MBTI® ESFP Personalities and Decision Making

Different people make decisions in vastly different ways. Some people are direct and explicit, saying exactly what they intend without being willing to settle or negotiate. Others present several options and weigh them before making a decision. When individuals with different decision-making tendencies have to work together in a team or organization, miscommunications and tension can abound. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) can provide valuable insights into your decision-making process and preferences, not only helping others better understand you and vice versa, but these insights can help you improve and optimize your own decisions in your personal and professional life alike.

Learn all about Myers-Briggs® ISTP Personalities and their Decision-Making Process

Extraverted-Sensing-Feeling-Perceiving (ESFP) personality types, for instance, tend to evaluate decision-making opportunities objectively, accepting all of the functional aspects of the situation and changing as little as possible to optimize the final operation. However, during this process they may risk overlooking long-term implications. After all, a functional process is not always the same as an optimized process. ESFPs are inherently social individuals, and seek advice from others, especially from those who have provided helpful input in the past. While soliciting support is an essential part of any decision-making process, ESFPs would do well to form their own opinions first rather than blindly accepting others’ counsel.

As they begin to generate and evaluate their options, Myers-Briggs® ESFPs tend to remain flexible, considering a variety of different data sources and options, especially considering courses of action which would provide a direct and immediate benefit to other people. While having a broad scope can be helpful in some situations, ESFPs should be careful to remain focused, as doing too much research into minor details can become a waste of valuable time. Those who support ESFPs, either in a managerial role or as other members on the same team, may consider providing some kind of organizational structure, like a matrix or flow chart, which allows them to investigate each option in more detail.

ESFPs generally commit to a particular option based on their common sense and what is tangible. They make decisions relatively quickly, and tend to take the path of least resistance, avoiding options that seem overly complicated or challenging. They value action over consideration, and practicality over theory. Because such action-oriented approaches may not be optimal in all settings, ESFPs often benefit from others attuning to the practical implications of more strategic approaches. Once they decide on an option, ESFPs implement quickly and efficiently, sometimes too much so, as speed can obscure nuanced resistance or subtle concerns.

As they reflect on and evaluate their decisions, ESTPs make an effort to recognize the contributions of their team members and are quick to explore how similar successful interventions can be applied elsewhere with positive results. In order to continue to grow and develop as leaders, ESFPs should make an effort to analyze and embrace the complexities of particular situations, as well as to consider how each scenario can connect to others, even if they seem unrelated.  In doing so, they can become even stronger decision-makers, team members, and leaders.

Learn More About the MBTI ESFP Personality Type

• Explore our MBTI ESFP Personality Type Page

Explore Our Other ISTP Blog Pages:

• Myers-Briggs test ESFP Personality Type Leadership Styles Blog
• Myers-Briggs test ESFP Personality Type Innovation  Styles Blog
• Myers-Briggs test ESFP Personality Type and Project Management Blog
• Myers-Briggs test ESFP Personality Type Emotional Intelligence Blog
• Myers-Briggs test ESFP Personality Type Communication Blog

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

Radiation Therapist, Medical Assistant, Statement Clerk, Billing, Cost and Rate Clerk, Barista, Nanny, Municipal Clerk, Mail Clerk and Mail Machine Operator, Dental Hygienist, Surgical Technologist

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