ESTP Personality profile: The Adventurer

The ESTP personality type is constantly looking for action, for the 'next big thing,' throwing themselves in social activities, difficult situations.

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An ESTP will need lots of practical, real-life experiences as it is through such activities that they best learn and understand, and indeed where they are happiest and at their best. The 'P' aspect of their characters means that they are flexible, but this can also mean they become bored by routine, procedures which they see as irrelevant, and impatient with those who say: 'let's think about it first.' The ESTP wants to suck it and see and, if it doesn't work, well there will always be another opportunity just around the corner. Real hard workers, ESTPs will immerse themselves activities which interest them, but they’ll become bored and lose interest if the task becomes more steady state and then their energies will become depleted or focused in a totally different direction. The ESTP is pragmatic, tough-minded and will act on the facts and data, rather than emotion. They don't like to be controlled, need to know they can switch horses in mid-stream and may slide out of obligations, if they get a 'better offer.' An ESTP will generally be able to switch tasks with good nature and humour, will enjoy interaction and 'the craic.' Being so action-oriented, the ESTP will look to get on with it and may therefore jump in without being in possession of all the facts as the excitement and rush of potentially interesting action will spur them on. This makes them excellent champions for the cause, provided someone is checking progress and can sweep up any debris behind them. The ESTP sees life through their own very subjective lenses and it is a fun packed, great-tasting adventure with one sensory experience after another. They jump into the ‘next big thing’ without thinking through the consequences so keen are they to immerse themselves in something new. If the project needs an injection of energy or there’s a big immediate problem, step forward the ESTP. They are spontaneous, active individuals.

Strong ‘T’ types the ESTP may often forget to factor in the implications on other people as this new experience is to be grasped immediately and anything that stands in the way may be inadvertently trampled underfoot in the rush. The impulsive nature of the ESTP can see them cut to the car chase and bring great energy to bear on any new project that captures their interest, but this expedient side can also see them drop the idea once the initial fascination has passed and a new experience is ready and waiting. This need for excitement means the ESTP will learn ‘on the hoof,’ by actually throwing themselves into the experience without thought or planning, and “let’s see what happens.” Every new experience is ‘the big one’ and will consume their energies, attention and time until…er...it doesn’t! The ESTP loves to get involved and will be great at enthusing others although their expedient side means that once others have been through several cycles and see how they operate there may be a feeling of ‘here we go again’ and ESTP leaders can create ‘initiative fatigue’ in organisations and staff, with their constant desire to try out new activities, ideas and projects.

Theories or anything conceptual makes the ESTP restless, bored and then they will disconnect from the process and go look for something else, often without telling anyone. The ESTP has an attention span which is very short and their energies wane if they think they’re ‘treading water.’ Having to sit and read or reflect would just not ‘compute’ with the ESTP and so they would move on, swiftly and often leaving debris in their wake. Follow-through isn’t the forte of the ESTP but if the project needs an injection of energy or there’s a big immediate problem, that is where they excel. Like the other SPs, ESTPs love acting on impulse. Activities involving power, speed, immersion and risk are attractive to the ESTP and supressing these de-energises them. The ESTP may be the ‘first to try it out,’ but then they’re onto the next experience as soon as it becomes predictable, the need for the thrill outweighing anything else.

At work with ESTP

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Communication and collaboration

ESTPs are engaging individuals who share their opinions easily. They are fun loving individuals who like the banter of verbal sparring and robust interactions, provided they are factual and interesting. ESTPs have a low boredom threshold and immerse themselves fully in an experience, enjoy it to the max, then they’re off looking for the next thrill. They don’t really ‘get’ or see the need for emotions, as they don’t really help get the job done or the problem fixed or make it fun. ESTPs are very protective and family oriented and will support those close, but they don’t like to be constrained or, worse still, told what to do, they are extremely independent beings. Boredom saps their energy, they need the constant feed, drawing energy from moving swiftly from issue to the next, coming up with practical solutions to whatever is thrown at them, and then moving on. They are great company, friendly and chatty, but don’t really ‘get’ emotions.

Direct, factual and economic in their use of language, ESTPs will tell it like it is and expect others to do the same. This can see them project as a little brutal at times, but they are genuinely well-meaning and see language as function, i.e. a medium through which people can get to the factual truth and so solve practical problems. Anything an ESTP sees as fanciful or ethereal will be brought down to earth. Reflection and ‘let’s think about this’ will irritate ESTPs whose sole purpose is to ‘do,’ and make it fun at the same time. There is `a refreshing honesty to the ESTP, provided others see that they are being direct, not harsh. But it does mean they can forget the ‘niceties’ of ensuring people are onside, it isn’t that they don’t care, more that they don’t notice.

The ESTP likes to move quickly, they are not ponderous, they would rather be doing stuff than thinking about it. They learn by experience and so they will jump in and do and are happy to ‘see what happens.’ The ESTP does not need a plan and they are confident enough to forge the new path, indeed it’s what they prefer. Ultimate thrill-seekers, ESTPs love new experiences, lots of stuff happening and will throw themselves in wholeheartedly, until it becomes tedious.

ESTPs revel in robust discussions, not for its own sake or to cause offence, but because it creates the honesty and tension that gets things sorted. They love banter and the more fun it is, the better for them. Impervious to their environment they also rarely take offence. Once it’s over, for an ESTP it’s over and they will have moved onto the next big thing. They don’t bear grudges or dwell on issues, they are not reflective individuals, preferring to sort then move on.

Contribution at work

In a team situation, the ESTP personality type will bring so much energy and an urgency to get things rolling - and make sure they happen right now. Impatient and wanting to get on and do, the ESTP will look to have an immediate and positive impact on the team and as such will be a good catalyst for action, cutting through anything woolly or ethereal.

They have the energy and drive of the ENTJ and ESTJ but have a much lower boredom threshold so can lose interest once the initial fascination has passed. In the initial stages however the ESTP can bring a tremendous enthusiasm to bear on the team, firing everyone up and motivating and cutting through all the red tape to get real things done.

ESTPs are not planners but episodic leaders who will seek to get things done, move on and get more things done, working in short bursts of energy. They prefer action-oriented people who don’t slow things down and who cut to the chase and who demonstrate hands-on practical approaches.

The ESTP drive and energy is all focused on practical application and sorting things right now. They have a low boredom threshold but when focused on the task at hand they can do so forensically, but once it’s done they will get bored and need another thrill. The ESTP is essentially a practical type, preferring to use facts, data, knowledge and experience to fix things and will not really value reflecting or ‘blue sky thinking, or complex theories they prefer to jump right in and do.

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