How can I show up at work as an ENFJ-A to improve psychological safety?

Personality types provide a shared language to externalize our inner worlds, helping us communicate our thoughts, motivations, and preferences to others. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) offers a framework to understand ourselves and others better, fostering empathy and improving interpersonal dynamics. With this shared understanding, we can contribute to creating psychologically safe environments where everyone feels comfortable being their authentic selves.

For ENFJs, especially those with the Assertive trait (ENFJ-A), this common language can be a powerful tool in nurturing a supportive and open work atmosphere. Let's explore how you, as an ENFJ-A, can use your unique traits to create a more psychologically safe work environment for yourself and your colleagues:

1. Leverage your natural empathy: As an ENFJ, you can understand and resonate with others' emotions. Use this attribute to create an environment where people are seen and understood.
2. Foster open communication: Your Fe (Extraverted Feeling) function makes you excellent at facilitating group harmony. Encourage open dialogues where everyone feels safe to express their thoughts and feelings.
3. Lead by example: As a natural leader, you can model the behaviours that promote psychological safety. Be open about your vulnerabilities and mistakes, showing that it's safe for others to do the same.
4. Provide constructive feedback: Your ability to deliver feedback in a way that motivates rather than discourages can help create a culture where feedback is accepted as an opportunity for growth rather than criticism.
5. Create a vision of inclusivity: Use your Ni (Introverted Intuition) to envision and articulate a future where everyone feels valued and included. Share this vision to inspire others to contribute to a psychologically safe environment.
6. Mediate conflicts: Your diplomatic nature makes you an excellent mediator. When disputes arise, help team members understand each other's perspectives and find mutually beneficial solutions.
7. Organize team-building activities: Leverage your love for bringing people together by organizing events that foster connection and understanding among team members.
8. Encourage personal growth: Your genuine interest in others' development can help create an environment where people feel supported in their professional growth, a key aspect of psychological safety.
9. Balance task and relationship focus: While you excel at building relationships, remember the importance of task completion. Help your team see how psychological safety contributes to better performance and results.
10. Use your Assertive trait wisely: As an ENFJ-A, you likely have confidence in your abilities and decisions. Use this self-assurance to advocate for practices that promote psychological safety, even when faced with resistance.

Remember, as an ENFJ-A, you may occasionally focus on harmony at the expense of addressing necessary conflicts. Be mindful of this tendency and strive to create an environment where constructive disagreement is valued and necessary for growth.

Your natural warmth, empathy, and leadership abilities make you well-suited to fostering psychological safety. However, it's important to balance these traits with the courage to address complex issues and the wisdom to know when to prioritize long-term growth over short-term comfort.

By leveraging your ENFJ strengths and being aware of your limited perspective, you become crucial in creating a work environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and safe to be their authentic selves. Your ability to inspire and motivate others and your genuine care for their well-being can contribute to building and maintaining a supportive, psychologically safe workplace that allows all team members to thrive.

Remember to also take care of yourself in the process. Your tendency to prioritize others' needs can sometimes lead to neglecting your own. Maintaining your well-being is vital to sustainably fostering psychological safety for your team.