ESFP
On A Team

The following is adapted from Linda V. Berens, Linda K. Ernst and Melissa Smith, Quick Guide to the 16 Personality Types and Teams (Telos Publications, 2005) *Used with permission.

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How ESFPs Build Relationships
For them, team relationships are about caring, sharing the work, and having fun together. Warm and friendly, they help by listening to what teammates are trying to do, questioning to get a clear picture, and reflecting back to them what they hear being said. They work very hard to see other people’s points of view, although they often want what they want when they want it. They will make the effort to get really involved in the team. They don’t want to be left out or have others left out yet often wind up being the center of attention. They are likely to be great tension breakers on the team: whenever they find a situation getting heavy, they say something light to make everyone laugh again.

How ESFPs Deal with Conflict
If they had their way, there would be no conflict. But when there is they usually try to make light of a situation to shift the attention to something more positive. When the team has a problem, they expect real progress to be made toward a solution. If they see no progress, they will likely disengage and perhaps even leave the team if they can.

To Forge Better Relationships with ESFPs…
Provide a team environment that allows them autonomy and freedom from routine and hierarchy. They handle structure but for only a short time—even if they put it on themselves. They like clear direction with freedom to do what they see is needed. Freedom from boredom gives them the strength to do what they need to but don’t want to. Don’t tell them they “can’t” do something. Describe potential roadblocks and problems as challenges. Keep them happy on the team by asking them to do something only once; they dislike the repetition that often occurs on teams. They want to be of value on the team and want an equal exchange. Gain their respect by doing a good job. Most of all provide choices, opportunities, flexibility, and a chance to work with people.

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How ESFPs Approach Doing Work
They are most likely to be stimulating action, getting things going to get things done. They tend to be very good at multitasking and they like it. They have a sort of everybody-pitch-in attitude that engenders team spirit and high energy. When problems occur, they’ll want to solve them right away and won’t accept “It can’t be done” as a solution.

How ESFPs Make Decisions
Decisions usually come quickly for them about what action to take, but they may vary the decision when new options for action are seen. In the time it takes others to notice something, they’re already acting on it. They take in a lot of rich detail, noticing minimal non-verbal cues. Usually, this detail is not reported on, just acted on as they adjust their behavior to meet the needs of the immediate situation.

How ESFPs Respond to Change
They are generally adaptable and accept the realities of a situation. They are especially tuned in to people and their reactions. They adapt to change based on what is important in relation to what is happening in their immediate external world, attending to what will make people satisfied and seeking to help them. They can get locked into the ways they’ve done things when those ways are working and they don’t see the relevance of a change. However, they will change when they see how something isn’t working correctly and what will work instead.

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The following is adapted from Linda V. Berens, Linda K. Ernst and Melissa Smith, Quick Guide to the 16 Personality Types and Teams (Telos Publications, 2005) *Used with permission.