ENFJ and why we care

Sociable, intuitive, sensitive and organized: those are some of the words the InsightGame.org uses to describe my personality preferences, as identified in its online quiz.

The InsightGame is based on Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) theory (which is based on personality characteristics identified by psychologist Carl Jung) but there are many other personality type theories. Businesses and organizations often use personality tests to help people understand themselves and their co-workers better. The idea is that, if we know more about our preferences and how they might be similar and different from others, we are better able to relate to others and work with them.

You may have noticed that you work better in groups with some people than you have with others. Perhaps you felt that you did more work than someone else in the group. Or maybe you did not really see the point of the group work or the task and so you did just enough to get by...or maybe less.

iNtuitive or Sensing), how they make decisions (Thinking or Sensing), and how they organize (Judging or Perceiving).

You might think that the most effective groups will include all of the same personality types, but that is not the case. Too many iNtuitives with all their big picture perspectives might mean a team doesn’t actually get much done or overlooks important details. All Introverts can mean a group falls apart because everyone would rather do it their own way.

Generally, the most effective groups have members whose middle two MBTIs are the same. These people will gather information that makes sense to others on the team and make decisions based on similar preferences. We are going to put this idea to the text during out next class, which is why I want you to blog about your own MBTI.

I have played the InsightGame many times and took the full MBTI test for the first time about 20 years ago and most recently with a group of writing instructors at the Indiana Writing Project Summer Invitational Institute 2010. 

•  Extrovert tendencies have increased in me with age. In my first MBTI, my score was almost even between E and I. I see my Introvert tendencies mostly when it comes to actually sitting down and getting work done. While some people need music or to be in a lively setting like a coffee shop to write, I am most productive in a cool, quiet place where I can dive into my computer monitor. But when I want to re-charge after a busy day, going out to dinner or spending time with family feeds my Extrovert batteries.

• The InsightGame says ENFJs are warm, charming, and influential, which can add up to charismatic leaders who can organize and influence people to do what they want. While the Introvert lurking below my surface tries to keep to herself, I often find myself in leadership positions.
• The test results also say that ENFJs are usually facilitators -- which shows up in my teaching style -- but will do battle with "wrong-minded or mean-spirited" ideas and institutions. Meaning that I try to everyones' buy-in, but I don't back down from a fight in which I believe.
• There is a pitfall in trying to avoid confrontation in an effort to consider everyones' feelings, however; I sometimes try to get along until I am pushed too far. Then, I overreact. Because I pay close attention to other people's "buttons," I know right where to push, and I can sometimes push too hard and later wished I kept my big mouth shut.

I asked you to pay attention to how you scored on each characteristic. If you find, for example, that you scored a 4 on Perception and a 5 on Judgment, it might mean you don't have a preference for either, or that it is situation-specific. That is one of the reasons the InsightGame offers perspective on different areas such as work, love, and learning. Each situation calls upon your preferences in different ways. The cartoon illustrations provide some details on different combinations.


Here is a video that offers further explanation of the styles.