problem. They possess excellent social comprehension, but at times they over-analyze and read between the lines when nothing is actually there.
Following this is that although they are people who are adequately in tune with their emotions, they can become overly emotional and may fall into the trap of seeking approval from others. This type of personality requires acknowledgment and praise. Still, at times they come on a bit strong, try too hard to make a good impression, and are left downhearted when they go unnoticed.
As their imaginations run wild, they quickly fall into the category of people who overthink the slightest things. They will typically overanalyze the behavior of others (even down to tone or body language) and misinterpret things. Additionally, suppose they do or achieve something and are not complimented. In that case, they become insecure and wonder why they are going unappreciated.
Being endlessly creative certainly has its perks. They can come up with vast numbers of ideas and wonderfully imaginative concepts, but this can decrease focus on the task at hand. Also, they typically get immensely excited at the inception of something but then become distracted or bored, and their discipline level diminishes. They, therefore, sometimes fail to meet deadlines and such.
What ENFPs Are Like And What They Look For In The Workplace
In the workplace, ENFPs will concentrate their energy on utilizing their imaginative skills and high creative abilities to aid others and the work that needs to be done. They will approach their work with an open mind and hope to inspire others with their vision.
They usually hope to explore and experiment with potential possibilities.
They are the sort of people who usually have solidly built values and beliefs and enjoy working in a way that will benefit the lives of others. They like personal growth and artistic expression for themselves and others. They thrive in situations where they get to flex their creative muscles and love working and collaborating with others. They will often bring new and fresh concepts to the table.
They are not well suited to office jobs where there are set routines and delineations regarding the boundaries. They prefer to engage in various tasks and challenges. They are always eager to move from one exciting project to another. As far as possible, they prefer to manage their own time and schedules and steer clear of mundane jobs and those with excessive rules and regulations.
Their ideal work environment will allow them to be imaginative and creative. At the same time, they like a relaxed, vibrant, friendly, and flexible atmosphere. They need to be in a space that encourages inspiration and satisfies their curiosity about what is plausibly possible. They are also exceptional problem solvers and are highly innovative. They do well when they can apply original concepts to their work.
Conclusion
Labeling all ENFPs as individuals who will either be fully committed or not at all is perhaps a slight stretch. However, there is still some truth to this, and it stems from their needing to have a vested interest in whatever they are undertaking. Suppose they are excited by a task and given breathing room to be creative. In that case, they will thrive and deliver in all circumstances.
