Are you interested to know about INFJ vs. ENFJ? These two look alike personalities have many shared cognitive functions that make them appear the same; however in reality, they are not the same and have contrasting shades as well.
Both these personalities share their intuitive, feeling, and judging functions. They are idealists with deep thinking abilities. Moreover, their feeling function makes them empathetic and considerate beings. INFJs and ENFJs are organized, planned, and prefer to work in order and system. They hate being messy and prefer a meticulous lifestyle.
One thing that differentiates them is their introversion-extroversion variation. INFJs are introverts with a thoughtful, reserved and private nature. Contrary to this, ENFJs are outgoing, sociable, talkative, and prefer to stay in the spotlight.
In this short think piece, we will highlight the details of their similarities and differences.
INFJ vs. ENFJ
INFJs and ENFJs have so much in common amongst themselves that they are most often confused and mistyped by the common man. It is essential to understand the similarities and differences so as to nullify the errors in identifying these two types properly.
Both these types are intuitive, feeling, and judging types. Thus, they are mostly concerned about future possibilities, can relate with others’ feelings, and are highly methodical and organized in nature. Both prefer to follow set plans and can work in routine tasks gleefully.
As both these types are intuitive feelers, they can easily stay tuned with the emotional component surrounding them in their everyday life. INFJs and ENFJs have a deep desire to make others’ lives happy and comfortable. They hate conflicts and fights and prefer a peaceful life.
Both these Myers Briggs types are introspective but INFJs are a little more thoughtful than ENFJs. People with INFJ traits are quiet and prefer to live alone. Thus, they think a lot and come up with out of the box ideas. On the flip side, ENFJs will follow their gut feelings and rely on first impressions to make decisions in life.
ENFJs are outgoing and derive their mental energy from socialization. They are talkative, usually have many friends and prefer to stay connected to everyone. The INFJ type is just the opposite and they prefer alone time to re-energize themselves mentally.
INFJs are less expressive emotionally and tend to stay private as much as possible, while an ENFJ is loud and quirky. They will touch base with their subtle feelings quite often and can also express these emotions as well as possible to others.
For an ENFJ type, emotions are the only means to stay connected to others. Therefore their feelings are wrapped up in their sleeves that surface out quite easily most of the time. INFJs will keep their feelings guarded but ENFJs will express their feelings openly.
When it comes to ideas and imaginations, both these types are on the same level. They are imaginative and can create ideas that none others have thought out before. This is the reason that these two types excel in creative fields such as fine arts and performing arts.
INFJs cannot live life unless those have understood its deeper meaning; while the ENFJ type prefers to live life in a playful and spontaneous way. The outer world is more attractive to an ENFJ and catches their attention much more than the inner world.
INFJs and ENFJs prefer planned action. They would prefer to stay prepared and face everything boldly. Last minute changes, sudden surprises, and hasty decision making are not for these two personality types.
The Points of similarities between INFJ and ENFJ
So far we have done a general discussion about the sameness and contrasts of INFJs and ENFJs in a nutshell. In this section of the article, we will highlight the similarities that they have in their respective personality dynamics.
INFJs and ENFJs have quite a lot of characteristics that are common. These characteristics make them similar in functioning and they appear same to others unless spotted separately.
The points of similarities are as follows:
- INFJs and ENFJs are morally inclined. Their deep-seated values enable them to live life happily. Their level of integrity is just unmatched with none other personality type.
- Both these types are future-oriented. They seek future possibilities because they prefer to dream about and imagine the things that can be made possible in future.
- INFJs and ENFJs are deeply humane. They can feel for others deeply. They process emotions deep inside themselves however manifest them in different ways.
- Both these personality types hold strong values. They are ethical, principled, and prefer to live life honestly.
- INFJs and ENFJs are keen to work for social causes that can impact others’ life in positive ways. These individuals can become model citizens as well.
- Both these types prefer planned actions. They will never do things out of the blue. Every action they take is well thought out, planned, and organized in finer ways.
- INFJs and ENFJs are a creative bunch. Their imaginative world is rich and they always have some new things to offer to others.
- People with these two personality types are resourceful and highly disciplined. Their devotion leads to the work excellence that they display in their professional life.
- INFJs and ENFJs are naturally optimistic and prefer to see the bright side of life. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they feel overwhelmed in trying times. They are the ones who prefer to keep their head always high in trying times. Both are resilient and remain prepared to tackle the unforeseen.
- ENFJs and INFJs are sensitive, generous, and passionate. They hate confrontations and can’t even think of hurting others deliberately.
- Both are soft spoken, humble, and have decent manners to cherish for.
- INFJs and ENFJs are friendly and accommodating. They will consider others’ opinions before getting into the groove of order and rigidity. They hate changes and cannot stand surprises at all. These two types prefer to stay prepared all the time.
- Both these types have introverted intuition as a cognitive function. Thus, they are insightful and introspective. They prefer to acquire knowledge and stay disciplined in life forever.
INFJ vs. ENFJ – The Key Differences
With all the similar points discussed so far, we also need to tell you something about the subtle variations that underlie these two personality types. INFJs and ENFJs have certain key contrasts that are due to dissimilar order of preference of their cognitive functions.
INFJs have introverted intuition (Ni) as a dominant function while ENFJs have extraverted feeling (Fe) as a dominant one. Likewise ENFJs have Ni as an auxiliary function whereas INFJs have extraverted feeling (Fe) as an auxiliary function.
This makes it clear that since their functions are similar, they think, feel, and act in similar ways. However, the stacking of these functions is different; as such it impacts them separately, though in finer ways only.
The same cognitive functions work in different ways in INFJs and ENFJs. Their common grounds remain the same yet different. INFJs and ENFJs look into the world in different ways. They learn information and process it in a dissimilar manner and that brings all the differences in them.
| INFJ | ENFJ |
| INFJs prioritize their everyday life in a thoughtful and introspective way. | For ENFJs, the outer world is attractive and catches their attention much more than their internal world. They are less introspective than INFJs |
| Derives their mental energy from being alone. They are reserved, quiet, and prefer a private life. | ENFJs derive their mental energy by socialization, communication, and interaction with others. They hate being lonely and want to have many people crowding them all the time. |
| INFJs’ intuitive side is introverted. It means they use deep thinking and gut feeling deep inside before making a decision in life. | ENFJs’ intuition comes from free mixing with others. They can read people’s mind, intentions; thereby using all the external cues in decision making. |
| INFJs speak in a soft, gentle voice. They prefer one to one communication. Hates being crowded by many people while they’re talking about an important matter. | ENFJs are loud, yet gentle and promising in their communication with others. They prefer the spotlight and feel free to express their opinions in front of many people. ENFJs are more enthusiastic and energetic than INFJs. |
| INFJs listen more and talk less. Their eye contact is much less impressive than an ENFJ. | ENFJs prefer to lead the communication process. Thus, they will talk much more than listening to others’ opinions. These individuals have impressive eye contact and can attract large groups with their inspirational speaking style. |
| INFJs take time to make decisions. They will run through each and every small thing before taking the final call. They are deeply thoughtful and will never decide on haste. | ENFJs are more likely to decide faster depending upon what is the need of the hour. They can make quick choices based on impulsive tendencies that they may also repent later on. |
| Small talk and pointless discussions, or gossip are not the liking of an INFJ type. They prefer to talk about ideas and future possibilities. They would prefer discussing matters that are meaningful and can add a purpose to their life and living. | ENFJs prefer evening chatting with friends. Their phone calls are usually longer than usual. These people love to talk about formal and informal stuff. These may include serious discussions as well as gossip regarding relatives, colleagues etc. |
| INFJs are reserved and private. Thus they are hard to know from outside. | ENFJs are expressive and talkative. They are easy to be known and understood by others. ENFJs are open and may tell you much more about their life than what you really wish to know. |
| Being an introvert, INFJs prefer solitude and they love reading, seeing movies all on their own. Silence is their dear friend. | ENFJs cannot thrive in silence and solitude. They feel irritated if they are told to sit idle on their own without interacting with others. They are social butterflies with great energy and enthusiasm. |
| In the face of stress, INFJs can indulge in exploring the sensory pleasures. They may also develop a hostile and suspicious attitude towards the outer world. | In the face of stress, ENFJs may become too critical of themselves and others. They may judge others in negative ways. Externalization of annoyance and frustration is also probable in trying times. |
| INFJs are reserved and prefer to do their job alone. They are not too much into creating harmony around them. Usually stays aloof and avoids being in a controversy that will not take them anywhere. | ENFJs promote harmony and ‘we’ feeling in the group they belong to. Usually they prefer to please others in order to remain included in the group. |
| INFJs will listen to the stuff that has the probability to add meaning to whatever they said. They are less open-minded and can be stubborn at times. | ENFJs are open-minded when it comes to understanding others’ opinions. |
To Sum Up
INFJs and ENFJs are mistaken because of their same cognitive functioning. However, the two types are different in terms of their order of preferences.
Many ENFJs could be misunderstood as INFJs because of their socially shy nature. On the flip side, many INFJs could be mistaken as an ENFJ if they are socially present, charismatic, and assertive in their communication style.
As a matter of fact, Introversion-extroversion traits fall in a continuum. All of us are bestowed with both qualities. Thus, INFJs and ENFJs also possess these traits in big or small amounts. The manifestation of various preferences depends upon the situation the person is in.
The difference also lies in the way these two types perceive information and make decisions in life based on the order of their cognitive preferences.
