The MBTI® Test ESFP Personality Type and Innovation

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Discovering how your Myers Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI Test) personality type approaches innovation can greatly help you understand what roles you’d best play in groups that require coming up with fresh ideas and solutions. This week, we’ll learn about how Extraverted Sensing and Introverted Feeling (ESFP) types best innovate.

We define innovation as “the implementation of ideas,” involving not only the physical act of seeing ideas to fruition, but also the other various stages that occur during innovation, such as idea generation, assigning innovation roles, and many others. For example, ESFP personality types often work best in the middle range of the innovation cycle, or the “adaptive” phase, where they are forced to continue the process of innovating as unexpected ideas and outcomes arise, working to solve a want in a logical and quick matter. (Killen and Williams, 2009, CPP)

MBTI ESFP types are often very high-energy individuals, who bring an atmosphere of gusto and eagerness to their innovations, while making sure that they are enjoying themselves in the process. They are accommodating to what new information comes at them, and are adept at adapting accordingly, without losing all of their focus on the task at hand. Myers Briggs ESFP types prefer to be a very integral part in the innovation process, whether that involves a mostly hands-on experience or if it involves acting as a leader for others. (Killen and Williams, 2009, CPP)

Occasionally, however, there are certain aspects of innovation that can thwart an ESFP types progress. For example, because of their take-it-as-it-comes approach to innovation, they may be so caught up in the step-by-step of the process that they fail to see the larger picture of what their work is moving toward. This can cause a lack of follow-through, with the ESFP type being distracted by the various different paths that their innovation could take. (Killen and Williams, 2009, CPP)

Similarly, another cause for distraction is an MBTI ESFP personality types  inherent nature to be social and to develop relationships with those around them. Although this can be beneficial for the group to have trust and respect for one another, it can also slow progress if they do not monitor it. ESFP types may also find that they have trouble innovating if the task at hand is not enjoyable, moving quickly enough, or if the overall concept is too abstract as opposed to having a clear-cut objective. (Killen and Williams, 2009, CPP)

The best way for MBTI Test ESFP types to overcome these shortcomings in their innovations is to learn some specific time management guidelines (such as creating schedules), which will help them stay on track. However, ESFP types also work best when they have the freedom to innovate in their own way, so these guidelines have to be flexible in order for an ESFP type to consider following them. Taking a more objective point of view with their group (as opposed to trying to be everyone’s friend) can also help an ESFP in the long run. This will help ESFP’s stay focused, follow their innovations through to the end, and most importantly, enjoy what they’re doing. (Killen and Williams, 2009, CPP)

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References

Introduction to Type and Innovation. (Damien Killen & Gareth Williams, 2009, CPP Inc.)

Learn More About the MBTI ESFP Personality Type

• Explore our MBTI ESFP Personality Type Page

ESFP Careers

Click on one of these corresponding popular ESFP Careers for detailed information including Career Stats, Income Stats, Daily Tasks and Required Education: Barista, Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks, Dental Hygienist, Mail Clerk and Mail Machine Operator, Medical Assistant, Municipal Clerk, Nanny, Radiation Therapist, Statement Clerk and Surgical Technologists.

Explore additional information that delves deeper into the ESFP Personality Type by examining various personality and career based subjects:

• How the MBTI ESFP Type relates to Communication
• How the MBTI ESFP Type relates to Project Management
• How the MBTI ESFP Type relates to Emotional Intelligence
• How the MBTI ESFP Type relates to Leadership
• How the MBTI ESFP Type relates to Decision-Making

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