Workplace Habits

In just about any environment, the workplace included, it’s pretty easy to spot people with the ESTP personality type (Entrepreneurs). Boisterous and spontaneous, fun-loving and sometimes a little crass, ESTPs 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 these are adaptable individuals who can find a way to make just about any situation a little more interesting.

ESTP (Entrepreneur) workplace habits

ESTP Subordinates

Their 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. They 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.

It is not uncommon for ESTPs to feel that their occupation sometimes requires them to repress certain facets of their personality.

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 their way – ESTPs move forward by sheer force of personality in a well-handled crisis.

ESTP Colleagues

As colleagues, people with the ESTP personality type 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, and these qualities make it easy for them to get along with just about anyone.

At work, ESTPs are focused on action, results, and efficiency, and they usually expect the same of their colleagues.

At the same time, if they see a colleague as incompetent or, worse, lazy, they usually don’t hesitate to let them know. Emotional sensitivity is not their strong suit. ESTP personalities are very observant and well tuned to changes in their colleagues’ habits and moods – unless they themselves are the cause of distress.

ESTP Managers

Management positions are where ESTPs are usually most comfortable, as they often give them the most flexibility. Rules and traditions are a bother for people with this personality type – they’d rather try a bunch of new ideas with a chance of getting things done faster or better than have to pay attention to “the way things have always been done” or subordinates’ comfort with experimentation.

As managers, ESTPs are practical, with a focus on what does, or could, work best.

This can make for a chaotic environment, but their inspiring and enthusiastic 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,” they set clear, measurable, and attainable goals that keep things on track day-to-day. They keep their eyes on the finish line, but they get there step by step.