All About the Entrepreneur Personality Type (ESTP)

Understanding your Myers-Briggs personality type indicator can help you know how to apply natural skills in your chosen career. Different personality types may have different working styles and career values. In this article, we explore the ESTP personality type and how it applies to the workplace.

What does ESTP stand for?

ESTP is a Myers-Briggs personality type that stands for Extroverted, Sensing, Thinking and Perceiving, and it’s one of the 16 personality types found in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Those with this personality type tend to be more interested in focusing on the present rather than the future. They might also be outgoing, initiating and participatory in events. You may also hear people refer to the ESTP personality as the entrepreneur. 

Read more: Guide: 16 Personality Types

ESTP characteristics

Those with this personality type tend to have a strong impact on their surroundings. ESTPs enjoy entertaining others, often positioning themselves at the center of social situations. They are usually energetic in conversation, although they prefer to talk about real-life situations rather than abstract concepts. 

An ESTP is often adventurous and feels comfortable taking risks. Additional personality characteristics include the ability to solve problems in innovative ways, spontaneity and a willingness to take risks.

Common ESTP strengths and weaknesses

There are some strengths and weaknesses to expect in an ESTP, including:

Strengths

• Practical: An ESTP generally prefers to learn more about possible topics they can implement into action plans. An ESTP is direct, logical and practical in their actions and conversations.
  

• Creative: ESTPs are more impulsive than other personality types, which helps fuel their creativity. By being willing to explore any opportunity that comes their way, an ESTP can allow their creative side to show.
  

• Outgoing: One of the main ESTP personality traits is the ability to communicate well with others. Not only can an ESTP speak with almost anyone, but they enjoy talking to other people in all types of situations. The outgoing nature of an ESTP also helps them to be well-liked in social settings.
  

• Collaborative: Since an ESTP is exceptionally outgoing, they can collaborate and interact well with other people. ESTPs gain energy from being around others, so a collaborative work atmosphere is often one of the most appealing to those in this personality group.
  

• Perceptive: Something unique about the ESTP personality type is the ability to notice small changes in others. They are more likely to pick up on hidden motives and thoughts when talking to others.

Weaknesses

• Impulsive: Since ESTPs tend to focus on current projects, they can be spontaneous. They may make decisions based on what they feel is best at that time. In many cases, they work best with team members who can assist in long-term planning.
  

• Impatient: ESTPs like to create in a fast-paced setting. Since they are leaders, they could become anxious as they wait for others to complete tasks. Practicing mindfulness and emotional intelligence can help them work well with others and set achievable goals. 
  

• Unstructured: Relating again to their preference to work on current tasks, some ESTPs lack the focus needed to follow a structure. When working, an ESTP should allow themselves time to set long-term goals to create a structure to follow. 

ESTP values and motivations

ESTPs have several values that help them lead. They value objectiveness in their work, avoiding opinions and suggestions they can’t quantify. Similarly, they like to work with facts, data and statistics as much as possible to produce solid results. ESTPs also value power and respect leaders of their industry. Since they like to lead, they mostly prefer being in a position of power.

ESTPs work for immediate payoffs due to their affinity for focusing on current events. They want to see the results of their work immediately instead of waiting several weeks or months. For example, an ESTP might enjoy working as a landscape architect where they can quickly see their efforts. 

They also usually find motivation in the praise and attention they receive from others. They work hard for outcomes that their coworkers or managers will notice. They could find satisfaction in receiving recognition during a team meeting, earning an employee of the month award or obtaining a promotion for a highly visible position. 

ESTPs in the workplace

An ESTP enjoys interacting with other people, so they might form strong relationships with those around them in their workplaces and social situations. For an ESTP, going to work is often just another place to socialize and fuel their outgoing nature. As a result, a team-based work atmosphere is most appealing. These may be their workplace preferences: 

• Preferred workplace activities

• Preferred work environment

• Professional relationships

Preferred workplace activities

Many ESTPs are natural leaders. They prefer working in managerial or supervisory positions, and even small team lead roles can be satisfactory. In most cases, they would rather innovate and create their own rules rather than follow others. When possible, ESTPs try to work with others. They usually work well on a team with diverse professionals where they can interact often. ESTPs can typically work well with a variety of personalities.

Preferred work environment

ESTPs prefer to work in situations where they don’t feel like they’re being micromanaged or forced to follow too many rules. They also enjoy working in open, active spaces where they can move around. If they’re not working in an office, an ESTP could find a job working outdoors, such as in construction or landscaping. ESTPs also function well under pressure and can react quickly in emergencies. Since they focus on short-term objectives, they can handle fast-paced situations and strict deadlines. 

Professional relationships

Most ESTPs are excellent at maintaining many relationships with different professionals. They interact well with others and prefer to include everyone in conversations. In many cases, ESTPs hold several surface-level relationships instead of forming a few deep connections. This can help build an expansive professional network that allows them to excel in their careers. With their persuasive and engaging manner of speech, ESTPs can easily gain the confidence and trust of others. 

Best careers for ESTPs

ESTPs usually prefer to work in leadership roles where they’re free to create. Careers that might suit them could include: 

• Creative director

• Project manager

• Chief financial officer

• Financial planner

• Architect