Tag: entp

Debater (ENTP) – Type Description

ENTP is one of the 16 personality types as defined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), characterized by extraversion, intuition, thinking and perceiving. ENTPs, also known as the “debaters” or “inventors,” are known for their quick wit, clever ideas, and love of a good argument. One of the most striking things about ENTPs is their ability to think on their feet. They are quick to come up with new ideas, are not afraid to take risks, and are always eager to explore new possibilities. These qualities make them natural inventors, scientists, trouble-shooters, and entrepreneurs. 

ENTPs can be impulsive and may have trouble committing to one idea, but it also makes them very adaptable and able to pivot quickly when necessary. ENTPs are very clever and are often able to think their way out of tricky situations and persuade others to see things from their point of view. They have a tendency to value reason and intellect over emotions and feelings, and they enjoy being around those who can keep up with their fast-paced thinking and conversation. 

Cognitive Functions of ENTPs:

To gain insight into the characteristics of ENTP personalities, it is helpful to understand the dominant and auxiliary cognitive functions that drive them. According to the MBTI system, each personality type has a set of cognitive functions that they use most frequently, which leads to consistent patterns and characteristics. For ENTPs, 

Dominant Ne: Extraverted Intuition (Ne) allows an individual to come up with new ideas and  possibilities, and see connections between seemingly unrelated things. It gives people the ability to see beyond the present, with a clear vision of what could be. People with a dominant Extraverted Intuition (Ne) have a strong intuition for spotting trends and future developments, often before others have even recognized them.

Due to their dominant Extraverted Intuition (Ne), ENTPs tend to be more attracted to new possibilities and challenges than what is already verified and known, which makes them great problem solvers, innovators and visionaries. They use their Ne to think on their feet and come up with new ideas on the spot. However, they sometimes can get overstimulated or distracted by too many new ideas and need to learn to balance their energy by using their auxiliary function of Introverted Thinking (Ti).

Auxiliary Ti: Introverted Thinking (Ti) allows individuals to analyze their thoughts in a logical and systematic way. This function helps people critically evaluate the information and gain leverage through logical frameworks.

ENTPs use their auxiliary Introverted Thinking (Ti) to be more self-reflective, to understand their own thought processes and to identify any inconsistencies in their own reasoning. They also use Ti to be more efficient in decision making and to identify priorities and best course of actions. As they learn to apply Ti to their own actions, they become more self-disciplined and recognize their responsibility to others in the larger scheme of things.

Due to ENTPs emphasis on these dominant and auxiliary functions, their Sensing and Feeling functions are less developed. This can lead to weaknesses such as difficulty being present in the moment and paying attention to details (Sensing), as well as understanding and expressing emotions, empathizing with others, and understanding the impact of their decisions on others (Feeling).

Strengths of ENTPs 

ENTPs possess many strengths, some of which include:

  • Adventurous and innovative: ENTPs are always on the lookout for new adventures, be it in their personal or professional lives. Due to their dominant Ne, their minds are always exploring innovative ideas, seeing multiple perspectives in every situation. This makes them natural explorers, always ready to delve into the unknown and embrace change.
  • Agents of progress: ENTPs are natural troubleshooters and agents of progress. Their dominant Ne allows them to explore abstract possibilities and their auxiliary Ti critically evaluates the plan before the ENTP rushes into a situation. This Ne-Ti combination makes them great at solving problems and making good judgments.
  • Leadership and persuasion: ENTPs are able to persuade others to see things from their point of view, and are natural leaders. As mentioned before, they use their Ne-Ti to make sound judgments, leading to a high level of confidence in the conclusions they arrive at. This confidence in their ideas allows them to communicate clearly and effectively, making them skilled speakers. They possess the ability to argue their point of view persuasively or even play devil’s advocate and argue on both sides just for the fun of it.
  • Entrepreneurial spirit: ENTPs are naturally good at identifying business opportunities due to their ability to think outside the box. Thanks to their dominant Extraverted Intuition (Ne), they are good at thinking on their feet, which allows them to approach challenges with a creative and bold mindset.

Weaknesses of ENTPs

ENTPs may have some potential weaknesses that could impact their personal life, relationships, as well as their performance and effectiveness in their workplace. These weaknesses may include the following.

  • Lack of focus and practicality: ENTPs have a tendency to get easily distracted by new and exciting ideas, making it difficult for them to commit to a single plan. Due to their dominant Ne, their minds are always active, thinking of new possibilities, but this can make it challenging for them to stick with one project or plan. ENTPs also have a natural tendency to be overly hopeful and optimistic about their ideas, which can lead them to miscalculate the outcomes and make impractical plans (which can also be explained by their weaker Sensing functions which are responsible for attention to details).
  • Impulsivity: ENTPs rely on their ability to solve problems as they arise, rather than carefully creating a detailed blueprint in advance. When they resist the “advice” from their auxiliary Ti, they feel confident with just a rough draft and proceed into action. This impulsive behavior can lead them to neglect preparing adequately for a given task. 
  • Resistance to rules and routine tasks: ENTPs may struggle with tasks that are repetitive or require a lot of attention to detail. With their dominant Ne and corresponding weaker Sensing functions (aka attention to details) they find it difficult for them to follow set protocols and procedures. They value their freedom and autonomy, and may be resistant to rules and regulations that they see as restrictive.

ENTPs & career choice

It is important for ENTPs to choose a career that aligns with their interests and allows them to use their strengths and skills. Some suitable careers for ENTPs include the following.

  • Entrepreneurship and business: ENTPs, with their love for exploring new ideas and possibilities, are well-suited for entrepreneurship. Their Ne allows them to dream big and come up with new entrepreneurial ideas, and their Ti helps them make effective business plans. These skills are crucial for starting and running a successful business. Their adaptability allows them to pivot their strategies according to changing market conditions and stay ahead of the competition. 
  • Sales and marketing: ENTPs would make great salespeople due to their dominant Ne, which allows them to think creatively, anticipate customer needs and tailor their pitch accordingly. They are charismatic, persuasive and have great communication skills which help in building relationships with customers and closing deals. 
  • Law: As lawyers, ENTPs thrive in the courtroom with their ability to debate and explore different perspectives. Their natural inclination for abstract thinking, provided by their dominant Ne, allows them to anticipate opposing viewpoints in court. This, paired with their auxiliary Ti, enables them to critically evaluate their own arguments, spot any weaknesses and come up with counterpoints beforehand, making them formidable legal opponents.
  • Science: ENTPs are very well-suited for careers in science. Their minds are always at work, identifying problems around them, coming up with new unconventional ideas to solve them in one way or another. 

Careers that involve a lot of stability, predictability, and adherence to set rules and procedures may not be a good fit for ENTPs. They value their freedom and independence, and may find it challenging to work within a highly structured or bureaucratic environment. They may also struggle with jobs that require a high degree of conformity, such as certain government jobs, or jobs in industries like finance or accounting which demand a high degree of attention to detail.

ENTPs in the workplace

ENTPs in the workplace are known for their curiosity and open mindedness. This curiosity is contagious and can inspire others, who find themselves admiring the ENTPs’ insatiable hunger for knowledge. ENTPs are not satisfied with doing things the way they have always been done, they are always on the lookout for a better way, new projects, new activities, and new procedures, owing to their dominant Ne.

ENTPs also make great employers and managers due to their imaginative and enterprising nature. In leadership positions, they are intellectually competitive and want a team that can keep up with them. They encourage independence among their team members, valuing different perspectives and ideas. However, they also use their Ti to critically evaluate and analyze all ideas before coming to a decision, and with the help of their Ne, they are able to assess which plan would be the most effective.

ENTPs in their relationships

When it comes to relationships, ENTPs are often outgoing, adventurous, and full of energy. They are typically in good humor and enjoy making others laugh. They are known for their spontaneity and love for trying new things. Being with them is never boring as they are always looking for new experiences. They enjoy surprising their partner with unexpected gestures and activities which can make for an exciting and dynamic relationship. They are also open-minded and accepting of their partner’s interests and passions.

ENTPs may struggle with overindulging in their Ti function, leading to a lack of emotional understanding and connection with their partner. They sometimes rely too heavily on logical solutions and dismiss the importance of emotions and feelings in relationships, causing the other person to feel unsupported and unvalued. To improve, ENTPs should focus on developing their Feeling function, becoming more emotionally capable, listening more, showing appreciation and being willing to be vulnerable and share emotions in the relationship.

As parents, ENTPs are focused on raising independent and self-reliant children. They want to provide their kids with new experiences and opportunities, but also encourage them to explore and experience life on their own.

In conclusion, ENTPs are innovative and dynamic individuals who are always on the lookout for new ideas and opportunities. They are natural problem-solvers and enjoy the thrill of overcoming challenges. They are confident risk takers, open-minded, and value the input of others. Despite their occasional need for independence, ENTPs are highly social creatures and enjoy interacting with others. They are not afraid to challenge the status quo and strive to make the world a better place.

Why Does Your MBTI Make You A Late Bloomer

Source: truity.com

Let’s face it, even in the 21st century, what society defines as success is still very much materialistic. Whether someone is considered to do well in life depends on how high is his or her earning, his material possession and other status symbols including having (attractive) romantic partners.

The average income chart above by MBTI types portray a perspective of success. The highest earners on average are ENTJ and ESTJ while the lowest earners are INFP and ISFP. Overall, higher scores on extraversion (E), thinking (T), sensing (S) and judging (J) better predict financial success.

The reason that I phrase this article as “late bloomer” is because even though there is no survey that I know of, I do believe the material gap between types will lessen as people become more mature and balanced. The second reason is that even if the gap is still there, you will better accept who you are and the non-material and non-traditional sense of success that you create, which will give you better self-confidence and happiness down the road.

Introversion

There has been a rising support for the power of the introvert in the past decades with many books and articles that talk about the hidden advantage of being an introvert. They might be stereotyped as wallflowers who are meek and easily pushed over.

The truth is that introverts are not the minority. They are almost equal in the share of population as extroverts and introversion and shyness are not the same, though they can be easily mistaken. Introversion simply means the information processing pathway is longer and consumes more energy. Hence, introverts tend to think more and are easily overwhelmed by external stimuli.

It’s easy to see how introversion leads you to become a late bloomer. Life is tough and complicated at the start. You can be overwhelmed by the world when younger and it will take longer for introverts to consolidate and master this wave of insights and nuances in their brilliant but overwhelming minds. 

Not only can introverts catch up with extroverts later in life in material success, their insightful minds allow them to excel in highly skilled and specialized careers such as writer, scientist and philosopher. These careers might not be the best paid, but they have the potential to be highly celebrated and to propel society forward.

FEELING

If your type has letter F instead of T, you lean more towards feeling, which has to do with either intrapersonal or interpersonal relationships than efficiency and logic (T).

Feeling can either be introverted or so-called intrapersonal (Fi) (most dominant in INFP and ISFP) or extraverted/interpersonal (Fe) (which is dominant in ENFJ and ESFJ). Introverted feeling will likely have it the hardest at younger age because it is very hard to express and easily misunderstood. It is primarily concerned with moral right and wrong, living authentically and freely according to their inner compass of beauty.

This inward feeling may make you artistic yet impractical because deep down you yearn to express something of profound beauty but also makes you unable to take on more practical tasks and jobs, which feels inauthentic to your being. It will take time and sometimes luck to find a path that is both spiritually fulfilling yet lucrative. Introverted feelers like ISFP and INFP make the best artists and poets but their path will be long and rocky.

Extraverted feeling users, especially introverted ones (INFJ and ISFJ) would also feel under par because they find it hard to assert themselves and risk upsetting others. This function chiefly concerns maintaining a harmonious social atmosphere, causing you to feel it hard to just simply put people aside to get what you want. But humans are ultimately social creatures and being able to get on the good sides of the group often can take you far ahead, including in your finance and career.

INTUITION

I believe the Intuitive (N) – Sensing (S) dimension is the most interesting yet often overlooked in MBTI. Only about 25-30% of the population are intuitive, so they are way more rare than introverts! You can think of the intuitive-oriented person simply as a nerdy book-smart kind of person who is more interested in philosophy and theories than concrete facts and actions.

Intuitives, especially INFP, INTP, ENFP and ENTP (extraverted intuition) are often scattered-brain big-pictured people who have a hard time being decisive. To them the world is full of possibilities where traditional and well-accepted concepts like marriage, houses, children and even money should be questioned and explored.

With so much information and so many questions being shifted and synthesized, no wonder it takes longer for them to reach a stable stage in life. They make for smart students but somewhat clueless and restless young or even middle-aged adults while their sensing-dominant peers have happily accepted and settled into more traditional paths and roles.

However, the gift of this unconventional and big-picture mindset is the potential for paradigm shifting and holistic perspectives. Survey might suggest that intuitives earn slightly less than sensors but one reason is because the former takes longer to synthesize their perspectives, which can go beyond the immediate needs of themselves and families to challenge the status quo and propel society’s understanding forward. They make for wise and profound innovators and teachers of arts, philosophy and sciences.

So in conclusion, even if you are at the receiving end of all the disadvantaged factors above, like even in the case of INFP and ISFP, don’t be discouraged. Your mind is uniquely created for a special purpose with unique strengths and values. Of course life is tough for everyone and everyone needs a certain degree of material and practical success, but social contribution and your path to success are just not in a traditional sense. Your life purpose might be more towards helping others or helping society make new breakthroughs or to find the secrets of the universe, at the expense of the practical aspects – and that is ok!