The ESFP personality type is one of the most colorful and intriguing types in the 16 personalities spectrum and makes up 11% of the general population. Since their preferences are Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving, it will not be hard to spot them in the crowd.
They are open-minded, energetic, and enthusiastic people-pleasers who enjoy being in the spotlight. Also known as The Entertainer, the ESFP personality will do their best to liven up the atmosphere wherever they go. They tend to live in the moment, having fun while seeking out new experiences and new people. This isn’t a self-focused drive, however; ESFPs like to share their joy and lust for life with others, involving them in their activities.
The ESFP’s Feeling preference determines the way this personality type makes decisions. ESFPs strongly believe in their core values and base their choices on their inner feelings. For this reason, their decision-making process may be puzzling to others. ESFPs usually tend to make decisions after considering all aspects of their choice and taking time to decide what the right thing may be. On the other hand, they are also sometimes known to make decisions in the spur of the moment, without reconsidering their choices afterward. As empathetic and feeling personalities, ESFPs are also deeply aware of other people’s needs and feelings and will do their best to make others feel appreciated and happy.
As Sensing types, ESFPs tend to experience the world around them through their five senses. They enjoy everything around them and have a strong sense of beauty and style.
The Perceiving preference means that the ESFP personality type tends to be flexible when solving real-life problems. They like to tackle present issues and find instant solutions, rather than thinking about the future. For this reason, ESFPs do not like constricting plans and schedules because they crave the freedom to do things in their own way and time, both in the workplace and in their personal life. They appreciate flexibility and may struggle with deadlines and strict organization.
Now that we’ve covered the essential characteristics of an ESFP personality by which you can recognize them, this article will expand on their strengths and weaknesses and compare ESFP personality traits with each of the 15 other personality types.
After having the opportunity to see all the similarities and differences between an ESFP and other personality types, you will gain a better understanding of the ESFP type and the dominant personality traits that largely determine their behavior and the world outlook. This will help you spot an ESFP person in a crowd and get closer to this bubbly personality type.
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ESFP’s Main Strengths and Weaknesses
ESFPs are the ones the party revolves around. Therefore, it will be easy to spot them at the workplace or in a social situation the moment they step into the room. They often live up to the stereotype of “social butterfly,” as they want to live their lives to the fullest, enjoying every moment of it. They make friends easily and are very caring and warm to their loved ones. Here are some other characteristics of a typical ESFP:
ESFP Strengths
- Besides being outgoing and sociable, ESFP personalities are also fun-loving and entertaining people who want to liven up the atmosphere wherever they go.
- They are also caring individuals highly aware of people’s needs and emotions. ESFPs will always strive to lend a helping hand, using both their practical Sensing side and their Feeling preference to meet the needs of others.
- The ESFP personality type is highly motivating and supportive. ESFPs will easily encourage others to follow their lead and make the effort to reach set goals.
- ESFPs are practical, grounded in reality, and focused on solving real-life problems.
- ESFPs are known for having a strong sense of aesthetics in fashion, interior design, art, and more.
ESFP Weaknesses
- The typical ESFP person will crave love and attention to a point which can sometimes become overwhelming for people around them.
- They are deeply sensitive personalities; they may easily feel insulted when they perceive they are being criticized, disrespected, or rejected.
- ESFPs tend to make angry outbursts when feeling hurt because they often let their emotions get the best of them.
- These personalities often reject detailed plans to favor a free approach, and they can have poor organizational skills as a result.
- ESFPs can be easily distracted when faced with numerous choices and thus can find it difficult to keep their focus.
- The ESFP personality type will often avoid conflicts at all costs, which can lead to a pile up of unresolved issues.
The ESFP’s Preferences and Cognitive Functions
It is essential to know that the four personal preferences (ie Extraversion, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving for ESFPs) are not the only factors that determine someone’s personality traits. Four cognitive functions also play a significant role in a person’s behavior and perception of the world. These are divided into Stronger (Dominant and Auxiliary) functions and Weaker (Tertiary and Inferior) functions. When you combine four preferences with these cognitive functions, you will get 16 very unique personality types. Thus, the ESFP type compares to others in the following way:
Extraversion vs. Introversion
Sensing vs. Intuition
Feeling vs. Thinking
Perceiving vs. Judging
As for the cognitive functions, ESFPs possess
Dominant function: Extroverted Sensing (Se)
Auxiliary function: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
Tertiary function: Extroverted Thinking (Te)
Inferior Function: Introverted INtuition (Ni)
However, try not to judge someone’s character based solely on their personality type preferences or cognitive functions. Even though they are indicative of someone’s behavior in certain circumstances, they cannot entirely define someone as a person.
This said, ESFP stronger Se Fi cognitive functions are influential on this type’s perception of the world. Their Se function explains their extraversion and the way they absorb different sensations around them. It is also responsible for their practical side. Introverted Feeling (Fi) function determines the way ESFPs make decisions according to the importance of their personal core values. These dominant cognitive functions are opposed to the Te and Ni functions, which play inferior roles in determining ESFPs’ actions and beliefs.
How an ESFP Compares to Other Personality Types
Let’s see now how an ESFP with this combination of preferences and cognitive functions compares with 15 other personality types, which all carry different combinations of dominant and inferior functions and preferences. You will see from this comparative analysis that even though they may share some of the ESFP preferences like Extraversion and Sensing, other personality types may differ significantly from the ESFP. Still, ESFPs may get along perfectly well with personality types that have some contrasting preferences.
We hope that our in-depth comparison of ESFP with other personality types will offer you significant insight into ESFPs behavior and their understanding of everything around them.
ESFPs vs. Analyzers or NT Types
Analyzers or NT personality types are logical, goal-oriented, and ambitious with prominent leadership tendencies. These types are intelligent, hard-working personalities focused on achieving set goals. They are also self-sufficient people who highly appreciate logic. In addition to their striving to know all, they also tend to question everything. All four personality types in this group share Intuition and Thinking preferences, meaning that they experience the world around them through intuition and base their decisions on logic rather than emotion. These NT preferences directly contrast the ones ESFPs have, so we can expect that there will be numerous clashes between ESFPs and NT types. Let’s dive into the specifics of how the ESFP personality differs from ENTJ, ENTP, INTJ, and INTP types.
ESFP vs. ENTP
The ENTP is also referred to as the Debater, for good reason. This personality type is energetic and enthusiastic, constantly seeking new opportunities and possibilities. These people are inexhaustible sources of creativity and energy, which they will gladly share with others. On the downside, as much as they can get easily excited by a fresh idea or concept, they also tend to get easily bored with it. When this occurs, ENTP types will rush into new experiences or find another interesting concept to tackle. ENTPs love to engage in intellectual debates, often taking contrasting concepts and combining them into a conceptual whole. They like to involve others in these debates so they can explain their ideas and views. ENTPs are known as spontaneous, communicative, and assertive. However, they can easily hurt and confuse those who do not understand or support their argument in a debate, especially since they do not naturally focus on emotion like types with a Feeling preference. Furthermore, even though they are inventive and innovative types that will offer new perspectives to solving practical problems, they tend to get easily bored by routine or repetitive actions. In addition to this, ENTPs are very independent and highly appreciate their instincts, disregarding set rules, and regulations. The positive side of this trait is that they bring creative and fresh ways of looking at different situations. The downside, however, is that they may leave the project before completing it if they feel suffocated.
ESFPs may seem to share some significant features with ENTP type, but also there are some striking discrepancies between their personalities. ESFPs are also highly energetic extroverts who like to involve others in activities. However, their main goal is to enjoy their external world as much as possible, due to their extraversion preference. So, they will seek new experiences and new people to engage with, rather than innovative ideas. ESFPs are tuned into the concrete aspects of the present moment, so they may find contemplating or debating intellectual concepts (like ENTPs would) a waste of time. Therefore, they will avoid abstract intellectual conversations and rather spend their time seeking practical solutions for real-life problems.
ESFPs and ENTPs also differ in the preferences that determine the way they make decisions. ESFPs base their decisions on feeling as opposed to ENTPs who rely on logic during the decision-making process. On the other hand, these two types share the need to work in a dynamic environment because they both get easily bored by routine and details.
In a nutshell, ESFPs may get along with the ENTP personality if they build on the features they have in common. On the other hand, ESFPs can try to accept ENTPs’ need for intellectual debates, while ENTPs should respect ESFPs’ sensitivity to criticism and try not to hurt their feelings.
ESFP vs. ENTJ
ENTJ personalities are natural leaders. For this reason, the ENTJ personality type is also known as The General. They are driven, goal-oriented, and assertive people who tend to be always on the go. ENTJs will not sit and wait to see what will happen; they will go and make things happen. When they have a goal set before them, they will go above and beyond to reach it, demanding others go along with their plan. If someone fails to do this, ENTJ personalities will confront them directly, not necessarily taking other people’s feelings into consideration. The ENTJ type tends to behave in this way because they have an inferior Fi function, meaning they will struggle to understand other people’s feelings.
However, ENTJs do not intend to be inconsiderate. Simply put, they are goal-oriented people who want to get the job done by following a strict plan in the most efficient way. Therefore, they may see emotion as an unnecessary obstacle to success.
ENTJs possess two seemingly opposing preferences that may actually go well together: Intuition and Judging. This means that even though they love contemplating various abstract ideas and concepts (Intuition), they will take swift action to achieve their goals (Judging). They tend to devise detailed plans, and they will be determined to implement them at all costs. Because of this decisiveness, ENTJs may come across as aggressive, arrogant, or dominating. However, this is only one perception of the ENTJ type; ENTJs tend to be friendly people full of energy, always seeking ways to get into the heart of the action.
ESFP personalities possess preferences that are almost completely opposite from an ENTJ. Their shared Extraversion makes them both outgoing and friendly people. But unlike goal-oriented ENTJs, ESFPs are people-oriented and thus highly perceptive of others’ feelings and needs. This means that ESFPs will always be ready to offer assistance and practical solutions to problems.
Furthermore, ESFPs despise getting involved in complex and abstract concepts related to the future. They are grounded in reality and prefer tackling real-life problems. This is completely different from the ENTJ’s approach to problems. Furthermore, while ENTJs love making detailed plans for others to follow, ESFPs appreciate flexibility and team effort – a work environment where everyone will have a chance to contribute.
As highly sensitive personalities, ESFPs want appreciation and respect from others and tend to treat people as they would want to be treated. This clashes with the ENTJ’s tendency to directly confront others when they feel their plan is endangered, disregarding people’s feelings at times.
Overall, you can expect that it will take significant effort and understanding for an ESFP and ENTJ to create a lasting relationship, due to numerous stark differences in their preferences.
ESFP vs. INTJ
The INTJ personality, also known as The Mastermind, is deep, imaginative, creative, and future-oriented. They like to contemplate complex ideas in solitude and provide fresh solutions. They have a clear picture of what things may look like in the future. Thus, they will rely on their logical and detailed plans to achieve these future goals. As for their approach to problem-solving, they prefer looking at the “bigger picture” to tackling obvious facts. They possess the Introverted and Intuitive preferences, which means that INTJ personalities tend to keep their ideas and feelings to themselves. For this reason, they may seem detached and aloof to others, but INTJs will not personally see this as a shortcoming. INTJs love the intellectual challenge of analyzing and collecting information quickly. In this way, they can get to the core of problems quickly in order to come up with a creative solution.
The ESFP type is the opposite side of the coin when compared to an INTJ personality. As an extrovert, the ESFP is energized by attention, social interaction, and adventure wherever they go. While an INTJ may prefer to think in solitude, the ESFP (quite literally The Entertainer) will enjoy sharing new experiences with others. Also, their Extraversion preference enables ESFPs to openly share their feelings with others. For all these reasons, ESFP personalities may not understand the INTJ’s need for solitude and their struggle to talk about feelings.
Furthermore, ESFPs make their decisions by listening to their inner feelings and instincts, relying on their core values and principles in this process. This clashes with the strictly logical approach to decision-making that INTJs prefer. Finally, their Sensing preference leads ESFPs to focus on facts and to seek practical solutions when solving problems. They also appreciate the freedom to do things their own way, avoiding structured, long-term plans. Feeling types also tend to be in tune with other people’s feelings and needs and will do their best to help and encourage others. ESFPs may see INTJ’s poor understanding of the importance of feelings as a sign of arrogance and rejection. And ESFPs cannot cope with rejection or disrespect.
For all these reasons, both ESFPs and INTJs need to make serious efforts and numerous compromises to find a common ground they can build a relationship on.
ESFP vs. INTP
As their nickname, The Logician, says, INTP personalities believe in the power of logic. They are curious, intellectual types immerse themselves in tackling theoretical problems, for the fun of it. On the other hand, they are not usually interested in implementing practical solutions or devising detailed plans. Once they come up with effective solutions, INTPs tend to leave planning and implementation to others.
However, INTPs appreciate it when things are done properly, according to their high standards. Since their attention span can be narrow, they will often find routine and detail annoying, so they tend to postpone their job until they reach a deadline. At this point, INTP personalities will use strong bursts of energy to complete assigned tasks.
Being deep and private types, INTPs are not known for being outspoken personalities. But, they can be vocal when they think that something needs to be said. Even though they describe themselves as realists, INTPs may come across as cynical and detached people since they can struggle with expressing emotion.
ESFPs, on the other hand, do not like to engage in deep, intellectual conversations or solitary contemplations. Being extroverts they would rather spend their time sharing experiences with friends and loved ones. Even though they prefer feelings to logic when making choices, they do share the INTP personality type’s need for flexibility. They often avoid planning and sticking to the rules as INTPs do, but unlike INTPs, they have a prominent practical side. ESFPs enjoy applying practical solutions that will lead to instant results.
ESFPs also love to communicate with others and have a deep understanding of other people’s feelings, so they may have a hard time understanding the need for privacy in an INTP personality. As down-to-earth people with a light-hearted sense of humor, ESFPs may dislike INTP’s cynical side.
ESFPs vs. Pragmatists or SJ Types
Pragmatists are personality types that all share the Sensing and Judging preferences. This means that these personality types base their core values on tradition. They care deeply for their families and friends, seeking security rather than adventure. They respect routine and safe choices, meaning these personalities will not take unnecessary risks. SJ types will come up with a swift and efficient solution when needed, although they base their decision on logic rather than impulse. Pragmatists are serious, reliable, and self-sacrificing people with a strong work ethic, but they can be prone to perfectionism. For this reason, they often tend to be hard on themselves when they fail to reach their own high standards. Let’s see now how the ESFP personality compares to the four SJ types: ESTJ, ISTJ, ESFJ, and ISFJ.
ESFP vs. ESTJ
ESTJ personalities are natural-born organizers who like to jump in on the action and get things done in the most proper and orderly way. ESTJs are action-oriented people who get to the core of problems quickly and effectively. Then, they implement the most logical and practical solutions by following the strict plan they have devised. This decisiveness in taking action makes ESTJs leaders that others will gladly follow. In order to complete the task at hand, the ESTJ personality type will make sure that everybody understands the plan and will follow it step by step. As Thinking types, they rely on logic when making decisions. Also, as Sensing types, they tend to believe in things they can observe and touch, not placing a high priority on abstract concepts. ESTJs are hardworking and deeply loyal to whatever cause they support.
Even though they are both Extroverted and Sensing types, ESFPs and ESTJs differ in many ways. First, ESFPs are people-oriented, meaning that they will do their best to motivate and support others to get the job done. Furthermore, even though they can come up with practical and effective solutions, they can lack the organization and planning to implement these solutions. Unlike ESTJs, they will prefer flexibility at work over strict step-by-step plans. When it comes to making decisions, ESFP personalities follow their inner feeling that “tells” them what they should do, rather than using logical reasoning as an ESTJ personality would. ESFPs and ESTJs both perceive the world through their senses. However, ESFPs tend to absorb the attitudes and emotions of others around them, being vulnerable to criticism due to their Feeling and Perceiving preferences. In contrast, ESTJs use their senses to gather information for logical and practical decisions, influenced by their Thinking and Judging features.
ESFP vs. ISTJ
ISTJs are serious, hard-working, and thorough individuals who like to plan things and then work in solitude towards achieving their goals. If someone tries to take a detour from their carefully planned, logical steps, ISTJs will question this action and demand an explanation. For the majority of the time, though, ISTJs shy away from the spotlight, preferring to stay behind the scenes and make things happen. Thanks to their Thinking preference, this personality type bases their decisions on logic and then approaches their work with sharp focus, willpower, and persistence. As Judging types, they will avoid taking risks and will not cope well with spontaneity and flexibility at work. Also, as conservative introverts, ISTJs will rarely have emotional outbursts, and they will not thrive in a dynamic and chaotic environment. Rather, the ISTJ personality works best when they know exactly what they are supposed to do and can then work in peace and solitude.
ESFPs, on the other hand, are true attention-seekers who love to be in the spotlight, doing what they do best and encouraging others. These fun-loving and optimistic personalities tend to go with the flow, ignoring strict plans or rules. When it comes to working preferences, ESFPs like flexibility and freedom to do things their own way. As people-centered personalities, they will tend to create cooperative teams where everybody gets a chance to contribute. In this way, ESFPs will be sure that the entire team works on finding the most practical solution to the problem. As extroverted personalities who make decisions based on feelings, ESFPs are prone to emotional outbursts and may not understand ISTJs’ quiet and withdrawn nature.
For all these reasons, ESFPs and ISTJs may have a difficult time building a relationship, even though they can learn a lot from each other.
ESFP vs. ESFJ
The ESFJ personality type, also known as The Administrator, is a people-centered, well-organized, and caring person driven by duty. Like ESFPs, the ESFJ is deeply in tune with the feelings of others and will make an effort to find practical solutions to people’s problems. ESFJ personalities like to be involved in other people’s lives and be the first to help someone in need. At the same time, as Feeling types, they want to feel respected and appreciated. Therefore, they tend to treat others in the way they want to be treated. The ESFJ personality type is always seeking action like the ESFP type, but since they are people-oriented, they channel their immense energy into helping others.
They are cooperative, compassionate, helpful, and practical, relying on facts rather than abstract ideas. They tend to keep harmonious relationships with others and avoid conflicts. For this reason, ESFJs will make decisions considering the feelings of the people around them.
Since ESFPs share the Extraversion, Sensing, and Feeling preferences with ESFJs, many of the above personality traits will be similar. ESFPs are people-oriented and caring, and they enjoy helping people solve practical problems. They also want people to respect them and accept them for who they are. Same as ESFJs, ESFPs tend to maintain harmonious relationships with others, avoiding conflicts and serious conversations. However, these two types differ significantly in some aspects. While ESFJs are driven by duty and are largely focused on other people and their needs, ESFPs will enjoy being in the center of attention, even though they are also people-oriented and always ready to offer assistance. Also, ESFJs are systematic and love devising plans that will optimize work, while ESFPs prefer to go with the flow and do things their way, without much structure or organization.
ESFP vs. ISFJ
ISFJ personalities are hard-working, people-centered personalities who use their organizational skills to make sure people are taken care of and protected. They are thorough and reliable, dedicated to causes, people, or organizations. Once they commit to a cause, ISFJs take their roles seriously. They have amazing memories and tend to be highly accurate with figures and facts, collecting these in a meticulous and methodical way.
Even though they are shy and reserved, they have intense feelings and care deeply about their values. They may struggle with showing emotions, which means that someone can easily hurt an ISFJ without noticing. They are kind, devoted, and shy people with an intense need to belong. For this reason, even though they are introverts, ISFJs are often sociable, especially in situations when someone needs their help or support.
ESFPs may find an enjoyable company in an ISFJ personality. Furthermore, these two personality types may perfectly complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. ESFPs are people-centered and caring, just like ISFJs, but as extroverts they like to be surrounded by others. Their tendency to involve others in various fun activities may help ISFJs to find belonging. Similar to ISFJs, the ESFP personality types also care about their core values, and even though they are outgoing types, ESFPs do not like to share their deepest thoughts and feelings with everyone. When they feel their values are not appreciated, they can get easily insulted. However, unlike ISFJs who tend to keep their feelings bottled down, ESFPs will be more likely to have an emotional outburst.
ESFP vs. Empaths or NF Types
Personality types belonging to the NF temperament are highly idealistic and intuitive. NF types are relaxed, kind, and sympathetic, and may even come across as too laid back at times. Despite their many positive qualities, NF types tend to worry too much and may have a hard time when making decisions. As typical Feeling types, these personalities despise conflicts and are happiest when everybody around them is feeling positive and getting along. We are going to compare the ESFP with these four types to find out what the similarities and differences are between them. The four NF types in the personalities spectrum are INFP; ENFP; INFJ, and ENFJ.
ESFP vs. ENFP
This personality type is also known as The Optimist; ENFPs are friendly, loving, and energetic people who tend to be at the center of the action. They are driven by curiosity and are always looking into the future, discerning things that others fail to see. They seek fresh ideas and concepts with amazing enthusiasm, and they get up in the morning looking forward to the possibilities the day may bring. However, the desire for new prospects may make it hard for an ENFP to focus on finishing current tasks, instead of moving on to the next big thing. Being creative, enthusiastic, and innovative, ENFPs will thrive in a dynamic environment where they can involve others in sharing their experience. They are people-centered, eager to motivate and persuade others to follow their lead. ENFPs are exceptional team players who will inspire others to do their best with their hard work and enthusiasm. This personality type will recognize and support talent in others because they like to see other people succeed and be happy.
ESFPs may share numerous common traits with the ENFP personality. Both are outgoing people who hate missing out on the fun. However, while ENFP personalities chase future possibilities due to their Intuitive preference, ESFPs are constantly seeking new real-time adventures. Even though both types are people-oriented and focused on bringing out the best in people, ESFPs are more grounded in reality and interested in the present due to their Sensing preference. For this reason, they may not grasp ENFPs’ need (driven by their Intuitive preference) to look into the future and imagine what things will look like. They are both great team players who will make sure that everything runs smoothly. But, both ESFPs and ENFPs may both get easily distracted and have a hard time focusing on a single task.
ESFP vs. INFP
The INFP personality type, also known as The Mediator, is on a lifelong quest for harmony and meaning. As an NF type, they hold their values close to their hearts, and they tend to act upon their beliefs all the time. The INFP personality will not do anything that they believe is not right. INFPs are also deep, private types who do not talk much. However, they will fiercely defend their core values when they think these are questioned. INFPs have two contrasting preferences: their Introversion preference makes them shy and reserved, but they are also curious due to their Intuition preference. Thus, they like to be informed and included in activities, even though they may stay in the background and leave the central stage to ESFPs.
ESFPs may consider an INFP’s need to contemplate harmony and meaning a waste of time. ESFPs prefer living in the moment, making the best of life as it is. However, like INFPs, they highly appreciate their core values and make decisions by listening to their inner voice and emotion. Being extroverted and communicative, they may fail to understand the INFP’s shyness. However, as people who are in sync with the needs of others, ESFPs will try not to overstep boundaries with an INFP.
ESFP vs. INFJ
The INFJ, also known as The Sage, is the rarest personality type in the 16 personalities spectrum, so they may be difficult to figure out and understand. As an introvert, the INFJ personality is reserved and shies away from the limelight. However, they will work relentlessly behind the scenes to keep harmony. They identify with their values and are willing to be vocal when these values are questioned. INFJs are honest, responsible, and highly independent. They may often seem like they are on a mission, and INFJs take their missions seriously. INFJs highly value their integrity and will strive to do the right thing while remaining patient, supportive listeners.
Fun-loving and light-hearted ESFP personalities may easily misunderstand the serious and withdrawn nature of INFJ personalities, even though both are caring. Since ESFPs are Sensing types who live in the present and love tackling practical problems, they may think that INFPs’ intuition is getting the best of them. Although both types cherish their core values deeply, ESFPs may find it hard to share this appreciation with a deep, private, and individualistic INFJ personality.
ESFP vs. ENFJ
The ENFJ personality, also known as The Guide, is both people and action-oriented, eager to communicate and create relationships between all kinds of people. They are excellent team players who will make sure all the people’s needs are met. Their Judging preference makes them great organizers and planners, to everyone’s satisfaction. ENFJ personalities are excellent networkers since they are in sync with other people’s wishes and needs, and they will go above and beyond to make people feel special. They enjoy devising elaborate plans and are skilled at multitasking. In short, the ENFJ personality type is a people-oriented organizer – a warm and enthusiastic person who wants to “do good.”
ESFP shares two out of four preferences with an ENFJ type. Their Extroversion and Feeling preferences (shared with ENFJs) and their unique Perceiving preference lead them to be enthusiastic, energetic, and people-centered entertainers. Like ENFJs, ESFPs also make friends easily and are communicative and fun to be around. Although the ESFPs understand other people’s needs and are eager to help others, they differ from ENFJs in their avoidance of planning and their weaker organizational skills. ENFJs, as skilled motivators, may help ESFPs become better organized and more appreciative of a well-laid plan.
ESFP and Originators or SP Types
Finally, we have come to the group to which the ESFP personality type belongs. Originators are personality types that share Sensing and Perceiving preferences. This means that they are deeply connected with their senses, prioritizing the things they can see, hear, or touch rather than intangible concepts. This preference makes them exceptionally practical when solving problems. Furthermore, their perceptive quality means that they are flexible and adaptive to various circumstances, always seeking the most efficient solution to problems in the moment. In general, they are entertaining and communicative personalities that can liven up any atmosphere. We will compare the ESFP type with the rest of the SP types: ISFP, ISTP, and ESTP.
ESFP vs. ISTP
The ISTP personality type is known for going to extremes. They will either be in the heart of the action, in the middle of solving a crisis, or in the background, disinterested and invisible. They are driven by challenges and will give their best to tackle them. But once they overcome a crisis, they tend to withdraw, losing all interest in the subject. ISTP personalities would sometimes rather sit and wait for a new challenge than follow through on current projects. Being introverted and self-sufficient, these personalities may be hard to get to know because they do not reveal too much about themselves. For this reason, they may come across as unfriendly to other types.
ESFPs share the ISTPs’ need for a challenge and adventure. However, being extroverted, ESFPs will strive to involve others in their new experiences. On the other hand, they may understand how ISTPs lose interest in things easily, because ESFPs also have trouble staying focused on one activity. They get easily distracted, especially when presented with various attractive choices. However, being people-oriented attention seekers, ESFPs may not cope well with ISTPs’ introverted, self-sufficient nature. They will be puzzled by the ISTP personality but may get easily bored in their company.
ESFP vs. ISFP
The ISFP personality type, also known as The Adventurer, is grounded in reality, cherishing the present moment and striving to make the best of it. As Sensing types, they enjoy hands-on, practical activities like drawing or crafting. As introverted personalities, ISFP types seek peace and quiet and tend to keep things as simple as possible. Their Perceiving preference means that ISFPs are not keen on planning and prefer to live in “creative chaos.”
Their personality trait of Feeling means they are in tune with others and willing to offer support and assistance, but away from the spotlight. ISFPs like to observe life quietly, and it may be a demanding task to earn their trust. However, once you become friends with an ISFP, this will be a friendship for life.
ESFP and ISFP personalities share the same tendency to live in the moment, enjoying things that surround them. But, contrary to ISFPs, ESFPs want to share their sensations and joy for life with the world. ESFPs and ISFPs are similarly focused on the most efficient solutions to problems at hand, but unlike ISFPs, the ESFPs will be happy to lead a team, getting everybody to support their ideas and get the job done as soon as possible. Overall, ESFPs and ISFPs may create significant relationships if ESFPs have the patience and understanding to appreciate ISFPs for who they are.
ESFP vs. ESTP
The ESTP personality type is also known as The Daredevil because they tend to look for action wherever they go. They will jump into any social activity, tackling challenging situations or projects with heaps of enthusiasm. They will avoid extensive contemplation or reflection, considering these activities a waste of precious time. As true optimists, ESTPs will invest their energy and time in tackling activities that are interesting to them. However, once they become bored, they will start looking for the next big thing. They will often find it difficult to follow schedules and meet deadlines with difficulties since ESTPs prefer to do things at their own pace and in their way. As true outgoing types ESTPs will enjoy being in the focus of attention, performing daring acts.
ESFPs and ESTPs have mostly similiar preferences, and therefore personality traits, in common. The major difference between them is their decision-making process. While ESFPs tend to listen to their inner feelings when making choices, ESTPs, as Thinking types, rely on logic.
This said, ESFP people similarly live for action and adventure and will not waste a moment on contemplation. Furthermore, they also tend to break rules and do things of their own accord. ESFPs highly appreciate their freedom and will not let anyone interfere with it. Even though ESTPs are energetic and optimistic attention seekers, they may not grasp the importance of feelings due to their Thinking preference. This is where caring ESFPs can help them become more aware of other people’s feelings and needs.