MBTI® ESFJ Personalities and Decision Making

Each of us makes dozens of decisions every single day, from developing a strategy for an important meeting to evaluating career options or even having difficult conversations with co-workers. We approach even the simplest of decisions in very different ways. Some people prefer to resolve misunderstandings through direct, face-to-face conversations. In sharp contrast, others may prefer to send an e-mail, or to avoid the potential conflict all together. Working with people who think in different ways can be challenging—people who are impulsive may be frustrated by co-workers who carefully assess their options, and those who value emotional well-being may feel unsatisfied in operationally-focused work environments.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®) can provide a window into how people make decisions, which will not only help you improve your own decision-making process, but also understand that of your co-workers.

LEARN ALL ABOUT MYERS-BRIGGS® ENTP PERSONALITIES AND THEIR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

Extraverted-Sensing-Feeling-Judging (ESFJ) personality types approach decisions in a straight-forward and methodical way. They refer to authoritative sources and value tradition to a great extent; if something has worked well in the past, an ESFJ will likely adhere to it. At the same time, ESFJs also value the preferences and opinions of others, and actively seek out their needs. While this level of consideration can be helpful, ESFJs should learn to gauge how strong others’ opinions are—not every opinion necessarily needs to be followed up with action. Considering options strategically can also help reduce the amount of time it takes to make a decision.

At the end of the day, people are key to ESFJs’ decision making process. They ground their decisions in the practical, daily needs of the people who will be impacted by the outcomes of those decisions. At times, ESFJs may overly prioritize short term benefits and lose sight of the big picture. As they continue to grow, ESFJs should learn to consider whether the challenges they and their teams may be facing right now will have benefits in the long term.

ESFJs take their time and carefully weigh their options. However, once they make a decision, they follow through passionately and energetically, eager to finish one task before moving on to the next. This passion may cause them to resist altering or adapting their approach, even if new information becomes available. It might also cause them to over-promise and under-deliver, due to their desire to positively impact as many people and as quickly as possible. As ESFJs continue to mature in their decision making, they should learn to take a step back and be realistic about their time and commitments. Furthermore, passionate work is wasted if it is not appropriately directed.

As ESFJs reflect after making a decision, they instinctively value and appreciate the contributions of every individual. While they may on occasion take criticism personally, they generally understand that maintaining relationships and accomplishing goals are both essential to continuing to grow as an organization and as a team. With a little strategic thinking and process development, ESFJs can be on their way to becoming strong and confident decision makers.

Learn More About the MBTI ESFJ Personality Type

• Explore Our ESFJ Personality Type Page

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

• How the MBTI ESFJ Type relates to Innovation
• How the MBTI ESFJ Type relates to Project Management
• How the MBTI ESFJ Type relates to Emotional Intelligence
• How the MBTI ESFJ Type relates to Leadership

ESFJ Careers

Click on one of these corresponding popular ESFJ Careers for detailed information including Career Stats, Income Stats, Daily Tasks and Required Education:

Hotel, Motel, or Resort Clerk, Kindergarten Teacher, Meeting, Convention, or Event Planner, Personal or Home Care Aide, Radiologic Technologist, Receptionist or Information Clerk, Registered Nurse, Secretary, Teacher Assistant, and Teller.

Click on a link below to read more about different MBTI Personality Types

References

Introduction to Type and Decision Making. (Hirsh, K., & Hirsh E. CPP. 2007)