The Self-Promoting Adventurer
For an introductory look at self-promotion, please see our article “Everyday Self-Promotion and Personality Types.”
Adventurers (ISFPs) can be lovely people – they’re usually pleasant and sensitive to their own needs and the needs of others. People with this personality type can be fairly creative because of their curiosity and unique take on things. Adventurers’ approach can be quirky. Still, these personalities are careful to ensure that others are on board, and they are especially interested in ensuring that nobody is offended. These tendencies can make them hold back from self-promoting at times for fear that they may not be accepted.
What They Have Going for Them
Adventurers are interesting people who offer something unique in the workplace. While they likely don’t enjoy self-promotion very much, they are generally kind and sensitive. They can hit the right notes in situations that suit them. Letting them be themselves can be a powerful sales tool, but it likely isn’t right for all audiences. While it may be said that all personality types do better in their niche, this might be especially true for Adventurers. They won’t be understood by everyone, but if spun the right way, their uniqueness can contain all the selling points that they need.
What Gets in Their Way
Adventurers may come across as being too unique to be interested in fitting into a venture bigger than themselves. This can make the people who might hire or promote them hesitate. The phrase “good fit” is often bandied about, for better or worse, in hiring and promotion situations. This is unfortunate, because our research shows that Adventurer personalities don’t see themselves as overly independent or desirous of being all that autonomous. The unique perspective that might show up anytime Adventurers attempt self-promotion doesn’t necessarily indicate that they don’t play well with others. They usually do. In fact, 71% of Adventurers would prefer to work in small teams rather than alone or in a big team. They may need to sell this desire to collaborate as part of a team as a contrast to their distinctive style.
Self-Promotion Tip
As Introverts, Adventurers might hold their cards a little too close to their chests. It may be beneficial for you to speak more openly about some of your feelings, especially as they apply to your desire to work with others or to hold a spot in a workplace community. It may feel a little vulnerable to open up this way. Still, it might counterbalance any potential sense about your inability to fit in that others may hold. It could be as simple as saying something like, “I’d love to be part of this team” a time or two.
If You Got It, Flaunt It
Adventurer personalities have a lot to offer, but they may not always be aware of that. It might be helpful to take a pencil and paper and inventory what they bring to the workplace. It’s hard to convince others of their value if they don’t know what it is themselves. Making lists forces vague ideas into a more concrete realm. And anyone who is uncertain of their best qualities might benefit from making such a list.
We will all likely benefit from your take on self-promotion, Adventurer. We’d love for you to share your experiences with self-promotion in the comments section below.
Further Reading
- Motivating Workplace Heroes Using Personality Types
- The Courageous Adventurer (ISFP)
- Adventures with an Adventurer – Stories from the Real World
- To learn more about pursuing an authentic career path, check out our premium Adventurer Career Guide & Tests.