What’s the difference between an ENFP and an ESTJ when both are organized, driven, and highly productive? An ENFP with well-developed Te (Extraverted Thinking) can easily look like a Thinking-Judging type, especially if they make plans, meet deadlines, manage large projects, and care about efficiency. But the real ENFP vs. ESTJ difference isn’t whether someone can organize and get things done. It’s which cognitive function is actually driving the process: dominant Ne (Extraverted Intuition) supported by tertiary Te in the ENFP, or dominant Te supported by auxiliary Si in the ESTJ. My recent attempt to launch a novel while simultaneously revising half my back catalogue is a pretty good illustration of the difference.
Since I get asked a lot, “If you are so productive, why aren’t you an ESTJ instead of an ENFP?” I thought I’d finally write up a decent type comparison, based on a recent experience.
I’m about to launch a book called The Dream Diviner, the first in a four-book series about Claudia Procula and her husband, Pontius Pilate. It’s a fairly straightforward goal: build up to it, launch it, then start working on the next book in the series.
Instead, my attention has gone like this: Book launch -> Claudia/Pilate blog content -> historical research -> character typing -> play around with illustrations -> redesign hardcover (four times) -> start revising an old project -> rethink that entire trilogy -> make revision packets for entire back catalogue -> rethink my Tudor seven book series -> restructure mentally that entire first novel -> realize that changes the second novel -> plan hardbacks for that series -> think about Book 2 in the Claudia Chronicles -> suddenly decide to pause everything and watch 4 seasons of Desperate Housewives in 2 weeks.
How An ESTJ Would Handle my Book Launch:
Yeah. This is not how an ESTJ would do it. This is Ne-dom running things. Ne keeps finding another interesting possibility to think about, and following that wherever it leads, which is “away from the goal.” Then my Te limps along behind it and says, “Wait, if we’re really doing this, we need a SYSTEM, and to organize it, and a PLAN!”
An ESTJ version of me can be funny, speculative, and curious, but changing direction has to make sense or support an established objective (book launch!) instead. They would be asking: what needs to happen for my November launch? Then organize themselves around it. Ie, finalize files, order proofs, line up advanced readers, schedule launch posts, write four promotional articles, update the website, prepare the newsletter, confirm listings, finalize cover (AND LEAVE IT THAT WAY), launch, then work on the next book, in the series. For the most part, they would do it in that order.
I make lists too, and then I see something shiny and chase it and remember only when I’m knee-deep in other things that “oh yeah, suddenly I have a book launch coming and am feeling stressed right now; what I am SUPPOSED to be doing?”
Would an ESTJ Revise My Old Books?
Then there’s the “let’s revise old books” angle.
Would an ESTJ revise them? Sure, but only if the speculative payoff would be worth the time and effort. Are bad reviews identifying a weakness? Does my old cover not fit my current branding? Could a rerelease generate more revenue? Is there an inconsistency in the series? Have standards changed? Could I make a hardcover set and have extra revenue? Always, the question would be, “Is fixing this worth my time, effort, and attention, or is that better spent moving forward?”
My reasoning is more “Wait, I can see how much BETTER I am at this, and now I see what this novel was TRYING to be… so I should absolutely make it happen!” IE, what’s the BEST and most EXCITING version of this novel hiding inside this old book?
Then, the questions start piling up on each other. For example, my Tudor novel. What if I consolidated these characters? What if this action scene went to this person instead of that person? What if instead of this plot point popping up out of nowhere, it was introduced in chapter three? All of this gives Katharine of Aragon a straighter narrative arc.
This is Ne “in action,” discovering a better process, while my Te runs after me screaming, “WAIT! I need to write this all down!” An ESTJ might decide the same thing, but it would start from a prime objective; not “what could this become?” (Ne) but “what would shave 25,000 words off the novel and make it tighter? And what do I need to consolidate to make that happen?”
I go “what happens if I do THIS?” and move the thing; then I have to figure out later how to create the structure I need to support it.
ETJ productivity looks like this: objective -> procedure -> execution -> completion. Next thing!
My ENFP method: possibility -> excitement -> expansion -> organization -> intense execution (how fast can I get this done, so I can start in on Other Massive Revision project?!?) -> NEW POSSIBILITY -> distraction -> reorganization -> intense execution (one book! 20 days!).
ESTJ goes “Why are you wasting time revising old books when you have a new book launch in a couple of weeks?”
ENFP goes, “Because I realized they could be BETTER.”
That, in a nutshell, is ETJ vs EFP. You’re welcome.
It’s not about whether you can organize stuff, make lists, meet deadlines, or become productive when motivated. It’s about what’s driving the car of life.
An ETJ has a map and a destination in mind, and would appreciate it if everyone stopped suggesting unnecessary detours. The ENFP hops behind the wheel, sees a fun roadside attraction, and delays for six hours to explore it. Their Te is in the passenger seat with seventeen binders, trying desperately to include all of the fun things the ENFP saw on the way here in their plan for what they want to do this weekend.
We were supposed to be going to a book launch!
Oh well. I’m sure I’ll get there eventually.
