Personality
Strengths
Bold – People with the ESTP personality type are full of life and energy. There is no greater joy for ESTPs than pushing boundaries and discovering and using new things and ideas.
Rational and Practical – ESTPs love knowledge and philosophy, but not for their own sake. What's fun for ESTP personalities is finding ideas that are actionable and drilling into the details so they can put them to use. If a discussion is completely arbitrary, there are better uses for ESTPs' time.
Original – Combining their boldness and practicality, ESTPs love to experiment with new ideas and solutions. They put things together in ways no one else would think to.
Perceptive – This originality is helped by ESTPs' ability to notice when things change – and when they need to change! Small shifts in habits and appearances stick out to ESTPs, and they use these observations to help create connections with others.
Direct – This perceptive skill isn't used for mind games – ESTPs prefer to communicate clearly, with direct and factual questions and answers. Things are what they are.
Sociable – All these qualities pull together to make a natural group leader in ESTPs. This isn't something that they actively seek – people with this personality type just have a knack for making excellent use of social interactions and networking opportunities.
Bold – People with the ESTP personality type are full of life and energy. There is no greater joy for ESTPs than pushing boundaries and discovering and using new things and ideas.
Rational and Practical – ESTPs love knowledge and philosophy, but not for their own sake. What's fun for ESTP personalities is finding ideas that are actionable and drilling into the details so they can put them to use. If a discussion is completely arbitrary, there are better uses for ESTPs' time.
Original – Combining their boldness and practicality, ESTPs love to experiment with new ideas and solutions. They put things together in ways no one else would think to.
Perceptive – This originality is helped by ESTPs' ability to notice when things change – and when they need to change! Small shifts in habits and appearances stick out to ESTPs, and they use these observations to help create connections with others.
Direct – This perceptive skill isn't used for mind games – ESTPs prefer to communicate clearly, with direct and factual questions and answers. Things are what they are.
Sociable – All these qualities pull together to make a natural group leader in ESTPs. This isn't something that they actively seek – people with this personality type just have a knack for making excellent use of social interactions and networking opportunities.
Weaknesses
Insensitive – Feelings and emotions come second to facts and "reality" for ESTPs. Emotionally charged situations are awkward, uncomfortable affairs, and ESTPs' blunt honesty doesn't help here. These personalities often have a lot of trouble acknowledging and expressing their own feelings as well.
Impatient – ESTPs move at their own pace to keep themselves excited. Slowing down because someone else "doesn't get it" or having to stay focused on a single detail for too long is extremely challenging for ESTPs.
Risk-prone – This impatience can lead ESTPs to push into uncharted territory without thinking of the long-term consequences. ESTP personalities sometimes intentionally combat boredom with extra risk.
Unstructured – ESTPs see an opportunity – to fix a problem, to advance, to have fun – and seize the moment, often ignoring rules and social expectations in the process. This may get things done, but it can create unexpected social fallout.
May Miss the Bigger Picture – Living in the moment can cause ESTPs to miss the forest for the trees. People with this personality type love to solve problems here and now, perhaps too much. All parts of a project can be perfect, but the project will still fail if those parts do not fit together.
Defiant – ESTPs won't be boxed in. Repetition, hardline rules, sitting quietly while they are lectured at – this isn't how ESTPs live their lives. They are action-oriented and hands-on. Environments like school and much entry-level work can be so tedious that they're intolerable, requiring extraordinary effort from ESTPs to stay focused long enough to get to freer positions.
Insensitive – Feelings and emotions come second to facts and "reality" for ESTPs. Emotionally charged situations are awkward, uncomfortable affairs, and ESTPs' blunt honesty doesn't help here. These personalities often have a lot of trouble acknowledging and expressing their own feelings as well.
Impatient – ESTPs move at their own pace to keep themselves excited. Slowing down because someone else "doesn't get it" or having to stay focused on a single detail for too long is extremely challenging for ESTPs.
Risk-prone – This impatience can lead ESTPs to push into uncharted territory without thinking of the long-term consequences. ESTP personalities sometimes intentionally combat boredom with extra risk.
Unstructured – ESTPs see an opportunity – to fix a problem, to advance, to have fun – and seize the moment, often ignoring rules and social expectations in the process. This may get things done, but it can create unexpected social fallout.
May Miss the Bigger Picture – Living in the moment can cause ESTPs to miss the forest for the trees. People with this personality type love to solve problems here and now, perhaps too much. All parts of a project can be perfect, but the project will still fail if those parts do not fit together.
Defiant – ESTPs won't be boxed in. Repetition, hardline rules, sitting quietly while they are lectured at – this isn't how ESTPs live their lives. They are action-oriented and hands-on. Environments like school and much entry-level work can be so tedious that they're intolerable, requiring extraordinary effort from ESTPs to stay focused long enough to get to freer positions.
ESTP personality types always have an impact on their immediate surroundings – the best way to spot them at a party is to look for the whirling eddy of people flitting about them as they move from group to group. Laughing and entertaining with a blunt and earthy humor, ESTP personalities love to be the center of attention. If an audience member is asked to come on stage, ESTPs volunteer – or volunteer a shy friend.
Theory, abstract concepts and plodding discussions about global issues and their implications don't keep ESTPs interested for long. ESTPs keep their conversation energetic, with a good dose of intelligence, but they like to talk about what is – or better yet, to just go out and do it. ESTPs leap before they look, fixing their mistakes as they go, rather than sitting idle, preparing contingencies and escape clauses.Never Confuse Movement With ActionESTPs are the likeliest personality type to make a lifestyle of risky behavior. They live in the moment and dive into the action – they are the eye of the storm. People with the ESTP personality type enjoy drama, passion, and pleasure, not for emotional thrills, but because it's so stimulating to their logical minds. They are forced to make critical decisions based on factual, immediate reality in a process of rapid-fire rational stimulus response.
This makes school and other highly organized environments a challenge for ESTPs. It certainly isn't because they aren't smart, and they can do well, but the regimented, lecturing approach of formal education is just so far from the hands-on learning that ESTPs enjoy. It takes a great deal of maturity to see this process as a necessary means to an end, something that creates more exciting opportunities.
Also challenging is that to ESTPs, it makes more sense to use their own moral compass than someone else's. Rules were made to be broken. This is a sentiment few high school instructors or corporate supervisors are likely to share, and can earn ESTP personalities a certain reputation. But if they minimize the trouble-making, harness their energy, and focus through the boring stuff, ESTPs are a force to be reckoned with.
Most People Don't Listen Well EnoughWith perhaps the most perceptive, unfiltered view of any type, ESTPs have a unique skill in noticing small changes. Whether a shift in facial expression, a new clothing style, or a broken habit, people with this personality type pick up on hidden thoughts and motives where most types would be lucky to pick up anything specific at all. ESTPs use these observations immediately, calling out the change and asking questions, often with little regard for sensitivity. ESTPs should remember that not everyone wants their secrets and decisions broadcast.
Sometimes ESTPs' instantaneous observation and action is just what's required, as in some corporate environments, and especially in emergencies.If ESTPs aren't careful though, they may get too caught in the moment, take things too far, and run roughshod over more sensitive people, or forget to take care of their own health and safety. Making up only four percent of the population, there are just enough ESTPs out there to keep things spicy and competitive, and not so many as to cause a systemic risk.
ESTPs are full of passion and energy, complemented by a rational, if sometimes distracted, mind. Inspiring, convincing and colorful, they are natural group leaders, pulling everyone along the path less traveled, bringing life and excitement everywhere they go. Putting these qualities to a constructive and rewarding end is ESTPs' true challenge.
Theory, abstract concepts and plodding discussions about global issues and their implications don't keep ESTPs interested for long. ESTPs keep their conversation energetic, with a good dose of intelligence, but they like to talk about what is – or better yet, to just go out and do it. ESTPs leap before they look, fixing their mistakes as they go, rather than sitting idle, preparing contingencies and escape clauses.Never Confuse Movement With ActionESTPs are the likeliest personality type to make a lifestyle of risky behavior. They live in the moment and dive into the action – they are the eye of the storm. People with the ESTP personality type enjoy drama, passion, and pleasure, not for emotional thrills, but because it's so stimulating to their logical minds. They are forced to make critical decisions based on factual, immediate reality in a process of rapid-fire rational stimulus response.
This makes school and other highly organized environments a challenge for ESTPs. It certainly isn't because they aren't smart, and they can do well, but the regimented, lecturing approach of formal education is just so far from the hands-on learning that ESTPs enjoy. It takes a great deal of maturity to see this process as a necessary means to an end, something that creates more exciting opportunities.
Also challenging is that to ESTPs, it makes more sense to use their own moral compass than someone else's. Rules were made to be broken. This is a sentiment few high school instructors or corporate supervisors are likely to share, and can earn ESTP personalities a certain reputation. But if they minimize the trouble-making, harness their energy, and focus through the boring stuff, ESTPs are a force to be reckoned with.
Most People Don't Listen Well EnoughWith perhaps the most perceptive, unfiltered view of any type, ESTPs have a unique skill in noticing small changes. Whether a shift in facial expression, a new clothing style, or a broken habit, people with this personality type pick up on hidden thoughts and motives where most types would be lucky to pick up anything specific at all. ESTPs use these observations immediately, calling out the change and asking questions, often with little regard for sensitivity. ESTPs should remember that not everyone wants their secrets and decisions broadcast.
Sometimes ESTPs' instantaneous observation and action is just what's required, as in some corporate environments, and especially in emergencies.If ESTPs aren't careful though, they may get too caught in the moment, take things too far, and run roughshod over more sensitive people, or forget to take care of their own health and safety. Making up only four percent of the population, there are just enough ESTPs out there to keep things spicy and competitive, and not so many as to cause a systemic risk.
ESTPs are full of passion and energy, complemented by a rational, if sometimes distracted, mind. Inspiring, convincing and colorful, they are natural group leaders, pulling everyone along the path less traveled, bringing life and excitement everywhere they go. Putting these qualities to a constructive and rewarding end is ESTPs' true challenge.
ESTP CareersWhen it comes to ESTPs' career options, "action" is the word of the day. People with the ESTP personality type think on their feet and are great at making quick decisions in the heat of the moment. At the same time, they're affable people who always seem to make friends and connections wherever they go. Popularity and solid networking can be huge assets in the working world, and ESTPs nail it.
This social intelligence, combined with ESTPs' natural boldness and improvisational skill, makes sales, business negotiations, marketing, even acting – any tense, competitive environment – a great fit. ESTP personalities trust themselves to make the right call. Risks, big and small, are a part of life, and ESTPs don't sit around waiting for some boss at the top to tell them what to do. This can get ESTPs into trouble, but often enough it's exactly what's needed, and can boost them up the career ladder just as well.
It's hard to imagine ESTPs choosing secure but boring jobs over less stable but more exciting careers.Restrictions, rules, highly structured environments – these are great ways to drive ESTPs crazy. People with this personality type live life on their own terms, and this makes them brilliant entrepreneurs and freelancers. These roles also allow them to delegate the more tedious aspects of work, the accounting, meticulous research and so forth, to those better suited.
ESTPs are curious, energetic people with a taste for action. There are those who analyze and manage the logistics of public safety resource distribution, and there are those who drive the ambulances, patrol the streets, and save lives with their own two hands – ESTP personalities are the latter. They are highly observant yet impatient, enabling them to take in the whole of a situation at a glance, and act. Any emergency response role is great for ESTPs, whether it be as paramedics, police officers, or soldiers.
There's Nothing to It – Just Sit Down and Bleed Your PassionThis quality of living in the moment and craving immediate results for their efforts translates well into another field: sports. The thrill of competition, of pushing themselves to the physical limit to rack up just one more point for the win can have no comparison for ESTPs. Whether they are on the field as athletes themselves, coaching from the sidelines or commentating from high above, people with the ESTP personality type revel in well-honed team effort and a well-executed plan, and any of these positions makes a fine line of work for them.ESTP in the Workplace
In just about any environment, the workplace included, it's pretty easy to spot ESTPs. Boisterous and spontaneous, fun-loving and maybe a little crass, people with the ESTP personality type love tackling problems as they arise and telling great stories about their solutions afterwards. Naturally, some positions work better with these qualities than others, but ESTPs are adaptable individuals, and can find a way to make just about any situation a little more interesting.
ESTP Subordinates
ESTPs' most challenging position is the one that most people have to start out in: as subordinates. While perfectly capable of exercising restraint on their own terms, ESTP personalities hate having others' rules and regulations foisted upon them. ESTPs are known for their experimentation, improvisation and quick thinking – if they're not allowed to use these qualities and have to check in with a supervisor for every little thing, they'll be bored and frustrated.
ESTPs know well that risk equals reward, and they'll gladly skirt more mundane tasks in favor of something a little more exciting, in the hope that it catches someone's attention. A plaque and a bonus go a long way for people with this personality type. Getting ahead by the tenets of staid reliability, quiet helpfulness, or mere seniority isn't ESTPs' way – they move forward by sheer force of personality in a well-handled crisis.
ESTP ColleaguesAs colleagues, ESTPs have a work hard, play hard mentality – as long as everyone else is pulling their weight, they'll gladly pull their own, and have a great time doing it. Charming and popular individuals that they are, networking comes naturally to ESTPs. These qualities make it easy for ESTP personalities to get along with just about anyone.
At the same time, if ESTPs see a colleague as incompetent, or worse, lazy, they let them know in no uncertain terms. Emotional sensitivity is not their strong suit. ESTPs are very observant and well-tuned to changes in their colleagues' habits and moods – unless they themselves are the cause of distress.
ESTP ManagersManagement positions are where ESTPs are usually most comfortable, as they often give the most flexibility. Rules and traditions are a bother for people with the ESTP personality type – they'd rather try a bunch of new ideas with a chance of getting things done faster or better than to pay attention to "the way things have always been done" or subordinates' comfort with experimentation. ESTPs are practical, with a focus on what does, or could, work best.
This can make for a chaotic environment, but ESTPs' inspiring cult of personality makes them well-suited to handling such a thing. ESTPs enjoy living in the moment. Rather than some broad, intangible future accomplishment like "making customers happy", ESTP personalities set small, clear, measurable, and attainable goals that keep things on track day-to-day, and hearty congratulations can always be relied on for a job well done. ESTPs keep their eyes on the finish line, but they get there step by step.ESTP Personality – Conclusion
Few personality types are as charming and attractive as ESTPs. Known for their ability to improvise and focus completely on the present, ESTPs are great at finding exciting new things to explore and experience. ESTPs' creativity and down-to-earth attitude are invaluable in many areas, including their own personal growth.
Yet ESTPs can be easily tripped up in situations where their focus on practical matters is more of a liability than an asset. Whether it is finding (or keeping) a partner, reaching dazzling heights on the career ladder, or learning to plan ahead, ESTPs need to put in a conscious effort to develop their weaker traits and additional skills.
What you have read so far is just an introduction into the complex concept that is the ESTP personality type. You may have muttered to yourself, "wow, this is so accurate it's a little creepy" or "finally, someone understands me!" You may have even asked "how do they know more about me than the people I'm closest to?"
This is not a trick. You felt understood because you were. We've studied how ESTPs think and what they need to reach their full potential. And no, we did not spy on you – many of the challenges you've faced and will face in the future have been overcome by other ESTPs. You simply need to learn how they succeeded.
But in order to do that, you need to have a plan, a personal roadmap. The best car in the world will not take you to the right place if you do not know where you want to go. We have told you how ESTPs tend to behave in certain circumstances and what their key strengths and weaknesses are. Now we need to go much deeper into your personality type and answer "why?", "how?" and "what if?"
This knowledge is only the beginning of a lifelong journey. Are you ready to learn why ESTPs act in the way they do? What motivates and inspires you? What you are afraid of and what you secretly dream about? How you can unlock your true, exceptional potential?
Our premium profiles provide a roadmap towards a happier, more successful, and more versatile YOU! They are not for everyone though – you need to be willing and able to challenge yourself, to go beyond the obvious, to imagine and follow your own path instead of just going with the flow. If you want to take the reins into your own hands, we are here to help you.
This social intelligence, combined with ESTPs' natural boldness and improvisational skill, makes sales, business negotiations, marketing, even acting – any tense, competitive environment – a great fit. ESTP personalities trust themselves to make the right call. Risks, big and small, are a part of life, and ESTPs don't sit around waiting for some boss at the top to tell them what to do. This can get ESTPs into trouble, but often enough it's exactly what's needed, and can boost them up the career ladder just as well.
It's hard to imagine ESTPs choosing secure but boring jobs over less stable but more exciting careers.Restrictions, rules, highly structured environments – these are great ways to drive ESTPs crazy. People with this personality type live life on their own terms, and this makes them brilliant entrepreneurs and freelancers. These roles also allow them to delegate the more tedious aspects of work, the accounting, meticulous research and so forth, to those better suited.
ESTPs are curious, energetic people with a taste for action. There are those who analyze and manage the logistics of public safety resource distribution, and there are those who drive the ambulances, patrol the streets, and save lives with their own two hands – ESTP personalities are the latter. They are highly observant yet impatient, enabling them to take in the whole of a situation at a glance, and act. Any emergency response role is great for ESTPs, whether it be as paramedics, police officers, or soldiers.
There's Nothing to It – Just Sit Down and Bleed Your PassionThis quality of living in the moment and craving immediate results for their efforts translates well into another field: sports. The thrill of competition, of pushing themselves to the physical limit to rack up just one more point for the win can have no comparison for ESTPs. Whether they are on the field as athletes themselves, coaching from the sidelines or commentating from high above, people with the ESTP personality type revel in well-honed team effort and a well-executed plan, and any of these positions makes a fine line of work for them.ESTP in the Workplace
In just about any environment, the workplace included, it's pretty easy to spot ESTPs. Boisterous and spontaneous, fun-loving and maybe a little crass, people with the ESTP personality type love tackling problems as they arise and telling great stories about their solutions afterwards. Naturally, some positions work better with these qualities than others, but ESTPs are adaptable individuals, and can find a way to make just about any situation a little more interesting.
ESTP Subordinates
ESTPs' most challenging position is the one that most people have to start out in: as subordinates. While perfectly capable of exercising restraint on their own terms, ESTP personalities hate having others' rules and regulations foisted upon them. ESTPs are known for their experimentation, improvisation and quick thinking – if they're not allowed to use these qualities and have to check in with a supervisor for every little thing, they'll be bored and frustrated.
ESTPs know well that risk equals reward, and they'll gladly skirt more mundane tasks in favor of something a little more exciting, in the hope that it catches someone's attention. A plaque and a bonus go a long way for people with this personality type. Getting ahead by the tenets of staid reliability, quiet helpfulness, or mere seniority isn't ESTPs' way – they move forward by sheer force of personality in a well-handled crisis.
ESTP ColleaguesAs colleagues, ESTPs have a work hard, play hard mentality – as long as everyone else is pulling their weight, they'll gladly pull their own, and have a great time doing it. Charming and popular individuals that they are, networking comes naturally to ESTPs. These qualities make it easy for ESTP personalities to get along with just about anyone.
At the same time, if ESTPs see a colleague as incompetent, or worse, lazy, they let them know in no uncertain terms. Emotional sensitivity is not their strong suit. ESTPs are very observant and well-tuned to changes in their colleagues' habits and moods – unless they themselves are the cause of distress.
ESTP ManagersManagement positions are where ESTPs are usually most comfortable, as they often give the most flexibility. Rules and traditions are a bother for people with the ESTP personality type – they'd rather try a bunch of new ideas with a chance of getting things done faster or better than to pay attention to "the way things have always been done" or subordinates' comfort with experimentation. ESTPs are practical, with a focus on what does, or could, work best.
This can make for a chaotic environment, but ESTPs' inspiring cult of personality makes them well-suited to handling such a thing. ESTPs enjoy living in the moment. Rather than some broad, intangible future accomplishment like "making customers happy", ESTP personalities set small, clear, measurable, and attainable goals that keep things on track day-to-day, and hearty congratulations can always be relied on for a job well done. ESTPs keep their eyes on the finish line, but they get there step by step.ESTP Personality – Conclusion
Few personality types are as charming and attractive as ESTPs. Known for their ability to improvise and focus completely on the present, ESTPs are great at finding exciting new things to explore and experience. ESTPs' creativity and down-to-earth attitude are invaluable in many areas, including their own personal growth.
Yet ESTPs can be easily tripped up in situations where their focus on practical matters is more of a liability than an asset. Whether it is finding (or keeping) a partner, reaching dazzling heights on the career ladder, or learning to plan ahead, ESTPs need to put in a conscious effort to develop their weaker traits and additional skills.
What you have read so far is just an introduction into the complex concept that is the ESTP personality type. You may have muttered to yourself, "wow, this is so accurate it's a little creepy" or "finally, someone understands me!" You may have even asked "how do they know more about me than the people I'm closest to?"
This is not a trick. You felt understood because you were. We've studied how ESTPs think and what they need to reach their full potential. And no, we did not spy on you – many of the challenges you've faced and will face in the future have been overcome by other ESTPs. You simply need to learn how they succeeded.
But in order to do that, you need to have a plan, a personal roadmap. The best car in the world will not take you to the right place if you do not know where you want to go. We have told you how ESTPs tend to behave in certain circumstances and what their key strengths and weaknesses are. Now we need to go much deeper into your personality type and answer "why?", "how?" and "what if?"
This knowledge is only the beginning of a lifelong journey. Are you ready to learn why ESTPs act in the way they do? What motivates and inspires you? What you are afraid of and what you secretly dream about? How you can unlock your true, exceptional potential?
Our premium profiles provide a roadmap towards a happier, more successful, and more versatile YOU! They are not for everyone though – you need to be willing and able to challenge yourself, to go beyond the obvious, to imagine and follow your own path instead of just going with the flow. If you want to take the reins into your own hands, we are here to help you.