ESFJ:Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging

(File Last Modified Thurs, Oct 31, 2002.)

• ESFJ (13% of the American Population)
• Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging
• Possible Blind Spots

ESFJ (13% of the American Population)

Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging

ESFJs are motivated to help other people in real and practical ways through direct action and cooperation. They are responsible, friendly, and sympathetic.

Because ESFJs place such importance on their relationships with other people, they tend to be popular, gracious, eager to please, and talkative. They need harmonious relationships with others and work hard to achieve and maintain them. In fact, they often idealize whatever or whomever they admire. ESFJs need to be appreciated for themselves and their service, so they are highly sensitive to indifference or criticism. They usually express strong opinions and are decisive, and they like to have things settled.

Practical and realistic, ESFJs tend to be matter-of-fact and organized. They attend to and remember important facts and details and like others to be sure of their facts as well. They base their planning and opinions on their own personal experience or that of someone else they trust. They are aware of and involved with their physical environment and like to be active and productive.

Because ESFJs are conscientious and traditional, they are bound by their sense of duty and commitments. They nurture established institutions and tend to be active and cooperative members of committees and organizations. Their social ties are important and well maintained. They often go out of their way to do something helpful and nice for someone else and especially enjoy being responsive in times of trouble or great celebration.

Possible Blind Spots

Because ESFJs value harmony so highly, they tend to avoid conflicts rather than deal with problems head-on. They sometimes place too much importance and value on the opinions and feelings of those they care for. During tense or hurtful times, they can become blind to the facts of the situation. They need to learn to deal directly and honestly with conflict, trusting that their natural sensitivity to others' feelings will provide them with the necessary tact in even the most difficult situations.

ESFJs often overlook their own needs because of their desire to please or help other people. They have a difficult time saying no or asking for help because they don't want to risk offending or disappointing anyone. They usually have trouble giving or accepting constructive criticism because they take things so personally. They can become pessimistic and gloomy when they don't see ways to make changes in their lives. Taking a step back from their problems to get some objectivity usually helps them gain a fresh outlook.

In their efforts to help other people, ESFJs sometimes express their strong opinions in ways that are bossy and domineering. They do better to wait to find out if their help or suggestions are really wanted before offering them.

ESFJs often make decisions too quickly, before they've had adequate time to gather all the less obvious facts and consider the implications of their actions. They don't tend to look for new or different ways of doing things and can appear inflexible. Postponing judgments in favor of staying open to novel approaches to problems will give them a better base of information and help them make better decisions.