Are ENFP and ENFJ Similar? (A Complete Guide)

In this complete guide, we will answer the question: “Are ENFP and ENFJ similar?”

If you are a psychology enthusiast, chances are that you must have answered the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator at some point. ENFJ and ENFP are two of the sixteen Myers-Briggs personality types. People often find themselves confused between ENFP and ENFJ personality types, owing to the many similarities between them.

Are ENFP and ENFJ Similar? 

ENFJ stands for Extraversion (E), Intuition (N), Feeling (F), Judgment (J). ENFP stands for Extraversion (E), Intuition (N), Feeling (F), and Perception (P). The two personality types share three elements. However, despite this, there are certain differences between the two personality types.

ENFP v/s ENFJ

The ENFP and ENFJ personality types might share certain similarities.  ENFP and ENFJ  both rely on their intuition and tend to have an extroverted focus, leading them to be enjoy social interactions. However, overall there are many differences in how their personality manifests as a whole.

Cognitive Functions

There are evident differences in their cognitive functions.

ENFP

Dominant Function: Extraverted Intuition

Auxiliary Function: Introverted Feeling

Tertiary Function :  Extraverted Thinking

Inferior Function: Introverted Sensing

ENFJ

Dominant Function: Extraverted Feeling

Auxiliary Function: Introverted Intuition

Tertiary Function:  Extraverted Sensing

Inferior Function:  Introverted Thinking

Openness

The two personality types differ in their openness. The ENFP personality type constitutes individuals who wear their hearts on their sleeves. The ENFP person will not veer away from sharing their feelings with others. They talk their heart out, unabashedly. The ENFP person is that friend who will gladly express their affection for you! In fact, in relationships, the ENFP person is known for big displays of affection.

The ENFJ person’s focus is mainly on the feelings of others. They continually shift the spotlight to the emotions of people around them. In a group, they might be more focused on how everyone else is feeling. This allows them to attend to the needs of others better. However, in the process of focusing on other’s emotions, the ENFJ person finds it difficult to talk about their own. They tend to keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves, unlike the more open and vocal ENFP.

Working in a Group

Values are considered to be personal to everyone. Our values might be born from a multitude of factors. The emphasis we lay on these values, however, differs from person to person. Further, these values might translate differently for people in the same situation. While in a group, both, the ENFP and ENFP personality type can be efficient leaders. However, there are certain differences in how they work in a group. 

For the ENFP, the focus is mainly on the group’s goal. They are constantly searching for possibilities for their group. This enables them to take their group to success, climbing to higher levels. However, in the midst of accomplishing the goal, they tend to focus less on the feelings of their co-workers and other individuals in the group

On the other hand, the ENFJ will take keen notice of how the members of the group are doing. They are attuned to the emotions and needs of the members working. Their focus is also on the people, as opposed to only the goal. They will pay close attention to each member. The ENFP leader will take the time out to inspire them.

Spontaneity v/s Planning

The difference in their abilities stems from the Perception (P) and Judgment (J) element of the ENFP and ENFJ. The ENFP person tends to view possibilities in seamlessly hopeless situations. They are always willing to take a risk on new ideas or take the plunge where others may shy away. Further, they readily agree to explore uncharted territories. The ENFP person will not be uncomfortable with spontaneity. Rather, it is an important aspect of their personality type. Therefore, they are considered to be more outgoing among the two personality types.

The ENFJ person prefers planning out their day. They will chart out plans for events, days in advance. They tend to go by their day following a well outlined schedule. Their ability to organize and plan adds to their qualities as efficient leaders.

Emotions

Both these personality types are emotional in nature. However, the manner in which they relate to emotions differs. The ENFP person tends to focus on each person, making sure they are felt loved. They care about people in their circle of friends. They do not shy away from interacting and engaging with everyone. They enjoy spreading joy around. The ENFP person also tends to internalize their own feelings.

The ENFJ person is deeply emotional in nature. They are very empathic. This allows them to be receptive to the feelings of other people. Resultantly, they attempt to help people in distress. They will try to resolve conflicts and solve issues. However, in the process of doing so, they may end up ignoring their own feelings. This may lead to feeling emotionally exhausted.

Dealing With Conflict

In the midst of conflict, the ENFP person will take a step back in an attempt to ensure peace in the group. Their tendency to internalize feelings puts them in a spot where they are more likely to simply sort things over employing a more forceful or stern resolution. The ENFP person will try to apply instant glue to fix the situation. This instant glue could mean sweeping the issue under the carpet or evading confronting the real problem at hand.

The ENFJ being a natural leader, will be adopt a more persuasive stance while resolving conflict. They do not let things be or simply slide it under the carpet. They will ensure that a conflict has been resolved by trying to get the people involved to work through their differences. Their empathic self often relates to the feelings of people who have been wrongfully treated in the midst of the conflict.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

The Leader

The ENFJ person is well suited for leadership positions. They enjoy the process of bringing people together and harbor an inner need to connect with people around. They are adept at resolving conflicts efficiently.Further, they are attuned to the feelings of others. These factors contribute to their suitability as leaders.

The ENFP person is less likely to prefer a leadership role. Instead of leading a group by bringing people together, the ENFP would rather interact freely. They enjoy the process of interacting with different groups and persons.

Creativity

As mentioned earlier, the ENFP person readily finds possibilities in situations. They enjoy exploring and dipping their feet in new avenues. This tendency is evident in their creative endeavours. Their art work tends to have a fresh perspective; unique and creative. The ENFP person draws from this aspect of their ability bringing a sense of novelty to their work.

The ENFJ person tends to be organized. They inculcate a sense of planning and structure in their daily lives. This element of their personality is evident through their creative expression. Their creative endeavors are more likely to be rigid and inflexible, following the rules. It is usually a well-planned out piece of work as opposed to being the product of impulse and instinct.

To a T

The ENFP person is not very detailed oriented. They are likely to skip details and the  finer points in a project. This stems from their free-flowing self, which often hops from one situation to another. The ENFP person is constantly seeking new stimuli. Consequently, they find it difficult to pay attention to the finer nuances.Tasks that require them to be extremely observant, like editing can be exhausting for the ENFP personality type.

On the other hand, the ENFJ is very detail-oriented. They tend to pay attention to a T.. They are unlikely to skip even the minutest details in a situation. Typically, the ENFJ likes to plan and schedule their lives. When they set a goal, they work sincerely towards achieving it. Therefore, they will focus on every aspect of their work to ensure its successful completion. You might find an ENFJ going through their work multiple times, scouting for errors, and making space for improvement.

Workplace

The Perception (P) and Judgement (J) difference is evident in this aspect of their lives. At the workplace, the ENFP person will prefer working with someone who shows appreciation for their unique abilities as individuals. They like to have the freedom to interact with people. Therefore, the ENFP person might prefer working with a manager that provides them the space to interact freely and engage in tasks that help them nurture their creative abilities.

The ENFJ person’s love for schedules and planning seeps in here. They enoy working under a person who employs a clear plan of action at work. This caters to their love for organization and planning. The ENFJ is very uncomfortable in a space that entails spontaneity and impulse. An environment that encourages a specific framework motivates the ENFJ.

Why is this blog on “Are ENFP and ENFJ Similar?” important?

Often times, the ENFP and ENFP personality types might appear to be very similar. Of course, there are many similarities between the ENFP and ENFJ. yet, they are vastly different with respect to various factors.The information outlined in this blog post will help you understand these differences better.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we answered the question: “Are ENFP and ENFJ Similar?”. We delved into understanding the differences between the two personality types.

FAQs: Are ENFP and ENFJ Similar?

References

ENFJ vs ENFP – 9 Vital Differences You Need to Know https://brandongaille.com/enfj-vs-enfp-9-vital-differences-you-need-to-know/

ENFP vs ENFJ

https://personalityatwork.co/types/enfp/vs/enfj (check)