What Is The ENFJ Personality Type?

Before familiarizing yourself with the ENFJ personality type, it’s important to know how the Myers-Briggs personality test works.

“The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality type assessment tool that breaks down personality into four different mental functions, and for each of those functions, there are two possible ways that a person may prefer to perform that function,” explains Thomas Piccin, Ph.D., an adjunct professor of psychology and linguistics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator practitioner. Dr. Piccin explains that the four mental functions with two possible preferences for each function result in 16 different combinations of preferences, which are the 16 personality types.

Dr. Piccin says that while the MBTI isn’t intended to tell you everything you need to know about yourself or the people around you, there are two major ways in which he says it can be helpful. “First, it helps people understand the ways in which it is most comfortable and natural for them to use their minds. Second, it shows them opportunities where they can better develop ways of thinking that don’t come naturally to them.”

Eric Fisher, M.S., a therapist, certified career counselor and certified MBTI practitioner based in Alberta, Canada, says that the ENFJ personality type signifies a person who prefers extroversion over introversion, intuition over sensing, feeling over thinking and judging over perceiving. These four preferences are what make up the acronym: extroversion, intuitive, feeling and judging (ENFJ).

Dr. Piccin says that ENFJs are sensitive to the needs of others and also enthusiastic about helping people reach their full potential. For this reason, ENFJs make great mentors. Since ENFJs are so tuned in to how others around them are feeling, both experts say that this can play a role in how they make their decisions; an ENFJ thinks about how the decisions they make will impact those around them. “They are often viewed as the spark igniting growth in someone who’s learning on the job or new to a personal hobby or volunteer position,” Fisher says.

One of the hallmark characteristics of an ENFJ is that they are empathetic to others around them, says Fisher. Because of this, they often give off a warm, inviting demeanor. Dr. Piccin echoes this, saying that one of the biggest strengths ENFJs have is that they are keenly aware of the emotional needs of others and they actively give support and encouragement to those around them.

In addition to this, Dr. Piccin says that people with an ENFJ personality type are energetic, outgoing, insightful, imaginative, good organizers and like to facilitate cooperation. “They prefer to direct their attention outwardly and they receive energy from their outer world of people and activities,” he says. When making decisions, Dr. Piccin says that ENFJs are guided by personal values and relationships.

ENFJs thrive on helping others even if they themselves may not benefit from it in any way, adds Fisher. “It is not egotistical or for personal gain,” he says. “A person with an ENFJ personality type generally enjoys helping with no strings attached, except for feeding into their personality preferences.”

Though there are 16 different MBTI personality types, Dr. Piccin emphasizes that they are not represented equally; some types are more common than others. Both experts say that ENFJs are quite uncommon. In fact, Dr. Piccin says that they are one of the least common personality types. Research backs this up. In one U.K. study of nearly 17,000 people by the Myers-Briggs Company, only 1.2 percent of men and 3 percent of women were ENFJs^[1]United Kingdom (European English) Supplement for the MBTI Manual for the Global Step I and Step II Assessments. The Myers-Briggs Company. Accessed 4/24/2023. .

Though this study is a helpful barometer, Dr. Piccin says that it’s unknown how common ENFJ personality types truly are worldwide because distribution varies across different countries and cultures.

Since ENFJs are extroverts, both experts say that they thrive best in careers where they can work with others. Both say that ENFJs make exceptional leaders because of their ability to identify others’ talents and help them grow. “They are skilled at recognizing the potential in other people and enjoy supporting and encouraging others, so they are sensitive and compassionate leaders,” Dr. Piccin says.

Both experts say that ENFJs are also creative thinkers, so careers that allow them to think outside the box are a great fit for them. At the same time, Dr. Piccin says that ENFJs like organization and structure.

Some careers that ENFJs should consider include teachers, professors, sports coaches, mental health counselors, social workers and life coaches, says Fisher. Careers in human resources, health care and community service are all a good fit as well, adds Dr. Piccin. “ENFJs also tend to do well in business-type capacities as they are able to hold the group together in a way where colleagues can bring up their opinions and suggestions without feeling hesitant,” notes Fisher.

ENFJs tend to mentally process what they’re thinking about out loud, which is at odds with how people with a more introverted personality type tend to process things, says Dr. Piccin. Because of this, it can sometimes create conflict.

“[ENFJs]’ way of thinking and engaging is to talk out loud, so the more enthusiastic and engaged they are in a conversation, the more they tend to talk,” he says, adding that this can be frustrating for both the ENFJ and anyone they are around who is more introverted. “The introverted person may feel like they don’t have a chance to talk, while the extroverted person may feel like they’re not getting enough response from their introverted partner. Each may feel that the other is not really listening to them, when in fact, both people are just listening and engaging in different ways.”

If you are more introverted, Fisher says it’s good to communicate to the ENFJ you are interacting with that you need time alone to process decisions as opposed to talking out loud together. At the same time, Fisher says it’s important to speak your mind when interacting with an ENFJ; they truly want to know what you are thinking. “Stonewalling would go directly against what the ENFJ partner is trying to achieve, which is a solution to what is happening in the relationship in order to come to a place of harmony and mutual understanding,” Fisher says.

Instead of making decisions based solely on personality type, Dr. Piccin says that it’s still important to use logic, reason and consider your emotions. “Knowing your personality type is an invitation, not just to choose tasks and environments that are comfortable for you, but also to seek out opportunities to stretch your mental muscles in new and unfamiliar ways,” explains Dr. Piccin.

If you are an ENFJ (or know someone who is), understanding more about the characteristics associated with this personality type can be helpful, but Dr. Piccin says to remember that it doesn’t tell you everything. “Your personality type does not define you; it does not tell you what you can or cannot do. It just shows you how you prefer to approach things,” he says.