ESFPs are warm and sociable people who don’t like to settle down into one job. They’re endlessly curious and want to experience it all, and this can affect their ability to stay in one career over the long term. To an ESFP, the benefits and the rewards they get from wandering are far more important than the idea of climbing the job ladder.
General Overview
The working environment is very important to the ESFP personality type. They like a warm and friendly environment, and if they don’t get it will quickly move on. In fact, having that warmth is probably the most important thing ESFPs look for in their workplace, and they’re also fairly good at creating it as well. ESFPs use introverted feeling as their auxiliary, a function that gives them a good understanding of the emotions and motivations of others. And they can use this natural skill to encourage others to take more pleasure and pride in their work and can markedly improve the moral of their workplace with these skills.
Company and society
ESFPs can adapt to more traditional workplaces, this type is famously flexible and accepting, but they usually prefer not to. The rules, structures and routines of these types of companies have no value to the ESFP, and can create a similarly rigid and unfriendly working environment. ESFPs use extraverted sensing as their dominant function, which gives them this dislike for structure and a deep need for autonomy that can be very detrimental for the continuity of their working life. But it can also be very helpful in creating a working environment that’s full of fun and excitement, one that everyone will enjoy. Unfortunately, it also drives ESFPs to move on to the next thing before they can really bring this benefit to the workplaces in which they find themselves.
Abuse in the workplace
ESFPs are unlikely to bully or abuse others in the workplace. This type is extremely flexible and tolerant of change and difference, and this makes them more likely to admire people who are different than to bully them back into line. In addition, ESFPs require and demand a great deal of autonomy and personal integrity. They absolutely reserve the right to their own beliefs, spaces, and ideas, and they give others this same respect and independence. An ESFP will rarely if ever demand that others live according to their beliefs because they’d never tolerate someone trying to do the same to them.
ESFPs are also unlikely to become the victims of bullying or abuse in the workplace. This type can be very sensitive to criticism, particularly if they sense that it comes from a desire to do harm rather than a desire to help. This may be surprising considering their natural independence, but the ESFP values harmony above all else and anything that disrupts that internal harmony is taken seriously. Their auxiliary function, introverted feeling, gives them this sensitivity and it also makes them extremely aware of the difference between the motivations behind criticisms and able to sense them in others as well. This may seem to make them a prime target for bullies, but it’s offset by the ESFP’s natural independence and attitude towards novelty. ESFPs really enjoy change, so they’re usually happy to leave their workplace and find another position if others do try to bully them. This can be a problem for their overall career, but it can also protect them from malicious or harmful workmates.
Workplace Strengths
ESFPs can make work fun. They have a natural appreciation for life in all its variety that they share generously with everyone around them and their workmates are no exception. This amazing strength makes them a very popular figure in most workplaces. ESFPs will usually be the center of the social circle at work and are always eager to improve everyone’s experience with outings or games or just supportive warmth and understanding for people who are having a hard time. This is due to their auxiliary function introverted feeling, which gives them a good understanding of the emotions and motivations of others as well as a lot of empathy for their struggles and problems. It also means that most ESFPs have a unique ability to get along with everyone, and can actually improve the interpersonal relationships around them and make their workplace a more pleasant place to be.
ESFPs are usually amazing communicators. Because of their understanding of emotions as well as their general sociability, most ESFPs pick up a range of communication skills that can benefit their workplace. They do tend to skew towards more emotional topics and methods of conversation, it’s fairly rare that an ESFP will talk about something abstract or scientific, but their skills can be essential when it comes to issues like conflict management and other workplace relationship issues.
Workplace Weaknesses
ESFPs usually have a play first and work maybe life philosophy. This can make their lives very exciting, and usually drives them to explore ideas and places most people would never consider, but it can also damage their career paths. An ESFP who finds themselves bored or stuck in routine work will usually leave without looking back, endlessly searching for novelty and fun. This may sound like a great quality, and one that makes for a great life, but it doesn’t usually make for a great work life. In fact, ESFPs often don’t stay at one workplace long enough to make a difference in the working environment. And this is a great shame because this type can do a lot of good in this area.
Final Thoughts
ESFPs like to interact with people and enjoy the opportunities for socializing that the working environment offers. They also have a unique ability to improve the mood and the morale of their workplace as well, which makes them very popular in a range of career paths and fields. As long as they can still get a good amount of novelty and excitement in their work life and in their life as a whole, these qualities can make them very good workmates for as long as they stay around.
References
- Storm, Susan. “10 Signs You Might Be an Introverted Feeler“. Oct 25, 2017. (Retrieved Apr 2018).
- Storm, Susan. “Understanding ESFP sensing “. Apr 1, 2017. (Retrieved Apr 2018).
- “ESFP Communication Skills“. (Retrieved Apr 2018).
- “ESFP – The Performer“.
- “The ESFP Career Path“.
- “The ESFP as an Entrepreneur“.
- “Best Jobs For Your Personality“.