ENFP stands for Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving, which are the four key traits identified in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) for this personality type. ENFP individuals are often characterized as creative, enthusiastic, and people-oriented, valuing freedom and innovation.

ENFP is one of the 16 personality types from the MBTI or Jung personality test. ENFPs are often called Campaigners, Motivators, or Champions of Others.

ENFP Personality Traits

The ENFP personality type is one of the 16 types Carl Jung identified.

People with this type of personality are often described as …

  • Warm and enthusiastic
  • Empathetic and caring
  • Charismatic
  • Creative
  • Strong people skills; relates well to others
  • Able to think abstractly and understand difficult, complex concepts
  • Needs approval from others
  • Disorganized
  • Strong communication skills
  • Fun and spontaneous
  • Highly creative

Psychologist David Keirsey suggests ENFPs account for approximately three to four percent of the population.

ENFP Characteristics

The test looks at personality in four key areas: 1) Extraversion and Introversion, 2) Sensing and Intuition, 3) Thinking and Feeling, and 4) Perceiving and Judging. As you can see, the ENFP acronym stands for Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving.

  • Extraversion: ENFPs love to interact with lots of people. Socializing helps them to feel energized and renewed.
  • Intuition: ENFPs generally focus on the world of possibilities. They are good at abstract thinking and prefer not to concentrate on tiny details. They are inventive and focused on the future.
  • Feeling: When making decisions, ENFPs place a more excellent value on feelings and values rather than on logic and objective criteria. They follow their heart, empathize with others, and let their emotions guide their decisions.
  • Perceiving: ENFPs are flexible and like to keep their options open. They can be spontaneous and are highly adaptable to change. They also dislike routine and may have problems with disorganization and procrastination.

ENFPs are extroverts, meaning they love spending time with other people. Socializing gives them more energy, helping them feel renewed, refreshed, and excited about life. While other extroverts dislike solitude, ENFPs need time to think and reflect.

Psychologist David Keirsey identifies ENFPs as “Champions,” which he suggests are rare. “Champions can be tireless in talking with others, like fountains that bubble and splash, spilling over their own words to get it all out,” Keirsey suggests. “And usually this is not simple storytelling; Champions often speak (or write) to reveal some truth about the human experience, or to motivate others with their powerful convictions.”

They also have excellent people skills. In addition to having an abundance of enthusiasm, they genuinely care about others. ENFPs are good at understanding what other people are feeling. Given their zeal, charisma, and creativity, they can also make great leaders.

People with this personality type strongly dislike routine and prefer to focus on the future. While they are great at generating new ideas, they sometimes put off important tasks until the last minute. Dreaming up ideas but not seeing them through to completion is a common problem. ENFPs can also become easily distracted, mainly when working on something that seems dull or uninspiring.

ENFP Functions

Four cognitive functions define every personality type. These determine the traits of each type and the order of their prominence.

For an ENFP, these functions are Extraverted Intuition, Introverted Feeling, Extraverted Thinking, and Introverted Sensing. Accordingly, ENFPs are known for their capacity to quickly gather ideas from multiple perspectives due to their Extraverted Intuition. Their other traits, such as their solid moral sense and occasional drive to organize themselves, are caused by the different functions and show themselves differently in various situations.

The cognitive functions surface with the stages of development of the ENFP. At first, Extraverted Intuition is almost the only noticeable characteristic of their personality. By their early adulthood, their auxiliary and tertiary functions, Introverted Feeling and Extraverted Thinking, begin to show themselves, and eventually, they come to terms with their inferior position, Introverted Sensing.

ENFP Compatibility

Due to their open and generous character, ENFPs are compatible with many personality types. However, they do better with some than with others.

ENFPs are most compatible with INFJs and INTJs. The differences in these relationships help both parties learn, and their traits complement each other well.

ENFPs are least compatible with ISTPs. While it may seem that ENFPs are unconditional with their affection, they need a partner capable of reciprocating and sharing their feelings. Since ISTPs have trouble with this, ENFPs tend to have difficulty with ISTPs.

ENFP Women

Women with the ENFP personality type are supportive, spontaneous, and artistic. They prioritize communication and are always willing to make a new friend.

Due to their vital creativity and propensity for interaction, ENFP women do well in careers such as acting, journalism, and psychology. If they feel unfulfilled in a job, they will likely take steps to switch to a different one, but they usually succeed in whatever they set their minds to and often end up running their own business.

ENFP women enjoy literary, musical, and artistic hobbies that allow them to exercise their creativity, even while engaged in a profession that compels them. They especially enjoy hobbies allowing them to share these things with others, such as visiting art museums and acting in community theater programs.

ENFP Men

Men with the ENFP personality type are born leaders. They are very charismatic and flourish in social situations. Their intuition helps them set themselves and those around them on the right path.

Because of these traits, ENFP men are often found in careers such as education, anthropology, and photography. They can assess a situation on their feet and take everything they need from it.

The many strengths of ENFP males also come with some weaknesses. Their curiosity often takes them away from the task immediately, and they are prone to excessive emotion. These men must understand the strengths and weaknesses of their personality type to make the best of their lot in life.

Famous People With ENFP Personalities

Some experts have suggested that the following famous figures display characteristics of the ENFP personality type:

  • Andy Kaufmann, comedian
  • Bob Dylan, singer/songwriter
  • Charles Dickins, author
  • Dr. Seuss, children’s author
  • Robin Williams, actor
  • Will Smith, actor
  • Charlotte Bronte, author

Best Career Choices for ENFPs

When choosing a career path, it is a good idea for people to understand their personality type’s potential strengths and weaknesses. People with the ENFP personality type do best in jobs with a lot of flexibility.

Because they are empathetic and interested in people, they often do well in service-oriented careers. They should avoid jobs that involve completing many detailed, routine tasks. Some career options that might appeal to an ENFP include:

  • Psychologist
  • Journalist
  • Actor
  • TV Anchor/Reporter
  • Nutritionist
  • Nurse
  • Social Worker
  • Politician
  • Counselor