Type and Teams

INFP

FiNeSTeinfp
1 Favorite process INTROVERTED
FEELING
2 Second process EXTRAVERTED
INTUITION
3 Third process SENSING
4 Fourth process EXTRAVERTED
THINKING
INTROVERSION INTUITION FEELING PERCEIVING

Communication

INFPs contribute by:

  • Creating unity and harmony by listening and responding with sensitivity
  • Presenting provocative ideas with a focus on the big picture

May irritate team members by:

  • Spending too much time relating to people individually instead of getting down to work on team objectives
  • Delving too deeply into abstract, complex, or theoretical questions

May be irritated by team members who:

  • Are loud or pushy, or who dominate discussions
  • Focus conversations too narrowly and concretely

Can maximize effectiveness by:

  • Understanding that centering discussions on objective team goals serves the needs of individuals
  • Realizing that guidelines and specifics help others become invested in their lofty ideals

Team Culture

INFPs contribute by:

  • Motivating and inspiring others to develop themselves
  • Connecting team members to one another by focusing on common ideals

May irritate team members by:

  • Ignoring or overlooking hierarchical structures
  • Becoming fiercely attached to an ideal not championed by others

May be irritated by team members who:

  • Stifle originality
  • Are judgmental, competitive, or self-important

Can maximize effectiveness by:

  • Appreciating that hierarchies and organizational structures give people direction on how to interact
  • Acknowledging that others may not be as passionate about an ideal—compromising, not crusading, may be the best option

Leadership

INFPs contribute by:

  • Establishing a gentle, facilitative structure that gives others the opportunity to solve their own problems
  • Providing an overarching vision by articulating team ideals and values

May irritate team members by:

  • Being hesitant to share criticism even when it is warranted
  • Not pushing the team hard enough to keep to schedules and timelines

May be irritated by team members who:

  • Micromanage or nitpick
  • Don’t value each team member’s unique contribution

Can maximize effectiveness by:

  • Realizing that corrective feedback may be just as helpful as praise
  • Understanding that being more firm about deadlines and goals helps the team meet its objectives

Change

INFPs contribute by:

  • Promoting innovation, imagination, and creativity
  • Encouraging others to look at things from multiple perspectives

May irritate team members by:

  • Processing and analyzing the change too much and therefore delaying action
  • Concentrating too much on people’s feelings at the expense of bottom-line necessities

May be irritated by team members who:

  • Support standard operating procedures solely because they’ve worked in the past
  • Fail to acknowledge that people experience and adapt to change in different ways

Can maximize effectiveness by:

  • Recognizing that sometimes it is best to try something rather than just think about it
  • Realizing that without a realistic look at the facts, people may get hurt in the long run

Problem Solving/Conflict Resolution

INFPs contribute by:

  • Eliciting group consensus to facilitate decisions that are satisfying to all
  • Using their powers of concentration and reflection to uncover underlying connections and meanings

May irritate team members by:

  • Delaying a decision in pursuit of perfection
  • Trying too hard to find a solution that pleases everyone

May be irritated by team members who:

  • Present a point of view in a hostile or aggressive manner
  • Urge them to commit to a solution because it is politically convenient

Can maximize effectiveness by:

  • Accepting limitations on what can realistically be accomplished
  • Understanding that a good decision will eventually win over those who initially were unhappy or resistant

Stress

INFPs contribute to reducing team stress by:

  • Being nonjudgmental, understanding, and patient
  • Defusing stressful situations with gentle humor

Under stress may irritate team members by:

  • Making allowances for people who may not deserve such consideration
  • Withdrawing involvement when one of their ideals is threatened

Under stress may be irritated by team members who:

  • Intrude on their personal and emotional space
  • Pressure them to take on too many roles at the expense of quality

Can maximize effectiveness when under stress by:

  • Pruning unproductive loyalties and connections
  • Recognizing that conceding a minor point may be enough to win the battle