The Different MBTI® Personalities in the Office

In any workplace, you will encounter a wide variety of people with unique personalities. Some colleagues you may click with instantly, while others you may not always see eye-to-eye. Having different perspectives on a team can be beneficial—studies by Deloitte and the Harvard Business Review show that teams with cognitive diversity are more innovative and solve problems more quickly. However, ensuring that varied personality types mesh well can sometimes be a challenge.

In the mid-20^th century, Katherine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers, developed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ® (MBTI®) assessment, based on the theory of psychological types by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. This assessment categorizes participants into one of 16 personality types by measuring where they fall on a scale of eight core traits. The result is a four-letter acronym reflecting how an individual sees the world and prefers to operate in their environment. Today, companies often use MBTI® assessments to better understand employees’ working styles, allowing leaders to build teams that leverage strengths and enhance collaboration and innovation.

The MBTI® Personality Traits

Each MBTI® type is assigned four letters that represent core personality traits. The assessment evaluates:

• Extroversion (E) vs. Introversion (I) – How one gets their energy in relation to people. Are they energized by socializing or prefer to recharge in solitude?
• Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N) – How one takes in information. Are they grounded in their five senses and the world around them, or do they prefer to use their imagination and rely on their instincts?
• Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F) – How one makes decisions. Are they logical and rely on facts and data, or do they rely on emotions and people to make their choices?
• Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P) – How one approaches daily life. Do they thrive on routine and predictability, or do they prefer to be spontaneous and flexible?

Most people show all eight traits depending on the situation, often falling somewhere in the middle of these scales. The MBTI® assigns a value based on the respondent’s general preferences, offering insights into the individual’s worldview, strengths, weaknesses, preferences, and communication style.

In your office, you’ll likely encounter at least one colleague of every personality type. To help your team thrive and work together, here’s a quick rundown of how each type presents at work.

INTJ – The Architect

INTJs are passionate problem-solvers, intellectually curious, and always looking for ways to improve processes and themselves. Logical and efficient to a fault, they can be blunt and may avoid small talk.

On a Team: INTJs can be effective leaders but often prefer working independently or in small teams.

INTP – The Logician

Also known as “The Thinker,” INTPs are analytical, logical, and deeply curious about the world around them. Flexible and creative with thinking “outside the box”, they value theoretical concepts and make decisions based on facts rather than feelings. While they excel at brainstorming and idea generation, they may struggle with deadlines or routine tasks.

On a Team: Independent and creative, INTPs enjoy problem-solving and intellectual challenges while holding high standards for themselves and others.

ENTJ – The Commander

Natural leaders with a take-charge attitude, ENTJs are ambitious and able to keep a cool head in stressful situations. They can easily make quick decisions and thrive in executive or management roles—though they can come across as intense or critical.

On a Team: ENTJs gravitate toward management and high-stress leadership roles, finding them challenging and rewarding. As a colleague, they’re confident and analytical, using their problem-solving skills to the team’s advantage.

ENTP – The Debater

Innovative, quick-witted, and unafraid to disagree, ENTPs love to debate or engage in lively conversation. A bit rebellious with larger-than-life ideas, ENTPs are great at brainstorming and are skilled communicators, but can often be contrary or get trapped in playing devil’s advocate.

On a Team: ENTPs bring creativity and strategic thinking, often sparking lively discussions and fresh ideas.

INFJ – The Advocate

The INFJ type has a deep sense of integrity, morality, and compassion for those around them. Devoted and always searching for meaning and purpose, INFJs are idealistic—sometimes to their detriment. They can be sensitive to criticism and prone to burnout.

On a Team: Thoughtful and attuned to others’ needs, INFJs make great team players. Their creativity and passion often make them an asset in brainstorming and collaboration.

INFP – The Mediator

With a rich inner world and a quiet exterior, INFPs are empathetic, creative, and authentic. Dedicated to making a positive impact, they are always willing to lend a listening ear and champion important causes. They may struggle with conflict or asserting boundaries.

On a Team: INFPs thrive in collaborative, people-focused roles where creativity is valued.

ENFJ – The Protagonist

Also known as “the Giver”, the ENFJ is a people-oriented through and through. They’re natural leaders with strong values, great interpersonal skills, and a calling to serve a higher purpose. However, their desire to maintain harmony can sometimes lead them to overstep boundaries, come across as overbearing, or can overextend themselves to maintain harmony.

On a Team: ENFJs are fantastic leaders and managers, although they’re just as happy to be a member of a team as well. They are also adept at helping to form a consensus and compromise amongst their teams, making sure that the best solution has been implemented.

ENFP – The Campaigner

ENFPs are outgoing, enthusiastic, and energetic. Stimulated by new ideas, challenging problems, and always open to change, they are best suited to creative roles with lots of freedom and flexibility. However, they may struggle with organization or long-term focus.

On a Team: ENFPs are passionate leaders and eager collaborators, always up for a challenge and taking changes in stride. They excel at cultivating professional relationships and are valuable in group brainstorming sessions but can struggle when they feel as if they’re being micromanaged.

ISTJ – The Logistician

Reserved, dependable, and meticulous, the Logistician type value routine and structure. Hardworking and able to stay calm under pressure, ISTJs prefer to stay out of the spotlight and stick to what works to get things done. Rigidity, however, is their weak point, and they can come across as too inflexible or insensitive at times.

On a Team: ISTJs are the type to keep their head down and follow procedures, so they excel with independent work and checking items off a to-do list.  

ISFJ – The Defender

ISFJs are dedicated to serving others and make loyal friends and colleagues. Hardworking, empathetic, and emotionally astute, they care deeply for others and are often the type to go above and beyond to help when there’s a need. Their empathy can get the better of them, however, and may neglect their own needs to help others.

On a Team: ISFJs are born collaborators, preferring to work toward common goals and taking direction over leading. They have a great eye for detail that makes them great refiners and reviewers.

ESTJ – The Executive

Logical, organized, results-driven, and dedicated, ESTJs are great mentors, confidently leading others to success. Their strict adherence to rules, however, can sometimes be a detriment, and they can come across as stubborn or critical when things don’t go as expected.

On a Team: Effective leaders, ESTJs prefer to enforce the rules rather than fall into line behind others. They can be team players in the right environment, provided the leader is respected and there are clear rules and procedures to follow.

ESFJ – The Consul

With a strong sense of duty to community and their values, ESFJs lift others up and thrive when they contribute to shared goals. Their sense of community though can lead to people-pleasing behaviors and a sensitivity to criticism and can struggle with change.

On a Team: ESFJs don’t do well with extended solo work projects, preferring roles with frequent collaboration and teamwork. They also do best with structure and guidelines, and don’t need as much freedom and flexibility as other personality types.

ISTP – The Virtuoso

ISTPs are natural crafters who love to get their hands dirty. They excel when able to flex their technical expertise, love to try new things and solve problems, and are easygoing and confident. As introverts, they tend to keep to themselves, are difficult to get to know, and often grow restless with routines or regular commitments.

On a Team: ISTPs work best alone when given the autonomy to figure things out and experiment with trial and error. They need freedom and flexibility and a quiet space to focus without interruption.

ISFP – The Adventurer

The Adventurer personality is quiet, open-minded, and always able to find joy and creativity in everyday life. They thrive with spontaneity, live in the “here and now,” and prefer to act rather than dream. While ISFPs are diligent and practical, they can struggle with indecisiveness and conflict, and they’re not the biggest fans of abstract ideas.

On a Team: ISFPs prefer to follow orders and avoid management roles. They thrive in small groups, following directions and learning through experience.

ESTP – The Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur types are outgoing, larger-than-life, and high-energy, making friends and winning others over wherever they go. Charming, decisive, and quick-thinking, ESTPs are natural risk-takers and doers. They find slow-paced discussions and highly abstract concepts boring, and they can get easily frustrated with rigid rules and expectations.

On a Team: ESTPs are fantastic at networking and enjoy flexing their charisma. Their quick decision-making skills can make them valuable in leadership roles.

ESFP – The Entertainer

ESFPs love being the center of attention. Fun-loving, spontaneous, and with a zest for life, ESFPs surround themselves with people and experiences to stay productive and entertained. Not a fan of routines or difficult conversations, they can be easily bored or avoidant when they feel displaced.

On a Team: ESFP’s shine in customer-facing roles or on vibrant teams with lots of collaboration.

Which Personalities Are in Your Office?

To build effective team dynamics, it’s important to help employees play to their strengths based on their skills and personality types. While each person is unique, the MBTI® assessment offers insights into working styles, communication preferences, and collaboration strategies. Teams can take the MBTI® Personality Assessment online both as a fun team bonding exercise and as a tool to create a more cohesive, productive workplace.