Innovator ENTP
You are quick and inventive, energised by debate, new ideas and possibilities
Innovators love ideas that can be tested, argued over and turned round to see from another angle. You spot possibilities quickly, enjoy “what if” questions and move between topics with obvious delight. In a conversation you can take either side just to see how well the argument holds.
You are sociable, witty and curious about people, but your energy comes from exchange rather than routine. You can be generous with help and good at seeing other people’s potential. Starting often comes more easily to you than finishing, and that is part of what makes you such lively company.
Strengths
- Quick thinking and inventive ideas
- Ability to argue both sides
- Warm humour and easy sociability
- Adaptable to new situations
- Energy for starting new projects
Places to grow
- Following through on ordinary tasks
- Listening without debating every point
- Respecting others’ need for certainty
- Choosing a few ideas to pursue
Relationships
You make friends easily and keep them through humour, curiosity and a willingness to talk about almost anything. In a relationship you can be playful and stimulating, but you may crave so much novelty that your partner feels left behind. In conflict you often argue in order to explore the issue, which can sound like an attack to someone who takes things personally. You need people who enjoy a good debate and can tell the difference between criticism of an idea and criticism of themselves. A clear, friendly line such as “I’m not attacking you, I just want to test this” often calms the room.
Work
You do best in varied work where you can explore, pitch and improvise, and where your ideas are taken seriously. Heavy routine, long stretches of repetitive detail and strict rules without reasons wear you down quickly. Roles that often suit you include product development, consulting, marketing, journalism and entrepreneurship. You work well in teams where someone handles deadlines and paperwork, because you are more likely to start the next idea than to close the last one. Your strongest contribution is often a fresh angle on a problem that has stalled.
Under stress
When stress builds, you may scatter your attention, start several projects at once or argue with everyone to avoid a feeling you would rather not name. Your sharpness can come out in ways you later regret. Choosing one task to finish before anything else helps, and so does a walk or other physical activity that takes you away from screens and debate.
In the same group: Thinkers
Our types are built on the scientific Big Five model of personality and the open IPIP questionnaire. Many people know the four letters, but the names, drawings and descriptions are our own. A type is a tendency, not a label, and it is not a diagnosis.