ESFJ Ability and Job Satisfaction Characteristics!

You are ESFJ, Extraverted with Sensing, Feeling and Judging, with ESFJ ability, or you are interested in someone who is, and you are perhaps seeking information regarding how the ESFJ personality type and associated ESFJ ability gleaned from the Myers Briggs Test can perform optimally and at their very best in the workplace. You may also be seeking information as to how ESFJ ability can be maximally used in the workplace and how all this knowledge of ESFJ ability can increase workplace motivation and job satisfaction for you, and your organization.

You can also learn how knowledge of ESFJ strengths and weaknesses in the workplace, that is ESFJ ability, can insure that the ESFJ will not fall victim to job dissatisfaction which has been termed “Falsification of Type” and which is the core reason an estimated 70% of all the workers in the world dislike (or hate) their jobs!

ESFJ Workplace Strengths

ESFJ ability and strengths are many and would mean for you in the workplace that you:

• are someone who reaches understanding through interaction and discussion, someone who wants to talk it through
• are energetic, enthusiastic, and prone to take action
• move around and may “do business” in various locations
• participate, often speaking up right away, letting others know what you think or feel
• regard meetings as places to build relationships and as vehicles to get work done
• are aware of the impact of what’s going on in the larger organization and the outside world
• focus first on and are most interested in specifics and the details of current or past reality; you notice the “trees” before noticing the “forest”
• are realistic, practical, and work with “what is”
• work on one thing at a time; like to begin from and use what is already known
• want the work of a team to be realistic and doable, and are less interested in (and may be impatient with)discussions about vague, unrealistic, or “theoretical” possibilities
• take things literally, at face value
• bring previous experience to bear on work at hand; keep things grounded
• are amiable and approachable; are sensitive to others, sometimes at the cost of being direct
• often want to spend some time getting to know others and build relationships before getting to the work at hand
• are naturally appreciative of people’s ideas and contributions
• believe that how a group works together is equally important as what is accomplished; expect the best ideas and solutions to emerge from cooperation; may experience give and take as disruptive arguments
• are sensitive to how others will react or be affected; promote harmony, conciliation, and well-being; seek win/win results
• urge actions that are congruent with individual values and the professed values of the organization
• are dependable, deliberate, decisive, and focused; stick to commitments, plans, and schedules
• are methodical and systematic, and often develop routine approaches to work
• like to finish things-may do so even when finishing is no longer appropriate or necessary
• may be uncomfortable proceeding without a plan; take a “let’s get on with it/let’s get it done” stance, deciding “too quickly” without “sufficient” input and discussion of alternatives
• may be uncomfortable proceeding without a plan; work best when there is something definite to work toward; want a group to focus on and organize to accomplish the agreed-upon result
• initially respond to a new task or assignment with “There’s no way we can take on a new project,” then later adjust plans and schedules to fit it in

Basically those jobs/careers that would allow the ESFJ to use the strengths listed above, ESFJ ability, as a natural part of doing the job would be the jobs/careers providing maximum workplace motivation for the ESFJ. With increased workplace motivation normally follows increased job satisfaction. Likewise, jobs/careers not allowing the ESFJ ability to be used will provide much less workplace motivation and consequently much less job satisfaction for the ESFJ personality type.

ESFJ Workplace Weaknesses

ESFJ personality and ESFJ ability would include a tendency toward the following workplace weaknesses:

• may need to be more logical in the workplace and “feel” less at times
• may have difficulty in environments where work relationships are not valued
• will have difficulty seeing the future possibility and being open to that future potential
• may have difficulty with theoretical brain storming activities
• may have difficulty with non-person centered decision making
• will be uncomfortable to troubled proceeding without strict plans
• may be prone to discount “new” approaches
• may have difficulty with others who are willing to take risks
• may struggle with others who do not strongly present a natural “personal” approach to things
• may be troubled in an isolated work environment, need people on the job

Now take a few moments and consider how ESFJ’s behave and perform in the workplace from the following seven aspects:

What Others Might Observe First

• readily connect with people-are warm-hearted, friendly, outgoing, sensitive, and helpful
• take assignments and responsibilities seriously, are dutiful, conscientious, and dependable
• are active, energetic, and productive
• are decisive and inclined to take action

Work Style

• like direct, cooperative involvement with others, and most prize work that provides tangible benefit to people
• work best within and follow existing structures that help things run smoothly (e.g., procedures, schedules, the chain of command), will create structure when it is missing, and want to know clearly what is expected and how it will be assessed
• follow through-stick with projects to completion
• like to be actively appreciated and recognized for contributions and achievements

On Work Teams/In Groups

• are good team players who are supportive of others, exert a positive influence, work to have everyone pulling in the same direction, and may be the glue that holds the team together
• favor personable, harmonious, and cooperative environments where people feel part of the group and at ease, and where appreciation is expressed for everyone’s contributions
• want the team to take action and are themselves impatient with drawn-out philosophical or theoretical deliberations
• are attentive to detail, especially people-oriented detail, and foresee people’s needs

Facing Change

• favor changes that benefit the entire group and change processes where people pull together
• like clear beginnings and endings, and do best when there is time to adjust to new approaches-so they may be less comfortable with ambiguity and the loose ends of transition
• have strong, often traditional values, and may seek to preserve these during change
• if they sense a loss of control, may use authoritative or absolute statements or actions

During Conflict

• place great value on interpersonal harmony and will work hard to find a way for all to be in accord, will try to do or say something to ease the situation, and may prematurely agree to a solution that will remove discord for the time being
• may find troublesome conflict that others regard as every day give and take (e.g., people advocating and defending their positions, pointed humor)
• seek opportunities to process conflict appropriately, and may be affected negatively or pull back if processing doesn’t occur
• under stress, may criticize or blame, may disengage, or may discount the counsel of those they usually respect

Workplace Contributions

• help keep things moving efficiently and harmoniously toward agreed upon ends
• provide structure, organize people, and organize for people
• work to balance the needs of people and the organization
• provide stability by drawing on effective past practices and maintaining traditions

May Be Experienced As

• supportive and nurturing of others and sometimes as socializing too much and as so focused on others’ needs that their own needs are not attended to
• preferring and providing structure and sometimes as inflexible, not necessarily open to new approaches
• serious and responsible and sometimes as “too” responsible, “worriers”
• deciding and acting quickly and sometimes as moving ahead hastily, before considering enough data or options

The Myers Briggs Test can be looked upon sometimes as an ability and personality test. Once you have identified your personality type via the Myers Briggs Test and have some understanding of the associated strengths, weaknesses, abilities and behaviors of your type you can better determine the kind of work environment and associated factors that provide the maximum workplace motivation and job satisfaction for you. Again, view the results of the Myers Briggs Test concerning work as a kind of ability and personality test.

If you would like to study a different personality type link here and go back to the Personality and Work page to find links to the other 15 personality types, follow those links and enjoy!

If you have questions regarding your personality type in the workplace as it relates to using the Myers Briggs Test as an ability and personality test, please do not hesitate to use the Support/Contact Request form on the navigation bar to the left. We would enjoy hearing from you and will try to answer any questions you may have about the Myers Briggs Test and its uses and/or the Myers Briggs focused consultation services offered by Solid Rock Consulting Group, LLC.

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