Welcome back to our MBTI Series!
Today, we’re exploring our second group in the MBTI family: the Diplomats. This group includes the Intuitive-Feeling or “NF” types: INFJ, INFP, ENFJ, and ENFP. Known for their intuition, empathy, and natural communication skills, Diplomats bring a unique humanity to the workplace that’s hard to find elsewhere.
If this is your first time hearing about the MBTI, click here to read our Introduction to the MBTI. If you’ve taken the test and fall into one of the Analyst types—INTJ, INTP, ENTJ, or ENTP—make sure to check out our detailed analysis of your personality type at the end of this post. Now, let’s dive into the fascinating world of the Diplomats!
Have you ever talked to someone who seems to know exactly what you need to hear? Or do you have a coworker who’s overflowing with creative ideas? Chances are, you’ve encountered a Diplomat. Diplomats excel at understanding others’ emotions and motivations, allowing them to take a personal, nuanced approach with everyone they meet. However, their tendency toward empathy and sentimentality can sometimes be a double-edged sword, making them slightly impractical and prone to people-pleasing. But when they commit to a goal, there’s little they can’t achieve.
Curious about your personality type? Let’s take a closer look at the four Diplomat types:
INFJ: The Advocate (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging)
Beginning with the “Advocate” or “Idealist,” the INFJ personality type is the rarest of all the MBTI. Known for their compassion, empathy, and insight, INFJs are some of the kindest, most worldly people you’ll meet. Yet, despite their warmth, they often feel misunderstood or “othered” in social settings, balancing a sense of connection with an underlying feeling of isolation. This inner contradiction can make INFJs feel like “walking teeter-totters.”
With their rich inner lives and strong sense of purpose, INFJs tend to feel out of sync with social circles that don’t align with their goals. Much like INTJs, they see the world as a complex, interconnected puzzle. However, where INTJs focus on gathering information, INFJs view each relationship and experience as a piece of the path to a meaningful life.
INFJs are drawn to careers that let them positively impact others. They seek work that aligns with their values, often finding fulfillment in roles that feel like a calling rather than just a job. Many INFJs gravitate toward teaching, counseling, spiritual roles, psychology, social work, healthcare, and other fields where they feel connected to a larger purpose.
The “Feeling” trait makes INFJs highly attuned to their emotions, a quality that adds depth to their personalities. They’re empathetic and sensitive to others’ needs, making them deeply supportive friends and colleagues. However, this sensitivity can also lead to burnout and people-pleasing tendencies if not carefully managed.
In a work environment, INFJs are invaluable for their ability to connect deeply with both their work and their colleagues. Integrity and fairness are among their core values, and they tend to view everyone as equal, regardless of their position. This respectfulness makes them both high-achieving employees and empathetic leaders.
Advice for INFJs: Focus on balancing your desire to help people, with your own social and emotional needs. As an introvert, it may not be second nature to share your ideas or doubts on a project, but you have a unique ability to spot innovative solutions where others can’t. Don’t let your perfectionism get in the way of reaching your goals and just going for it!
INFP: The Mediator (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Prospecting)
Moving now to the “Mediator,” INFPs share many traits with INFJs, including introversion, intuition, and a reliance on feelings for decision-making. However, they differ in their approach to work, planning, and daily routines.
INFPs are known for their spontaneity and knack for spotting opportunities. Their flexible, laid-back nature helps them focus on the big picture rather than getting lost in details. With a strong commitment to authenticity and fairness, “Mediators” often play a crucial role in fostering a positive, inclusive workplace environment.
The blend of Intuition and Feeling traits makes INFPs highly empathetic and compassionate, bringing warmth and understanding to any team. Not surprisingly, they’re drawn to careers where they can be of service and make a positive societal impact.
Many INFPs find fulfillment in creative fields such as art, poetry, acting, writing, music, and design, where they can express their unique perspectives. Regardless of the career path, it’s essential for INFPs to find roles that align with their values and give them a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
However, “Mediators” may struggle with setting boundaries and offering constructive feedback when necessary. They may also feel frustrated if they sense that their independence or empathy is being taken for granted.
Advice for INFPs: No job, workplace, or colleague is perfect, and the grass isn’t always greener elsewhere. Don’t let a role drain your energy, but remember that you have the power to make changes when needed. Balance connecting with others with taking care of yourself. Set boundaries and communicate openly to maintain a healthy dynamic.
ENFJ: The Protagonist (Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging)
The “Protagonist” or “Giver” is a warm, empathetic, reliable person who has a way with everyone they meet. With natural charisma and genuine curiosity about others, ENFJs effortlessly connect with people from all walks of life.
Driven by their fierce value system, they are always looking to do the right thing and often assume that others share the same goals. Even when facing differing opinions, they’re skilled at rallying groups around a common cause. While some personalities see differences as barriers, “Protagonists” use them to create unity.
The way they do this is through their perceptive nature. As extroverts, they replenish their energy by spending time with people. This allows them to really get to know their coworkers, family, and friends to know what they need and when. It is said that they’re the personality type most prone to “empath” behaviors with their strong desire to help people.
An ENFJ’s altruism extends to their chosen career paths as well. Many “Protagonists” seek out roles in politics, education, psychology, medicine, and law. With their love of organization and passion for charging towards a cause, they tend to step into leadership positions without blinking an eye. Though, this can sometimes come off as overstepping or arrogant behavior.
Nonetheless, as employees you will often find them collaborating with coworkers on a project, strategizing ways to improve operations, and transforming the workplace for the better. They will rarely let coworkers or managers down, so you can rely on them to be a top notch addition to your team.
Advice for ENFJs: As a member of the Diplomats, your connection to emotions is a gift, but one that can easily take a turn for the worse if you don’t allow for balance. Even though you thrive off of interacting with others, you can’t show up for someone else until you’ve nurtured the emotional health of yourself. Additionally, not everyone is ready to make big changes—be patient and meet people where they are.
ENFP: The Campaigner (Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Prospecting)
The “Campaigner” or “Champion” is a free spirit and a true ray of sunshine. ENFPs light up any room, and their infectious energy reflects positively on those around them.
An ENFP’s genuine curiosity about the world fuels their unique thought processes. As easy-going individuals, they are often thinking outside the box and don’t feel frustrated when something doesn’t make sense. Instead, if they hit a bump in the road, they find a way around it.
Their easygoing nature and exceptional communication skills make them inspiring leaders and valued team members. They can anticipate how ideas, products, and messages will be received, making them natural strategists.
For ENFPs, career choices need to fuel their passion. With so many interests, however, they may struggle to find a calling that feels “just right.” Nevertheless, once they find their groove, they’re a force to be reckoned with.
At work, you’ll often find a “Campaigner” engaged in an intense brainstorming session and collaborating with their coworkers. More often than not, this personality type lives for the thrill of new ideas, projects, and strategies but can burn out after the initial excitement dies down. One of their most significant challenges is focus due to their wide array of interests, passions, and ideas; but with a little creativity they can bring any mundane workplace or project back to life.
Advice for ENFPs: It’s completely normal to fear being disliked, but don’t let your fear become an unhealthy obsession. Instead, set boundaries with yourself to make sure you’re not dwelling on something that will only drag you down. Additionally, your range of interests can offer unique solutions to problems, but don’t forget to remain organized and focused to make sure those solutions come to fruition.
Conclusion
As an overarching category, Diplomats are known for their empathy, creativity and intuition. Understanding the four unique aspects of your personality type—Energy, Mind, Nature, and Tactics—will help you grow in your role and understand why you may not be advancing as quickly as you’d like.
Before you go, take a moment to reflect on your own personality type. Which Diplomat type do you identify with? How does it influence your work and interactions with others?
Our next group will be the Sentinels, which includes the Observant-Judging or “SJ” types: ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTJ, and ESFJ. Stay tuned for our deep dive into these personality types in the coming weeks!
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