These comments are FILLED with NFs (my peeps) - I find it so crazy that our society has fallen into this false idea that we should all be one way - one-size fits all, like you say - it's like thinking all trees should have the same leaves 🙄 - so glad this resonated with you - so important that we connect with people who also don't fit the traditional mould
Very interesting article, thank you. I believe, from the test I did a few years ago, I am an INFJ and Turbulent Advocate. I also found out a few years ago that I am AuDHD and two weeks ago I finally walked away from trying to fit into mainstream work expectations and am now self employed. I actually talk about this and being a multipotentialite (and having a mosaic career) in my latest article. It was a revelation to understand I didn't have to hate work or do it all someone else's way.
Congratulations! Isn't it powerful to understand how we are wired and then to be able to create ways of living and working that work for that wiring?! Ooh I'll go and check out your article x
Thank you! It really is empowering. I'm grateful that my partner is in a position to help and encourage me as well. I'm sad it took 40 odd years to get here but I'm so glad I have.
INFJ here🙋🏻♀️. I took this test a while back and it fits me entirely! I’m also a Scorpio so big contradictions! Lol I used to be a massage therapist which I loved but COVID and arthritis shut me down and now I’m just floating through my days not really knowing what to do next. I feel stuck sometimes. I do a lot of scrapbooking so that helps with my creativity but I can’t seem to make it pay the bills. Lol
Thanks for such an interesting read Selina! This totally makes sense to me. When I first joined my organisation there was freedom, autonomy and variety of work and I excelled. But the leadership and culture has become increasingly hierarchical, with very little space for creativity and sooo many layers of bureaucracy and I feel stifled and stagnant. Luckily I’ve found my pathway out and hopefully will turn my side hustle into my full time business soon! I got INFJ-A (Advocate) which really resonates with me.
Very interesting read.. Love this Selina 🥰 I did those personality type tests (the in depth ones) a few years back.. I'll have to see if I can dig out the results... 🤔😄
So interesting! I did one of these decades ago when I was in the corporate world, and honestly can't really remember what I was back then. I think it was INTP. This time I've come out as INFJ, which does fit exactly where I am in my life at the moment and how I feel.
Thanks for raising this again. I will now overlay it on top of the other explorations I'm doing to figure out who the heck am I now as I enter my 60s and embark on a new career in psychotherapy!
And it's also useful to look through this lens at my year as it unfolds, with the work I've already done and continue to do with your book 'Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025' which I absolutely LOVE!
I LOVE this! Love that you're going into a new career as you enter your 60s and it's psychotherapy - SO perfect for an INFJ. And yes, working in the corporate world we can find ourselves operating in ways that we feel we have to - rather than playing to our natural strengths. We can also interestingly behave like our personality opposite when under stress. Honestly, I love this topic. And yes, I layer this on top of Enneagram, Wealth Dynamics, Human Design and Astrology 🤗
Fun fact - I took this test when I joined my company 3.5 years ago and I was a Protagonist (turbulent) but now, post baby, I've turned into a Advocate (turbulent).
I think I used to follow routines and systems, while now I go more with the flow and struggle to stick to my todo list. I think a 9-5 is definitely not the best option for me, definitely with having a little one running around, and I'm now spending more time during my day thinking about what could be giving me the flexible schedule I need and money!
Ooh that's interesting - you were likely quite in the middle of Extrovert and Introvert. Protagonist is ENFJ and Advocate is INFJ. Natural introverts can often feel at first that they need to be more extroverted (because we're in an extroverted world) and the older they get the more they start leaning into their natural introverted ways. INFJs going very deep. One of the deepest of all the personality types 🥰 - do you feel you are most like an Advocate?
Love this - I am a guardian (ISFJ) so I can totally see how that has worked to my advantage at work. In fact, my biggest stressor at work is when I get unexpected things thrown my way (which even happens a lot in a 9-5 office job) - I can’t stand it! BUT I do also crave more freedom and flexibility, so maybe the personality type isn’t quite 100% accurate for me (as we’ve discussed!). This is really helpful for me to consider when managing others - to quell the frustrations I feel when they’re not so structured and organised!
It is SO valuable as a manager to understand personality types and how they differ. It's thinking that everyone else is or should be like us that can often cause communication break down and friction. And the best teams have a diverse personality mix. I love this topic so much. And yes, even Guardians crave freedom and flexibilty that office life doesn't always offer. I don't think any human suits being in an office for the majority of their life!
Oh my gosh! This is so timely. I’ve been feeling so out of place and burnt out in my 9-5, but similar sentiments ‘this is just life. No one likes work!’ Are thrown at me. Anyways, we did a personality test at work this week - and of a team of 55, there’s a handful of NP’s and I was the only ENFP. It’s really the catalyst I need to to find something that doesn’t involves timelines, managers and Teams meetings! Just need to find what that is 🙃
Oh I love that this post found you! What perfect timing 🤩 one of the beauties of being an ENFP is we can turn our hand to quite a few things. So explore what’s out there and you might find you have a few different options to choose from 🤗
When you DM'd me this link a few months ago I came out as an ENFJ - as you predicted! - and having just gone back to re-read the analysis it is literally me to a T! X
Oh yes I did! So good isn’t it? And actually ENFJs ARE more suited to the workplace - because of the organised nature of all Js. They are often also very inspiring leaders and great managers 🤩
As an INFP Mediator this resonates sooooo much! I find it all fascinating and it just goes to show that one size absolutely does not fit all.
These comments are FILLED with NFs (my peeps) - I find it so crazy that our society has fallen into this false idea that we should all be one way - one-size fits all, like you say - it's like thinking all trees should have the same leaves 🙄 - so glad this resonated with you - so important that we connect with people who also don't fit the traditional mould
Very interesting article, thank you. I believe, from the test I did a few years ago, I am an INFJ and Turbulent Advocate. I also found out a few years ago that I am AuDHD and two weeks ago I finally walked away from trying to fit into mainstream work expectations and am now self employed. I actually talk about this and being a multipotentialite (and having a mosaic career) in my latest article. It was a revelation to understand I didn't have to hate work or do it all someone else's way.
Congratulations! Isn't it powerful to understand how we are wired and then to be able to create ways of living and working that work for that wiring?! Ooh I'll go and check out your article x
Thank you! It really is empowering. I'm grateful that my partner is in a position to help and encourage me as well. I'm sad it took 40 odd years to get here but I'm so glad I have.
Think of all the years you have ahead of you - SO many people don't come to this realisation at all!
This is very true!
INFJ here🙋🏻♀️. I took this test a while back and it fits me entirely! I’m also a Scorpio so big contradictions! Lol I used to be a massage therapist which I loved but COVID and arthritis shut me down and now I’m just floating through my days not really knowing what to do next. I feel stuck sometimes. I do a lot of scrapbooking so that helps with my creativity but I can’t seem to make it pay the bills. Lol
Thanks! I’ll check it out😊
I'm a Scorpio too 😍 and actually I think INFJ and Scorpio have a lot of similarities - INFJs go deeeeep and so do Scorpios. Have you seen that I offer a free 5 part video series on career change - it might help you on your journey: https://anotherwaywithselinabarker.substack.com/s/how-to-change-career-mini-series
Thank you for this. Mediator here...just left my 8am-5pm role which I haaaaaaaated!
Ahhhh I have so many Mediator pals 🥰 too sensitive and creative for the 9-5 office world usually!
Thanks for such an interesting read Selina! This totally makes sense to me. When I first joined my organisation there was freedom, autonomy and variety of work and I excelled. But the leadership and culture has become increasingly hierarchical, with very little space for creativity and sooo many layers of bureaucracy and I feel stifled and stagnant. Luckily I’ve found my pathway out and hopefully will turn my side hustle into my full time business soon! I got INFJ-A (Advocate) which really resonates with me.
Very interesting read.. Love this Selina 🥰 I did those personality type tests (the in depth ones) a few years back.. I'll have to see if I can dig out the results... 🤔😄
Ooh yes, I wonder if you are an ENFP too or ENFJ…maybe something totally different!
🤣 I’ll dig it out over the weekend and let you know x
So interesting! I did one of these decades ago when I was in the corporate world, and honestly can't really remember what I was back then. I think it was INTP. This time I've come out as INFJ, which does fit exactly where I am in my life at the moment and how I feel.
Thanks for raising this again. I will now overlay it on top of the other explorations I'm doing to figure out who the heck am I now as I enter my 60s and embark on a new career in psychotherapy!
And it's also useful to look through this lens at my year as it unfolds, with the work I've already done and continue to do with your book 'Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025' which I absolutely LOVE!
Thanks Selina!
I LOVE this! Love that you're going into a new career as you enter your 60s and it's psychotherapy - SO perfect for an INFJ. And yes, working in the corporate world we can find ourselves operating in ways that we feel we have to - rather than playing to our natural strengths. We can also interestingly behave like our personality opposite when under stress. Honestly, I love this topic. And yes, I layer this on top of Enneagram, Wealth Dynamics, Human Design and Astrology 🤗
Fun fact - I took this test when I joined my company 3.5 years ago and I was a Protagonist (turbulent) but now, post baby, I've turned into a Advocate (turbulent).
I think I used to follow routines and systems, while now I go more with the flow and struggle to stick to my todo list. I think a 9-5 is definitely not the best option for me, definitely with having a little one running around, and I'm now spending more time during my day thinking about what could be giving me the flexible schedule I need and money!
Ooh that's interesting - you were likely quite in the middle of Extrovert and Introvert. Protagonist is ENFJ and Advocate is INFJ. Natural introverts can often feel at first that they need to be more extroverted (because we're in an extroverted world) and the older they get the more they start leaning into their natural introverted ways. INFJs going very deep. One of the deepest of all the personality types 🥰 - do you feel you are most like an Advocate?
Love this - I am a guardian (ISFJ) so I can totally see how that has worked to my advantage at work. In fact, my biggest stressor at work is when I get unexpected things thrown my way (which even happens a lot in a 9-5 office job) - I can’t stand it! BUT I do also crave more freedom and flexibility, so maybe the personality type isn’t quite 100% accurate for me (as we’ve discussed!). This is really helpful for me to consider when managing others - to quell the frustrations I feel when they’re not so structured and organised!
It is SO valuable as a manager to understand personality types and how they differ. It's thinking that everyone else is or should be like us that can often cause communication break down and friction. And the best teams have a diverse personality mix. I love this topic so much. And yes, even Guardians crave freedom and flexibilty that office life doesn't always offer. I don't think any human suits being in an office for the majority of their life!
Oh my gosh! This is so timely. I’ve been feeling so out of place and burnt out in my 9-5, but similar sentiments ‘this is just life. No one likes work!’ Are thrown at me. Anyways, we did a personality test at work this week - and of a team of 55, there’s a handful of NP’s and I was the only ENFP. It’s really the catalyst I need to to find something that doesn’t involves timelines, managers and Teams meetings! Just need to find what that is 🙃
Aaaargh the dreaded Teams meetings! I can’t wait to leave those behind when I move on from my current role. 🤣
😂 freedoooom
Oh I love that this post found you! What perfect timing 🤩 one of the beauties of being an ENFP is we can turn our hand to quite a few things. So explore what’s out there and you might find you have a few different options to choose from 🤗
When you DM'd me this link a few months ago I came out as an ENFJ - as you predicted! - and having just gone back to re-read the analysis it is literally me to a T! X
Oh yes I did! So good isn’t it? And actually ENFJs ARE more suited to the workplace - because of the organised nature of all Js. They are often also very inspiring leaders and great managers 🤩
Ooh that's very interesting - thank you! ☺️
Fellow ENFP here 🙋🏼♀️
Whoooooop! 🥳🥳