What is the MBTI ESFJ “Provider” Personality Type?
People with an ESFJ Personality Type are outgoing, loyal, well-organized, gregarious, and tender-hearted.
Known as the “Provider” Personality Type, people of this personality are highly supportive and have a way of encouraging other people to be their best.
With Feelings as their top Extraverted Function, Providers are Judges. Extraverted Feeling is also their dominant function, so they are driven by Objective Values when making decisions.
With their Introverted Sensing as their second Auxiliary Function, Providers like to organize the facts and are result-oriented.
Providers prefer “concrete concepts” over “abstract ideas” with Extraverted Intuition as their third Tertiary Function.
With Introverted Thinking as their lowest Inferior Function, Providers don’t think about themselves or use personal reasons when making decisions.
Providers are extraverted, choosing time with others to talk things out. They are well-structured, like to plan, and prefer closure.
Providers are “Concrete Judgers” with Introverted Sensing and Extraverted Feeling. When feeling threatened, they are likelier to be overly apologetic over specific actions and out of touch with their overall goodness. And they may behave with the Placater Satir Communication Style.
ESFJ Personality Type cross-reference
- Keirsey Type – Provider
- Temperament Type – Melancholy
- Animal Type – Beaver
- DISC Type – Compliant
- Socio-Communicative Type – Analytical
- True Colors – Gold
- Color Code – White
- Personality Compass – East
- Occupational Type – Realistic
- Learning Type – Pragmatist
- Leadership Type – Avoider
Enneagram Types
The Enneagram is a Personality Typing System comprising nine different types.
Dominant Function – Extraverted Feeling
- They make decisions based on objective values and concern for others.
Auxiliary Function – Introverted Sensing
- They are more focused on the present than on the future.
- They are interested in concrete, immediate details rather than abstract or theoretical information.
Tertiary Function – Extraverted Intuition
- They are known to explore the possibilities when looking at a situation.
- They can often find patterns that allow them to gain insights into people and experiences.
Inferior Function – Introverted Thinking
- They are organized and like to plan things out in advance.
- Planning helps people with this personality type feel more in control of the world around them.
ESFJ Traits
Providers are friendly, practical, and naturally geared toward understanding other people. They are sensitive to the needs and feelings of others and are good at responding and providing the care that people need.
They are careful observers of others and are adept at supporting and bringing out the best in people. In addition to deriving pleasure from helping others, they also need approval.
While they are people pleasers, this does not mean they are pushovers. They expect their kind and giving ways to be noticed and appreciated by others. Providers are sensitive to criticism and may be overly concerned with how others perceive them.
In decision-making, they always consider how their choice will impact all involved.
They enjoy adhering to tradition and will go to great lengths to follow standard social protocols. Their respect for protocol and tradition means they strictly follow seniority and expect others to do the same.
Providers derive their value system from external sources, including the community, rather than intrinsic, ethical, and moral guidelines.
Strengths
- Kind and loyal
- Outgoing
- Organized
- Practical and dependable
- Enjoys helping others
Weaknesses
- Needy
- Approval-seeking
- Sensitive to criticism
ESFJ Relationships
Friendships
- They can be selfless to overlook their needs to ensure that other people are happy.
- Being a good friend to someone with this personality type means expressing your appreciation of their giving nature and ensuring you reciprocate their kindness.
Personal Relationships
- As extraverts, they love spending time with other people.
- Not only do they gain energy from social interaction, but they are also genuinely interested in the well-being of others.
- They are frequently described as warm-hearted and empathetic.
- They will often put the needs of others ahead of their own.
- They typically feel insecure in situations where things are uncertain or chaotic.
- While this makes them well suited to positions that involve managing or supervising people, it can also lead to conflicts when they try to control people who do not welcome such direction.
Partner Relationships
- In romance, they are devoted, supportive, and loyal.
- They are not interested in casual relationships and are focused on developing long-term commitments.
- You can support your partner by showing how much you love and appreciate them.
- Being responsive by showing affection and returning gestures of love is essential.
Parenting
- ESFJ children are responsible and enjoy spending time with their families.
- Your child needs regular encouragement.
- Show your involvement by showing enthusiasm and support for their interests and activities.
- These children also strongly need routine.
- Establish rules and stick to them.
- ESFJ children feel more assured and confident when they know what they can expect.
ESFJ Careers
- Because ESFJs enjoy helping others, they often do well in practical settings involving a caregiver role.
- In social service and healthcare careers, ESFJs may excel at applying their helping nature and desire for order.
- ESFJs have several traits that make them ideally suited to specific careers.
- For example, their dependability and innate need to care for others mean they often do well in jobs involving supporting and caring for people, such as nursing or teaching.
