How Do ENTPs Learn? A Step-By-Step Guide

Fast-paced technology influences how we learn. The pace at which new skills are learned has dramatically increased. In a knowledge-hungry world, this means that people prioritize learning on an individual basis. No one learns in the same way, though. So how do ENTPs learn?

ENTPs are an exceptional grouping in the 16 personality types whose learning is linked to their tendency to think abstractly. On a larger scale, the extravert-intuitive of the type quickly becomes a devil’s advocate to push boundaries. This type doesn’t do well in structured learning situations.

With ENTPs, open-ended learning not bound by rules and instructions jumps to mind. Even no right or wrong as opposed to closed learning with parameters and rules. What follows is a two-fold view of ENTPs: how they learn and a step-by-step guide that challenges some areas where they can fall short.

How Do ENTPs Learn

ENTP, a four-letter code, is one of 16 personality groups in the Myers-Briggs Type Personality (MBTP) instrument. This self-reporting questionnaire shows, among many, personality types’ preferences, worldviews, and how they learn. The MBTI instrument uses psychologist Carl Jung’s contrasting personality attributes to place types, and each type learns differently.

ENTPs learning is based on balancing different aspects of this personality type, their worldview, and overcoming personality type pitfalls.

In the case of the ENTP, there are four indicators at play:

• Extravert (E)
• Intuitive (N)
• Thinking (T)
• Perceiving (P)

An ENTP is innovative, which simply spells clever from a learning perspective. This type has a natural aptitude to be original and always seeks creative solutions. The ENTPs invariably have the smartest ones as they grasp facts quickly and have a knack for applying these. An ENTP is undoubtedly a gifted personality type, but they struggle to balance their stand-out attributes.

ENTP Learning

Getting to know the ENTP is one thing and knowing what happens when they learn is another. Their weaknesses contrast with their strengths. This type has to balance extraversion with being intuitive, which means they’re quick to respond to new information and are innovative and talented entrepreneurs. Sometimes the way of ENTPs can be to the detriment of others’ growth.

ENTPs are focused on the world around them. They’re logical and ignore what’s their subjective or emotional side. Their way of engaging is logical – the why and the how stand out. And when they decide, they make rational decisions rather than emotional ones.

Their extraverted side is their charm. ENTPs get along well with others but can feel inferior and become aloof. A weakness in the ENTP make-up is their focus on what’s new and possible. They appear unattached to what is happening around them. Some argue they’re obsessed with future concerns and overlook daily life.

A Step-By-Step Guide To How ENTPs Learn

The ENTP seems to be bent on innovation. They appear obsessed with their rational and logical side. They’re intuitive and respond quickly to new information, but they also are bold in their responses. ENTPs assertiveness is also often seen as rudeness.

Step 1: ENTPs Have An Aptitude For Fast Learning  

ENTPS are quick learners. The importance of prior knowledge for the ENTP might be more rational than a feeling mode. The feeling side of things involves memories and reflections on an inner state. Though the thinking side of an ENTP is what will let them engage with learning, even if they end up challenging it.

Of course, ENTPs thrive on new ideas. So whether they’ll see any benefit of linking this back is debatable. ENTPs are creators, they love to think afresh and even push boundaries and challenge conventional thinking. They are also quick at spotting new linkages between different concepts. They’re innovative, take the initiative, and learn by being critical.

Not only are they quick at grasping ideas, but they’re also open to multiple ways of doing things.

Step 2: ENTPs Learn Through Being Thinkers

ENTPs strengths are as innovators, and this needs to be harnessed. The thinking ENTP learns from taking control of situations, including the people around them. This extravert-thinking type makes a good leader. Their ability to organize stems from their focus on the outside world. This is different rather than what feeling types do with looking inwards.

ENTPs’ learning is individual – they plan and strategize. Catching an ENTP off-guard and directing them away from their extravert and thinking side allows others to work out solutions. This might not be the way that ENTPs learn. They rule by example, making schedules and organizing the environment and the people around them.

They’re good planners and focus on the outside world – what can be achieved and how. ENTPs don’t seem to bother with focusing on their inner world. And this is where one can catch them off-guard. ENTPs are extroverted and thinking and definitely have their intuitive side. They thrive on precise, measurable results that can also be redirected to benefit them.  

Step 3: ENTPs Learn By Taking Risks

ENTPs are creative and independent; a stand-out characteristic is their tendency to take risks. It’s often said that they don’t follow the same old path but look towards new experiences. This is also how ENTPs learn about what they most like doing – challenging the status quo. This is not necessarily about themselves but about the world around them.

ENTPs will tell you that you need to perceive your reality differently. ENTPs are good at spurring others on and are resourceful. But lack self-reflection. ENTPs avoid being stuck in a rut but instead learn through innovation and being inventive.

In taking risks, they might not see others. But ENTPs can learn from others to be open to learning and not fight rules and learning outcomes. A step forward can mean ENTPs take these on and use them for their growth.

ENTPs can actually learn from others. ENTPs can learn to listen to other people’s views, but this is easier said. ENTPs work from their strengths to boost their personal growth. Through their charisma, they spur others on too.

But knowing how others think about the world doesn’t always enter the ENTPs’ frame for learning.

Step 4: ENTPs Learn Through Logic

ENTPs are focused on the world around them. They’re logical and ignore what’s their subjective or emotional side. Their way of engaging is logical – the why and the how stand out. And when they decide, they make rational decisions rather than emotional ones.

Of course, they’re extroverted thinkers and live off their charm. They get along with others but can suffer feelings of inferiority, making them appear aloof. 

A weakness in the ENTP make-up is their focus on what’s new and possible to the extent of being almost unattached to what is really happening around them. Some argue they’re obsessed with future concerns and overlook daily life. From the perspective of feeling types, ENTPs’ logic about life makes them selfish.  

An ENTP thrives on being a thinking type with responses based on logic. This attitude often clashes with other types, especially in a learning situation. The tendency of ENTPs to dominate through rational thinking can interfere with group learning. This is especially so when there are personalities who value personal circumstances over outright rational decision-making.

Step 5: ENTPs Learn By Challenging The Status Quo

A key attribute of ENTPs is their preference for learning models that encourage innovation and ways of thinking that are open to different viewpoints. A stand-out feature of ENTP learning is that this personality type likes to push boundaries. One can even say ENTPs are notorious for doing so.

ENTPs are innovative, resourceful, and outspoken. And readily look for opportunities to take on the role of devil’s advocate. In fact, ENTPs are born devil’s advocates! Whether they learn through this or it’s just their nature to be a pacesetter remains open.

You can enter into a debate with an ENTP but be aware as whenever the opportunity arises, you’ll find yourself being tested. ENTPs make sense of the world by delving into the underside of things and digging below the surface. One thing is for sure, an ENTP has a probing mind that stands out.

There are moments when the ENTP will stand up and challenge the status quo – something most personalities would like to do but don’t. The ENTP steps in where leaders fear to go.

Step 6: ENTPs Learn By Being Goal-driven

No ENTP stands back when it comes to achieving their goals – they’re bold and driven. No matter what sort of uphill there might be, an ENTP will not be deterred. The extravert in this type is quick-witted, they’re brave, and an ENTP even will take risks. Fearlessness drives this personality type, often also to get to the source of what’s happening.

Step 7: ENTPs Learn By Taking Initiative

The ENTP personality is a clever and lively type who is keen to take the initiative at the drop of a hat. ENTPs are eager to learn independently and also are known as strategic thinkers. They’re rational and besotted with ideas about innovation. Their enthusiasm peaks when they’re put into challenging situations.

Don’t underestimate these innovators’ drive to introduce new ideas. They’re resourceful and analytical and simply enjoy the more complex challenges. A drawback, though, is that the ENTP lacks inner awareness. ENTPs even are seen as being hard on themselves. They have a tendency to rush through projects.

Some regard this as ENTP’s lack of confidence, a bullish virtuosity often criticized. ENTPs seek out immediate rewards and are that on-the-spur of the-moment types.

It’s good to mention here how they don’t learn. ENTPs find projects that take time scary because of their forceful drive to challenge what comes their way.

Step 8: ENTPs Learn Best What They Feel They’re Good At

It’s not uncommon to hear an ENTP say they’d like to study whatever they can lay their hands on. And this could mean they’re almost obsessed with anything from economics to politics and even psychology. They don’t take a back step and will look at aviation, law, and even martial arts.

ENTPs need to know they’re good at what they take on. But, this is as long as they can excel. ENTPs learn quickly; as long as their interest lasts, they’ll stay at this. And they’re quick to stop when they feel they’re not.

Step 9: ENTPs Can Learn With Others

The extravert in the ENTP relies on the energy of other people, which is far away from their own inner world. They have an air of showmanship that stops their focus of attention, though. Their intuitive side is directed at ideas that look at future possibilities. ENTPs are strategic in exerting their extravert charm.   

The ENTP needs others, but it’s not clear how they learn with these interactions. They are known to spur others on through their enthusiasm.

ENTPs stand out as self-confessed thinking types that prefer logic to personal feelings. The way ENTPs like to live influences their attitude to learning. As the ‘perceiving’ type, ENTPs choose enjoyment and spontaneity over planning and practical decision-making. ENTPs prefer open-ended arrangements that offer many new opportunities.

So as much as they hold out an example to others of innovation and forward-thinking, most other personality types find their presence restrictive.

Step 10: ENTPs Learn In An Out-Of-The-Box Manner

As much as ENTPs are known for their out-of-the-box thinking, they, too, must use this for their own benefit. They seek out original solutions for situations. This is, however, not transferred to themselves.

ENTPs are creative and enthusiastic, and their intuitive thinking stimulates others. They’re skilled at quick problem-solving. The kind of learning that best suits the ENTP covers a range of ideas and perspectives.

Step 11: ENTPs Don’t Learn In A Conventional Way

ENTPs seem to love running the show. That’s their extravert-side. But this isn’t the whole story, as their wayward intuitive thinking often gets the better. They’re good at playing devil’s advocate, but are they learning from this? Do they grow, or are they stuck in the same behavioral pattern?

ENTPs can put up a strawman argument with opposing viewpoints for others but not themselves. Their complacency stops them from critical navel-gazing.

ENTPs are quick to act, and their enthusiasm often runs amok. Learning in a fixed manner proves challenging, and few ENTPs will venture near such learning out of choice. It’s what happens outside them that draws their attention.

You find that ENTPs will rush to get a job or a project done and even avoid essential steps. They’re good at taking shortcuts. Some say ENTPs lack patience. At the same time, ENTPs don’t bother about rules. But, one way ENTPs can learn is to set rules for themselves that will get them out of their comfort zone.

Not only are ENTPs lively and cause distraction, especially when in devil’s advocate mode. This is also when ENTPs’ creativity peaks.   

Conclusion

Flexible rules rather than structures and timelines suit the ENTP’s learning experience. They’re keen to be a leader and crazy about challenging ideas but fly in the face of conventional ways of learning.