ENTP

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Characteristics of an ENTP

(E) Extraverted - (N) Intuitive - (T) Thinking - (P) Perceiving

Engaging, plausible and entertaining the ENTP is very closely attuned to their surroundings and constantly on the lookout for opportunities and possibilities, which will feed their strong desire for something new. An ENTP will be like a breath of fresh air, infusing people and projects with a whole array of new ideas and creative ways of doing things. However, they can become bored and withdraw their energies as they go off in search of the next 'fix.' They are of the moment and are great at creating momentum for anything new. However they may become bored after the initial fascination has passed.

ENTPs love telling conceptual stories. They will often go off at tangents, weaving apparently contrary pieces of information into a conceptual whole, bringing others in and teaching them in the process. Curious, communicative and challenging, the ENTP loves intellectual debate, is spontaneous, (at times shockingly so), and assertive. They have a kaleidoscope type vision, seeing all the disparate parts and then, in one twist, pulling them all together into something often quite wonderful.

These characteristics also mean the ENTP can be intellectually promiscuous, enjoying one new experience after another, one new idea after another and constantly looking for bigger and better things. They are also better at the 'front end' of projects and may lose interest once the initial fascination has passed. The ENTP is expedient, will disregard rules, regulations and even obligations and follow their own instincts and urges.

The upside of this is the ability to bring whole new perspectives and ways of looking at things. The downside is that they may leave loose ends, and lack follow-through. The ENTP's independent streak make them excellent at challenging the status quo, self-deception and self-delusion, but this challenging can, at times, become critical or negative if the ENTP becomes bored or feels stultified or threatened.

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Famous ENTPs

Mick Jagger

Musician

Sacha Baron Cohen

Actor

Stephen Fry

Actor, comedian and author

Robert Downey Jr

Actor

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ENTP Relationships

• Great people skills
• Persuasive
• Logical
• Not emotional
• Make people feel special
• Relationship builder
• Likeable
• Plausible
• Bored easily
• Argumentative
• Challenging
• Looks for possibilities
• Driven by interests
• Direct
• Often doesn’t follow through

The ENTP is often confused with the ENFP because of their people skills and ability to charm, cajole, persuade and get what they want from others. However in the cold light of day the ENTP displays the ‘T’ characteristic and will be pragmatic decision-makers using only empirical data, evidence and logic to decide, again maybe to the surprise of those who believe the ENTP to be basically a ‘people-person.’ Sure they are, but decisions are based on evidence not emotion.

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ENTP Careers

• No rules or regulations
• Flexible
• Challenge
• Freedom to fly
• Problem solving
• Not detailed or constraining
• Not micromanaged
• Difficult projects
• Creative thought and innovation
• Not the traditional
• Challenge and personal growth
• Able to immerse immediately
• Pulling things together
• Vigorous debate
• Many possibilities

An ENTP will be interested in most things, excellent at reading people and situations and possess a wide range of views, interests and knowledge. This may, of course, be at the expense of depth, in that the ENTP will want to quickly move on to new pursuits, often before 'completing the course.' They are unconventional, sporadic, work with amazing bursts of energy with an enthusiasm which can be almost tangible. Once they become bored, however, they will be ready to move on.

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ENTP at Work

• Enthusiastic and creative
• Does not value rules or regulations
• Needs the freedom to express
• Robust and challenging, argumentative
• Does not like to be micromanaged
• Brings people in
• Gets bored by routine
• Needs challenge and meaning
• Persuasive and plausible
• Prefers possibilities to details
• Loves to solve complex problems
• Impatient and assertive
• Risk-taking, does not value tradition
• Likes to get things moving
• May get bored once the interesting bits have been done

In a team situation the ENTP will have a radical perspective, looking at newer, better and more interesting ways of doing things. Not for the ENTP the routine of historical convention, but instead fresh new solutions, a healthy challenge to the status quo and risk-taking experimentation. They can however become irritable and impatient if things do not progress at pace and benefit from someone who will dare to impose some structure to get the best out of the ENTP. ENTPs are so highly motivated until it becomes workaday and then they will withdraw and look for some other big challenge where they can impose ideas and a big-picture perspective. ENTPs thrive under pressure and have a strong desire to succeed and to win and this is super as a call to action for the rest of the group.

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