INFP workplace style is independent and autonomous. They feel uncomfortable if others interfere or crowd their organized workspace. These individuals prefer to work alone rather than in groups.
If too many people work with them, they may feel overwhelmed emotionally. In workplaces, INFPs are not motivated by monetary benefits but they are keen to learn and accomplish big goals in life.
These individuals are ambitious and are driven to work in projects that allow personal growth. The typical work setup should be open and flexible otherwise INFPs may find it hard to adjust and perform to their fullest potential.
INFPs prefer to work with complex issues rather than simple ones because it allows exploration and experimentation that nurtures their innovative mind. They are peace-loving individuals and can keep calm in times of confrontations in workplaces.
In order to know their varied roles and communication style, keep reading the entire piece.
INFP workplace
INFP workplace habits include professional endeavors that allow free expression of their innate abilities.
INFPs are flexible and easy going introverts. They work best in open working conditions where there is flexibility in choosing their timing and pace of work.
Given their ability to embrace any kind of change, they can manage workload that comes on the spot. They do not require any prior planning to accomplish the sudden workload given to them. They are just fine with it.
INFPs will thrive well in workplaces that embrace their big ideas and give them enough flexibility to pursue their goals without interference. They would love to work with colleagues and managers who respect their space and work style fully.
INFPs are open-minded and easygoing, thus they look for careers that allow them to use their deep-seated values. At the same time, they look for future opportunities as well. Their intuitive mind looks for developing potentials that are necessary for personal growth and professional excellence.
These individuals live with clear-cut goals and as such they know where they wish to be in the career ladder. In workplaces, INFPs are devoted to their boss and co-workers. They are a good helping hand for new employees because they can feel deeply for those who struggle to make a mark in their career.
Having a progressive mindset helps an INFP set new benchmarks in the professional world. They are passionate learners and prefer to experience varied opportunities in life.
At workplaces, they portray a humble outlook that is often everyone’s favorite. They are an invaluable resource to any organization. Being a mediator personality, INFPs will relate with others sensitively. They avoid office politics to a great extent.
People with this personality type never get into conflicts and try to avoid such situations as much as possible. INFPs look for purposeful work.
Any mundane and routine jobs are irritating to them. They find it hard to adjust and collaborate with others in a situation that goes against their beliefs and values.
So, we can say that INFPs are an asset that no organization would like to go away with. Now let us delve deeper into the various hierarchy roles that these individuals play in their professional life.
INFP as a colleague
As colleagues, they are helpful, friendly, and humble. INFPs believe in fair dealings. Thus, you will never find them doing anything wrong with their fellow teammates. It’s no surprise that INFPs will move out of their comfort zones to support and help their colleagues.
As colleagues, INFPs would prefer to give equal rights to everyone. They prefer a work environment that is conflict-free because they believe in collaboration and teamwork. As colleagues, they will give enough privilege to their coworkers. They will listen to what others have to say on an issue.
INFP colleagues will act like glue in holding everyone together in a team. They are non-judgmental and understanding by nature. Therefore, they will make everyone feel valued and recognized in the organization.
Being an introvert, they will not be the loud voice always but will try to keep the team together always. INFPs are insightful and thus others may come to them for suggestions and valuable advice. They are compassionate, pleasant, and sensitive. Others will always love to associate themselves with an INFP personality type.
In workplaces, INFPs resist conflict by any means because they do not like to disagree with others over trivial matters. You will never find any INFP who is into office politics because they are not good at handling these issues.
Being an introvert, INFP colleagues will keep a low profile social life. It will not be surprising if you find them missing out on office get together and staff reunion parties. Actually, they hate to be in the spotlight.
INFPs will always try to maintain cooperation and harmony in workplaces. As colleagues, they will act as true mediators and will make the organization a pleasant one for all.
If someone needs assistance, INFP colleagues will rush to help them without harboring any expectation for praise or recognition.
Lastly, INFP colleagues are loved by all others in the organization because of their gentle and humble nature. They are priceless friends and invaluable assets that any workplace would love to have.
INFP as a subordinate
As subordinates, INFPs have a gentle communication style that is liked by their managers. Being an intuitive personality type, they are insightful and often think out of the box.
Sometimes, they will suggest problem-solving strategies that no other team member has ever thought of. Innovative ideas are always a part of their creative mind. They have a lot to share with their colleagues and managers.
As subordinates, they are dedicated and honest. They are equally gentle, understanding, and dutiful. Therefore, they are always praised by their managers. As employees, you will always find them considerate and upbeat.
They will take initiative to get things done, even if it has not been told by their senior managers. People with these personality types are polite, sober, soft, and gentle. They will voice their opinions clearly but will always listen to the opinions of others.
Even, they will show a lot of respect to the opinions of their managers. INFP subordinates are good at pleasing their boss and customers. They have slight people-pleasing tendencies because they prefer to maintain harmony in every situation.
Being an introvert, these individuals also prefer to contribute alone. It doesn’t mean that they do not operate in teams. They do operate well in teams as well but love to remain as individual contributors as well.
For an INFP, praise and recognition from their immediate managers are always welcoming. They never demand recognition but if they get it, it’s just an icing on a piece of cake. Contrary to this, they hate being judged. It can shut them down in no time. Thus, a negative work environment and nitpicky boss is a big ‘no’ for them.
Mediator employees would prefer managers who are open-minded and give them the freedom to innovate and think in creative ways. As long as they are given a chance to choose what they want, they are fine to work as a subordinate.
INFPs can procrastinate and lose out on their valuable deadlines. Thus, some form of strict deadlines is good for them. They will be on track and bouncing to and fro from one work to another work can be stopped.
The mediator subordinate should learn to self-check all the time so that they know that they are on track and will not leave tasks undone. Otherwise, they may not earn their due regard as valuable employees in the organization.
INFP as a manager
Being an introvert, INFPs are soft, reserved, and private by nature. Though as managers, they can perform well but this job role can be intensely challenging for them. As managers, they will create cohesive and harmonious teams but may not lead others in the right way.
People with this personality type will not do great when it comes to taking charge of a group of people. Being a gentle type, they will find it challenging to guide everyone in the team. Sometimes, their team members can overpower them mentally.
They respect their employees as humans and will be equally affected if any one of them is going through adverse situations in life. They will seek suggestions and opinions from their employees so that the organization can run in desirable ways.
The INFP manager will hate to micromanage others because they are sober and not so vocal in terms of their communication style. They are less assertive and more democratic in their outlook.
As managers, INFPs will not say his/her employee what to do, or how to do things in the right way. They will give their employees an opportunity to share their opinions in a psychologically safe setup.
The INFP manager also shares the load of team work because they believe in helping others. They see it as their moral responsibility to assist the other people working with them as their employees.
As managers, INFPs will always encourage their employees to think and act independently in the organization. They embrace creativity and innovation at every step, thus working with them is a great opportunity for many others.
Sometimes, INFPs are too relaxed as managers. They may struggle to set boundaries. Thus, they may find it hard to criticize or find faults in their employees’ work, even when it is a dire necessity.
It is advisable that INFP managers should be a little more strict and assertive while managing teams. So, that the day to day functioning of the company never gets compromised.
INFP personality type and workplace communication
If you are trying to communicate with an INFP personality type, it won’t be tricky at all. They are easygoing and flexible listeners. They prefer not to react but to understand your opinions from all ends.
Communication is easy with them if you know the art of using the right word to convey your message. You should avoid using direct, harsh or unkind words with them because they are sensitive and may not like interacting with a haughty, arrogant person.
Being a composed and calm individual, an INFP will prefer one to one communication. They hate to be tied down in squabbling or any kind of verbal fights with anyone. Most of the time, you will see them talking to people softly with no anger or arrogance in the scene.
While communicating with an INFP, make sure that you are comfortable with yourself, and you know what to convey in the message. They prefer direct communication but not in harsh ways.
As INFPs are flexible and open-minded, they will allow others to speak or voice their personal opinions and suggestions. These individuals are able communicators who are reserved and personal as far as sharing their individual stories are concerned.
Being an introvert, they are not an open book in most situations. They will take time to trust you and share their stories with you verbally. Communication gaps can also occur with introverted types because they are reserved and may not connect with you at deeper levels unless they’re assured that you are trustworthy and friendly. This happens with an INFP also.
While communicating with an INFP, you should always appreciate their opinions. It makes them feel great about themselves. They prefer insightful discussions. Casual talking is not their favorite most of the time.
With an INFP, you need to be really soft and gentle; otherwise it is literally impossible to know them from the core. Being an introvert, they will keep quiet and may not say anything if the conversation appears mundane or unnecessary to them.
Moreover, even if you are looking at giving corrective feedback to an INFP, remember to do so positively. They cannot handle judgmental statements at all; and may get into a quiet groove that is highly restricted and personal.
Thus, for an INFP, communication should be open-ended, flexible, with no set rules. It should be heart touchy as well. They feel perplexed and less understood if the opponent is less friendly and gentle while interacting with them.
Having a meeting with INFP personality type – What it looks like
An official meeting with an INFP has to start in an informal way. They love to be asked about their life in general before you discuss the nitty gritty of various business agendas.
You need to relate with them emotionally and they will feel understood in subtle ways. INFPs prefer to see the big picture. Thus, talk about future opportunities that can be beneficial for both the parties.
Avoid saying harsh things that sound like an evaluation or criticism. They will not take criticisms easily. It is better to meet an INFP personally on a one to one basis, and not in groups. As they are reserved and private, they feel a discomfort if asked to discuss important agendas in front of many unknown faces.
You should always avoid discussing unnecessary stuff in a business meeting because they prefer direct communication that is gentle, yet clear and distinct.
INFP personality type and conflict resolution in the workplace
It is important to note that confrontations are not easy for an INFP to handle. They prefer peace and harmony to prevail in all aspects of life. Therefore, they will not show annoyance or be critical to someone even if they do not like it.
They are likely to become upset if faced in a conflicting situation. INFPs prefer to feel welcomed rather than judged; so you need to be more patient with them.
They will feel hurt if others undermine their high-held values or criticize them for being too easygoing types.
In these circumstances, INFPs will become more reserved and may not share their opinions and feelings easily. They may fear rejection as well, and will try to keep shut as much as possible.
In workplaces, INFPs may feel emotionally wounded if they are outright insulted or abused in a conflicting situation.
To Sum Up
INFPs are in love with their freedom. They hate micromanaging and thus expect others to give them enough room to grow and thrive in professional endeavors. In workplaces, they are quite social and helpful. They love interacting with fellow colleagues and managers equally well.
INFPs are empathetic and considerate. Thus, they perform their diverse roles quite gracefully in an organization. They are committed, honest, and fiercely dutiful. These individuals will never give a chance to anyone to complain or find fault in the work they do.
They are cautious about getting into conflicting issues because they know they are not good at handling those uprisings tactfully. Instead they avoid or ignore many things that are a total mismatch to their innate nature.
