INFP Ability and Job Satisfaction Characteristics!

You are INFP, Introverted with Intuition, Feeling and Perceiving, with INFP ability, or you are interested in someone who is, and you are perhaps seeking information regarding how the INFP personality type and associated INFP 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 INFP ability can be maximally used in the workplace and how all this knowledge of INFP ability can increase workplace motivation and job satisfaction for you, and your organization.

You can also learn how knowledge of INFP strengths and weaknesses in the workplace, that is INFP ability, can insure that the INFP 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!

INFP Workplace Strengths

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

• are someone who reaches understanding by contemplating and thinking, pondering things, someone who wants to really think about it
• are reflective, quiet, and prone to consider before acting
• prefer physical work space which allows for privacy and concentration
• participate and speak up after observing and formulating your own impressions and questions; may need to be asked what you think or feel
• regard meeting as taking time away from work and as places where more work gets generated or assigned
• are aware of internal guiding principles, philosophy, and commitments
• Focus first on and are most interested in the big picture, global issues, future possibilities; you notice the “forest” before noticing the “trees”
• are speculative and work toward “what if”
• work in bursts, await inspiration, may skip around, pursuing what “strikes your fancy;” may work on several things at the same time
• elect to acquire new knowledge that is interesting even if there is no apparent use for it
• want a team to have an engaging vision and mission; initiate and enjoy consideration of possibilities or theoretical matters
• arouse energy and zeal, especially for pursuing the mission and for innovations
• 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 spontaneous, “go with the flow,” open to new experiences and not wanting to miss out on anything, fun loving
• bring in new information, perspectives, and options; are adaptable and often devise flexible or innovative approaches to work
• like to start things-motivation and interest may decline when it’s time to finish
• are comfortable proceeding without a definite plan; take a “let’s wait and see what rolls out” approach; may frustrate others by bringing up new information or possibilities after a decision seems to have been made
• are comfortable not having something definite to work toward, and may feel constrained by what you perceive to be narrow or rigid goals and deadlines; focus on processes and want a team to organize around the ways they will work
• initially welcome a new assignment or project, thinking there’s lots of time to get it done-and later feel pushed to fit everything in

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

INFP Workplace Weaknesses

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

• may need to be less sensitive to what others think or feel
• may view meetings as naturally negative events that cause more work that is accomplished by having them
• will have difficulty seeing in-the-moment realities and sequencing that reality
• may have difficulty focusing on one thing for great amounts of time
• may have difficulty with non-person centered decision making
• will be uncomfortable to troubled proceeding with strict plans
• hesitancy to finish things may be viewed as negative
• may feel stressed as workplace tension grows, too many people, no privacy, etc.
• may struggle with others who present natural impersonal approach to things

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

What Others Might Observe First

• are adaptable, tolerant, receptive, and calm
• are oriented toward the future (“what could be”), and suggest possibilities and options
• often have good communication skills, through they may not communicate much, especially about themselves
• are sensitive to others, congenial, and empathetic

Work Style

• like quiet and alone time for concentration, and may have periods of high activity and productivity followed by apparent lulls
• are most captured by work that has personal meaning, is an expression of “who I am,” and helps make the world a better place
• like flexibility, and dislike a lot of routine, structure, and rules (e.g. prescribed procedures and tight timelines)
• are comfortable and patient with complexity, and may overlook details

On Work Teams/In Groups

• emphasize interpersonal values-warmth, cooperation, sharing of information, and building trust-are aware of and sensitive to “process issues”
• are reflective and insightful-see patterns and possibilities, and may have a unique or unusual perspective
• like to feel connected to others on the team, seek to create a sense of pulling together, and want others to feel like they belong
• work doggedly, often unobtrusively, for what is important to them

Facing Change

• are open to change, and naturally look beyond the present to see and create possibilities
• are able to deal with ambiguity, fluidity, and matters “in process”
• favor change that advances “people values” and what feels right for people, and want the process of change to be inclusive and “people friendly”
• protective of their own relationships during change

During Conflict

• don’t like interpersonal conflict, and may be thrown off by it or seek to withdraw
• often serve as peacemaker or harmonizer, look for and can usually find an open door in a dilemma or an impasse
• may assume too much personal responsibility for conflict in relationships
• under stress, can become preoccupied, overreact, be difficult to be around, and/or find fault with others

Workplace Contributions

• endeavor to create a positive, harmonious environment that fosters the growth and development of people
• interpersonal sensitivity
• adaptability and flexibility (though they are not flexible when integrity is at stake)
• idealism, inspiration, and a deep commitment to values that leads them to expect the organization to live out its own values

May Be Experienced As

• loyal and committed to people and sometimes as so committed that they become overextended trying to fulfill promises or please others
• having high expectations, hard on themselves, “perfectionistic”
• postponing making decisions until the “last minute”
• non-conforming when in pursuit of their own inner values or vision

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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