With all their idealism, Protagonist (ENFJ) personalities are likely to include being productive as one of the values that they champion. They will want results that benefit everyone, and being results-oriented is the basic definition of productivity.
However, valuing positive outcomes doesn’t mean that these personalities are without a few hindrances to productivity, like every other type. Because of this foundational way of thinking about work, Protagonists are often pushed hard by others. Carrying that spirit forward, they may sometimes forget that not everyone they work with shares their zeal or has their inherent energy.
When Protagonists project their work-related passions onto others, they can push their colleagues unreasonably. We’ll be discussing how, when others don’t respond in the same way, Protagonists’ reactions can come across as condescending, a vibe that can damage overall morale.
We’ll also discuss how people with this personality type may need to learn when to say no, to sustain their energy and passion. They may need to pull back and simmer down some when dealing with others. Above all, they may need to learn the signs of burnout and learn when they need to apply a reasonably heavy dose of self-care.
Giving Others a Break
Working in harmony is likely a goal for most Protagonists, and they likely see every team member being in accord as a key to productivity. However, they can find themselves approaching productivity from a place of greater ambition than most personality types do, based on Protagonists’ idealistic view of how things should work.
Protagonists can expect too much from others because of this. They may appear condescending as they promote their higher expectations to those whose expectations aren’t quite so high. What may appear to be a negative comparison that discounts the other person’s standards is likely just intended as a suggestion to level up, without any implied negative judgment attached to it. From Protagonists’ point of view, their coworkers or subordinates may not be asking enough of themselves or be visionary enough to keep up. What may look to a Protagonist like a natural response to a challenge can seem excessive and even demeaning to other personality types.
To maintain a sense of teamwork, Protagonists should put special effort into listening to those they work with. Protagonists are famous for their ability to empathize and go beyond their worldview to understand the needs and wants of others. They should easily be able to form such connections, but they may need to keep considering their tendency to expect too much of others.
Consider: Are you aware of the needs and wants of those who work with you? Are you able to think of them as unique individuals with talents and capacities? Your instinct is probably to get to know your coworkers well. Do you follow that instinct?
The Power of No
Protagonist personalities tend to be eager to accomplish tasks with great zeal. While this is an admirable trait, it is also one that, if they’re not careful, other people can exploit. When choosing between hesitant or uninterested people and a Protagonist to do a job, the choice is a no-brainer. This reputation is likely to earn Protagonists opportunities and, consequently, positive recognition. But if overdone, it can also invite burnout as Protagonists’ plates become overloaded.
Protagonists are likely to relish any opportunity to shine like the stars they are. However, they should be careful to look for the common signs of burnout. These can include emotional dysregulation, exhaustion, insomnia, stress symptoms, growing resentment toward work, etc. The good-natured Protagonist may get uncharacteristically cranky.
Protagonists may forget that everybody has their limits, including themselves. Occasionally, we can all stretch ourselves beyond what is comfortable or easy. Life happens, and sometimes the extra effort is needed. But when we exceed our limits on an ongoing basis, our productivity is likely to suffer from the overload. When we learn to see overextending ourselves as counterproductive, learning to say no when possible starts to look reasonable. Think of it as protecting a valuable resource.
If you cannot refuse to do something that is asked of you, you may want to consider bringing your situation up respectfully with your manager. With or without compassion, a wise manager will take such concerns seriously when a human resource asset is struggling. If they do not, there may be other problems that you need to deal with beyond saying no.
Consider: Is your competence creating more work for you than you can handle? Do you have a good sense of what your limitations are, and do you have the ability to manage your workload?
Banishing Burnout
As mentioned above, burnout can be a problem for Protagonists. People with this personality type tend to be too enthusiastic and are susceptible to others taking advantage of them. Therefore, they may be well advised to create a very deliberate self-care program that includes some of the following:
- Plan time off. Everybody needs downtime. Plan weekly, monthly, and yearly times that are free from work. Anything from an afternoon matinee at the movies to a trip to a favorite vacation spot can serve to allow the mind and body to relax.
- Take frequent breaks during the day.
- Get enough sleep. There used to be something heroic in business about not getting enough sleep. That popular myth evaporated long ago as more and more research uncovered the importance of both the quantity and quality of sleep. Buy yourself a good pillow.
- Find time to be bored. Boredom and creativity have been linked. Hand wash your dishes. Rake your yard. Stare out the window while doing nothing.
- Watch what you eat. Set some nutrition goals that work for you, and try to eat what serves you well rather than just the things that make you feel good.
- Learn some relaxation techniques. Meditation, exercise, reading fiction, breath work, a cup of herbal tea, a hobby… Whatever it takes to relax, plan it into your day.
- Avoid quick fixes like alcohol and supplements as panaceas. A little of both goes a long way, and too much may be counterproductive in the long run.
Self-care is your second-best defense against burnout. The first best defense is pacing yourself. A synergy of the two will guarantee that you have sustainable energy to see you through all of your projects and interests.
Consider: Do you have a deliberate plan for self-care, or do you hope that the opportunities to replenish your energy will occur when you need them? A deliberate plan is better.
Sometimes It’s the Good Stuff
If you look at Protagonists’ productivity problems, you might notice that they are all positive qualities that tip just a bit too far in the wrong direction. We should all have such problems, right? But even difficulties based on positive attributes can be incapacitating.
If anybody can deal with such imbalances, it’s Protagonists. People with this personality type will always be on the lookout for paths that lead to the success of as many people as possible, including themselves. This vision of what’s best should help them moderate their behavior and show tolerance for any reasonable flaws that others possess.