Often used in business training, personal development or pedagogy, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is a psychometric questionnaire designed to measure psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions.

There are plenty of valid critiques of this model. However, I think my profile is 95% accurate, so I present it here for your enjoyment/edification. Below is an Overview, Strengths& Weaknesses of ENTPs and an look at ENTPs in the workplace.

• E – Extraversion ENTPs gain energy through interactions with people or objects in the outside world. They tend to enjoy having a wide circle of acquaintances and interests.
• N – Intuition ENTPs tend to be more abstract than concrete. They focus their attention on the big picture rather than the details, and on future possibilities rather than immediate realities.
• T – Thinking : ENTPs tend to value objective criteria above personal preference. When making decisions, they generally give more weight to logic than to social considerations.
• P – Perception ENTPs tend to withhold judgment and delay important decisions, preferring to “keep their options open” should circumstances change. They tend to be highly adaptable.

Jason Coleman: ENTP

“Clever” is the word that perhaps describes ENTPs best. The professor who juggles half a dozen ideas for research papers and grant proposals in his mind while giving a highly entertaining lecture on an abstruse subject is a classic example of the type. So is the stand-up comedian whose lampoons are both funny and incisively accurate.

ENTPs are usually verbally as well as cerebrally quick, and generally love to argue–both for its own sake, and to show off their debating skills. ENTPs tend to have a perverse sense of humor as well, and enjoy playing devil’s advocate. This  can sometimes upset those who don’t understand or accept the concept of argument as a sport.

ENTPs  tend to be informative, rather than directive, in their social exchanges. They are often able to explain their own complicated ideas, as well as comprehend the complex ideas of others.

ENTPs are as innovative and ingenious at problem-solving as they are at verbal gymnastics; devising fresh, unexpected solutions to difficult problems. Designing and improving systems is their constant goal. However, they are less interested in generating and following through with detailed plans than in generating ideas and possibilities.

ENTPs are motivated by a desire to understand and improve the world they live in . Resourceful in solving new and challenging problems. ENTPs are adept at generating conceptual possibilities and analyzing them strategically.

ENTPs may sometimes give the impression of being largely oblivious to the rest of humanity except as an audience: good, bad, or potential. In general this is unfair – but it can be difficult to get an ENTP’s attention when they’re not immediately aware of you, especially for an Introvert. ENTPs have little patience with those they consider wrongheaded or unintelligent, and show little restraint in demonstrating this. To the ENTP, competence and intelligence are particularly prized, both in themselves and in other people. In general, however, they are genial, even charming and are often laid back, non-judgmental, and good conversationalists.

ENTPs are often non-conformists. Of all the role variants, they are the most resistant to doing things a certain way just because it was done that way in the past. They understand that change is the cost of improvement and are sometimes frustrated by other types that thrive on continuity and tradition.

The best approach in communicating with an ENTP is to be straightforward. No games – they’ll win. No “pulling rank” – they’ll just want to put you in your place. No apologies – you’ll undermine yourself. Try “I need/want to talk to you.”

In team environments, ENTPs are most effective in a role where they can draw on their abilities to offer deep understanding, a high degree of flexibility, and innovative solutions to problems.

ENTP strengths

• Quick thinkers. ENTP personalities find it easy to come up with arguments and counterarguments in any discussion, jumping from one idea to another without much effort. They also enjoy being devil’s advocates.
• Very knowledgeable. ENTPs enjoy learning new things and accumulating knowledge. They tend to be very successful in the academic environment, especially where there is a need for original and bold solutions.
• Excellent brainstormers. People with this personality type can easily see both sides of the coin and do not get emotionally attached to a specific viewpoint or an idea. They simply enjoy the process of looking for possible solutions.
• Original. ENTPs are not afraid to experiment and suggest ideas that are unconventional or even drastic. They are especially well suited for coming up with novel solutions for historical, systemic problems.
• Charismatic. Quick-witted and confident ENTPs tend to also be charming and popular, intriguing and attracting people around them.
• Energetic. ENTP personalities can be very enthusiastic and energetic if something excites them. They can spend ages looking for a solution to an interesting problem.

ENTP Weaknesses

• Very argumentative. ENTPs enjoy debates and see them as mental exercises – this attitude can easily upset. This strategy can create friction with more sensitive or stability-oriented types who view debate as conflict rather than play and discovery.
• Insensitive. ENTP personalities are very rational, which is likely to make it difficult for them to recognize other people’s feelings or express their own.
• May find it difficult to focus. ENTPs’ mind is used to jumping from one interesting idea to another – they may have difficulties staying focused on one specific topic.
• Dislike practical matters. ENTPs are more interested in ideas and solutions than practical, daily matters. They may have no difficulties coming up with the perfect plan, but are likely to be far less interested in actually putting it in place, checking all the details etc.
• May be intolerant. ENTP personalities value competence and intelligence both in themselves and in other. They may sometimes be intolerant and dismissive, especially when they have to deal with people who try to avoid debates or cannot defend their ideas.
• Get bored quickly. ENTPs need to feel excited – routine tasks bore and frustrate them. They may even come up with imaginative problems or start suggesting unnecessary improvements, just to keep their mind occupied.

ENTP Careers:

The ENTP personality type is one of the most versatile types and the list of typical ENTP careers is unsurprisingly quite extensive. ENTPs tend to have many transferable and strongly expressed skills, which gives them a distinct advantage on the career ladder – as long as they pay enough attention to their strengths and weaknesses.

ENTPs truly love generating new ideas and devising new projects. This is one of the most creative and flexible personality types and such traits are always clearly seen, no matter which career path the ENTP decides to choose. Their intelligence can even be somewhat intimidating, as ENTPs have an explosive combination of extraversion (E), tendency for intellectual pursuits (NT) and spontaneity (P). These traits push ENTPs towards careers that allow them to use that never-ending flow of ideas in a productive way.

Next, ENTPs have excellent communication skills and there are few activities more satisfying for them than debating ideas with someone else. Interestingly, ENTPs also tend to have excellent leadership skills, but they dislike managing other people (or vice versa, being controlled by somebody else). On the other hand, people with this personality type are easily able to motivate and inspire others, even though that inspiration tends to be rational and intellectual rather than emotional.

ENTP careers also tend to reward intellectual competency and curiosity – ENTPs tend to value knowledge, insight and rational thought very highly. They are not impressed or affected by emotions – any ENTP would much rather spend time figuring out a solution for a difficult problem than trying to understand what makes somebody else “tick”. Furthermore, ENTPs need a lot of freedom – they dislike routine, structure and formal rules, seeing them as a hindrance to those exciting intellectual pursuits.