Short Descriptions:

       "Theme is performance. Warm, charming, and witty. Want to impact and help others, to evoke their enjoyment, and to stimulate them to act. Want to make a difference and do something meaningful. Often masterful at showmanship, entertaining, motivating, and presenting. Thrive on social interaction, joyful living, and the challenge of the unknown. Like helping people get what they want and need, facilitating them to get results."³

       "Outgoing, easygoing, accepting, enjoy everything and make things more fun for others by their enjoyment. Like sports and making things happen. Know what is going on and join in eagerly. Find remembering facts easier than mastering theories. Are best in situations that need sound common sense and practical ability with people as well as with things." ⁴

       "ESFPs take their energy from the outer world of people and external events. They prefer dealing with facts, which they usually takes at face value. They also prefer dealing with the present and with people, and probably derives much enjoyment out of friendships. Their life is flexible, living it very much in the present, and responding to things as they arise. They are impulsive and friendly, seeking enjoyment out of life, and makes new friends easily. They like taking part in solving urgent problems, such as fire-fighting or trouble shooting. They operate best in practical situations involving people.
       ESFPs are friendly, outgoing, fun loving, and naturally drawn to people. They are enthusiastic and exuberant, and are usually well liked by others. They are good a meeting people and helping them enjoy themselves. They are sympathetic toward people and generous with their time and money. They want to be where the action is, and they will often stir things up in their own special way. At their best, they are able to realistically meet human and situational needs in a fun and lively way."⁵

       "For ESFPs the dominant quality in their lives is their enthusiastic attention to the outer world of hands-on and real-life experiences. ESFPs are excited by continuous involvement in new activities and new relationships. ESFPs also have a deep concern for people, and they show their caring in warm and pragmatic gestures of helping. ESFPs are typically energetic and adaptable realists, who prefer to experience and accept life rather than to judge or organize it."⁶

       "ESFPs direct their energy towards the outside world of actions and spoken words. They get things done, and get them done quickly, and they prefer doing things with and for people. They seek to live life to the full and create experiences for others as well. They enjoy solve urgent problems, such as fire-fighting or trouble shooting."⁷

       "The theme is performing. They are warm, friendly, charming and witty. Hands-on problem solvers. Enjoy life's simple pleasures. Naturally diplomatic. Life of the party and a lot of fun to be around. Exciting company."⁸

       "Friendly, approachable, and easygoing. Energetic, talkative, and playful. Curious, excitable, and spontaneous. Express concern about the problems of others. Tips for communicating with ESFP: Be friendly, and yet straightforward. Emphasize how to help others in practical ways. Take action! Respond immediately to requests. Appeal to their common sense." ⁹

The Negative Side of ESFP

       "You have an inability to take criticism. Sometimes you can be very touchy and react negatively to inoffensive remarks, making relations between you and others difficult. Sometimes you overestimate your physical and intellectual abilities too much. You can make mistakes when evaluating other people's contributions. You also find it difficult to separate primary from secondary. You try to fix every problem immediately as it occurs. You often start new projects before finishing the old ones. You can make rash decisions without analyzing the situation in whole before acting. It is also difficult for you to detach yourself from emotional involvement when you are making decisions." ¹⁰

ESFP Under STRESS

       "ESFPs' need to socialize with others may create difficulties at work or school. Their tendency to over-emphasize subjective data can cause problems in structured situations. Like all SPs, ESFPs resist regulations and they can become quite defiant when their sense of freedom is violated. Their disregard for standard procedures will take the form of passive resistance and ESFPs usually develop many skills to annoy the people they blame for their loss of liberty. ESFPs are prone to neglecting time-limits and situations requiring organized goals; under such circumstances, ESFPs will become bored and restless, and will quickly develop a feeling of emptiness.
       If a stressful situation endures, ESFPs will respond against others by mistreating themselves and acquiring habits that are self-destructive. Feeling empty, restless, and bored, ESFPs may experience a regression of their skills, graceful movements, and maturity. ESFPs penalize those responsible for obstructing their freedom while, at the same time, they restore excitement back into their own lives. Having not obtained freedom through appropriate behavior, ESFPs overwhelmed with stress will behave in ways that are unproductive to themselves and others." ¹¹

       "Under great stress, ESFPs may feel overwhelmed internally by negative possibilities. They then put energy into developing simplistic global explanations for their negative pictures."¹²

Stress Management for ESFP (Feeding the Fourth)

       Do activities that require you to ask, "How can I use this to improve myself?How can I do this better?" in an objective manner, such as Always Room to Improve