The Unique Energy of Every Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

Have you ever noticed how different people exude different types of energy? Some individuals appear open and ready for anything, while others have a commanding, in-charge aura. Today we’re going to take a look at the different energy styles of each of the 16 Myers-Briggs types. The background research for my article comes from the work of leading type theorist Linda Berens, Ph.D., She founded the Temperament Research Institute and has discovered numerous links between interaction styles and personality type. You can find out more about Linda Berens (and take one of her certification programs) here.

Not sure what your personality type is? Take our personality questionnaire!

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Want to learn more about these personality types and interaction styles?
Check out Linda Berens’s books:
Understanding Yourself and Others – An Introduction to Interaction Styles
Understanding Yourself and Others: An Introduction to the Four Temperaments
Interaction Essentials: 3 Proven Strategies to Remove Communication Barriers

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

The Unique Energy of Every Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

INFJs, INTJs, ISTJs, and ISTPs – Focused Energy

There’s a very concentrated, observant energy surrounding these four personality types. Their minds always appear to be zoomed-in on something that only they can see. Like they’re solving a puzzle, calculating five moves ahead, preparing the ultimate plan. That’s the energy we’re talking about here.

These four types operate with a kind of internal precision. Their brains are constantly scanning for the best path forward—whether that means strategically mapping out a plan, troubleshooting a problem, or mentally running simulations of what might go wrong.

They don’t do guesswork. They think before they act, and once they act, they’re already ten steps ahead.

They’re not fans of:

• Loud noises
• Small talk
• Neon lighting
• People breathing down their necks

ISTPs will tolerate more sensory chaos (and sometimes even invite it), but even they have a breaking point. These types crave space, both physical and mental. Hover too close or start monologuing about your weekend plans and you might feel the chill.

Summing Up Focused Energy Types:

• Always trying to anticipate and prepare
• Masters of the long game
• Need things to move with method and purpose
• Appear calm, but mentally intense
• See the end result before they even begin
• Break big goals into bite-sized benchmarks
• Live more in the internal world than the external one
• Need alone time like oxygen
• Comfortable working quietly next to others, no forced chatter
• Hate being rushed
• Can’t stand wishy-washy plans or unclear leadership
• Usually very confident in their logic
• Can come off bossy under pressure (because you’re doing it wrong)
• Always thinking, always moving toward a goal

Unique Differences and Skills Among These Types:

INFJs – Gift: Foresight
INFJs don’t just see where things are going—they see who you could become if someone actually believed in you. They’re like long-range life coaches who also moonlight as emotional support Jedi. They spot potential, chart a course, and quietly nudge you toward becoming your best self. Think wise counselor meets visionary strategist.
Linda Berens calls them: Foreseer Developers
Fictional INFJs:

• Plutarch Heavensbee (The Hunger Games)
• Remus Lupin (Harry Potter)
• Atticus Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird)
• Louise Banks (Arrival)

INTJs – Gift: Strategy
INTJs aren’t trying to win today. They’re planning five years from now, with backups for every possible outcome. They don’t just see patterns—they build new ones. Efficient, visionary, and borderline allergic to stupidity, they lead by competence and quiet certainty.
Linda Berens calls them: Conceptualizer Directors
Fictional INTJs:

• Viktor (Arcane)
• Thranduil (The Hobbit)
• Elrond (The Lord of the Rings)
• Lisbeth Salander (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)

ISTJs – Gift: Logistics
ISTJs bring order to chaos. Their superpower is the ability to break complex goals into step-by-step timelines, complete with checklists and contingency plans. You’ll rarely (if ever) see them panic—they’ve already considered the worst-case scenario and built a bridge over it.
Linda Berens calls them: Planner Inspectors
Fictional ISTJs:

• Bill Tench (Mindhunter)
• Dr. Alan Grant (Jurassic Park)
• Eddard Stark (Game of Thrones)
• John Bates (Downton Abbey)

ISTPs – Gift: Tactics
Need a calm, laser-focused human to defuse a metaphorical (or literal) bomb? That’s your ISTP. They don’t get flustered—they get moving. Hands-on, cool-headed, and resourceful, they can MacGyver their way out of just about anything.
Linda Berens calls them: Analyzer Operators
Fictional ISTPs:

• Geralt of Rivia (The Witcher)
• Jason Bourne (The Bourne Identity)
• John Wick
• Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow)

Read These Next:

Here’s Why INFJs and INTJs Seem “Intense”

ISTP Personality Profile

10 Things You’ll Relate to if You’re an ISTJ

INFPs, ISFPs, INTPs, ISFJs – Open Energy

These four personality types have an easy-going, insightful energy about them. They appear to be absorbing more and more data, remaining open for as long as possible. They believe that the more information they integrate the more likely they will be to get the best result.

There’s a kind of gentle, soaking-in-the-world energy to them. They listen. They reflect. They take their time—not because they’re slow, but because they want to get it right.

They’re allergic to being rushed. Or talked over. Or told “just make a decision already.” They need calm spaces, unhurried conversations, and people who know how to pause before responding.

They don’t bark orders. They ask questions.
They don’t make noise. They make clarity.

Snapshot: Traits of the Open Energy Types

• Prefer the internal world over the external one
• Need time to process before replying (don’t poke the introvert bear)
• Patient, gentle, and deep thinkers
• Absolutely not built for rapid-fire deadlines
• Integrate information like mental puzzles — every piece matters
• Conflict—whether between ideas or people—is deeply uncomfortable
• Will wait for the best result rather than rushing to the fastest
• Often underestimated because they’re quiet
• Driven to make things meaningful and high-quality
• Like control over their projects (but not in a bossy way—more like “please don’t wreck my vibe”)
• Will bristle if micromanaged
• May come off as indecisive because they’re weighing everything
• Share information to guide, not to command

Unique Differences and Skills Among These Types:

INFPs – INFP – The Value Whisperer

Gift: Clarifying values
INFPs are like emotional archeologists. They dig beneath surface-level goals to ask, “Yeah, but what really matters here?” They often become the quiet conscience of a group, gently steering people back to their ideals. Their imagination makes them innovative, and their encouragement hits you right in the heart.
Linda Berens calls them: Harmonizer Clarifiers
Fictional INFPs:

• Romeo Montague (Romeo and Juliet)
• Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
• Frodo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings)
• Newt Scamander (Fantastic Beasts)

ISFPs – Gift: Creative integration
ISFPs don’t just make things—they infuse them with meaning. Whether it’s a song, a meal, or a perfectly timed moment of kindness, it’s got their signature all over it. They merge values and aesthetics, emotion and instinct, into expressions of the inner world. Quiet rebels with style.
Linda Berens calls them: Composer Producers
Fictional ISFPs:

• Rose Dewitt Bukater (Titanic)
• Claire Fraser (Outlander)
• Cinna (The Hunger Games)
• Jon Snow (Game of Thrones)

INTPs – Gift: Theory-building
INTPs are mental tinkerers who take apart abstract ideas and rebuild them into sleeker, smarter models. They don’t just ask why — they ask why not, what if, and have you considered this weird loophole? Then they disappear into a notebook for four hours. They bring logic without ego and clarity without fuss.
Linda Berens calls them: Designer Theorizers
Fictional INTPs:

• Meg Murry (A Wrinkle in Time)
• Hiccup (How to Train Your Dragon)
• Matilda (Matilda)
• Neo (The Matrix)
• Arthur Weasley (Harry Potter)

ISFJs – Gift: Steadfast support
ISFJs are your reliable, detail-soaking, quietly heroic types. They notice the thing you forgot, pack the snack you didn’t realize you needed, and warn you about the pothole before you hit it. There’s a fierce protectiveness under that soft exterior, and a deep reverence for loyalty, tradition, and taking care of people.
Linda Berens calls them: Protector Supporters
Fictional ISFJs:

• Charlie Bucket (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
• Samwise Gamgee (The Lord of the Rings)
• Steve Rogers / Captain America
• Dr. John Watson (Sherlock)
• Meg March (Little Women)

Read These Next:

Here’s Why INFPs and INTPs Get Misunderstood

ISFP Personality Profile

ISFJ Personality Profile

ENFJs, ESTJs, ENTJs, ESTPs – Determined Energy

These types walk like they’ve got somewhere important to be—and honestly, they probably do. They radiate urgency, purpose, and a very specific kind of do not waste my time energy. They aren’t interested in meandering through possibilities—they want action, efficiency, results. Yesterday, if possible.

Linda Berens says, “If you think about how you walk when you are a little bit late and you are determined to get somewhere on time, then you know what determined energy feels like.”

These folks move fast, think fast, decide fast.
They lead. They push. They build momentum.
And if you’re dithering, they will 100% start without you.

Summing Up Determined Energy Types:

• Have a restless need to accomplish things
• Hate sitting still when there’s work to do
• Move at a pace that can feel like whiplash to others
• Will choose action over perfection every time
• Indecision gives them hives
• Exude presence—like they know what they’re doing (and they usually do)
• Often socially dynamic and persuasive
• Love creating a vision and getting people on board
• Natural coaches, teachers, and motivators
• Can be a bit controlling when things slow down
• Live more in the external world than the internal one
• Tend to initiate conversations (and agendas)
• Hate silence when it’s not intentional
• Crave feedback, results, and forward motion

Unique Differences and Skills Among These Types:

ENFJs – Gift: Mentoring
ENFJs don’t just want to lead people—they want to grow them. They see your potential before you do, and then create a plan to help you reach it. They’re the warmest in this group, using empathy and insight to guide, connect, and inspire. Their authenticity is magnetic. You follow them because you trust them.
Linda Berens calls them: Envisioner Mentors
Fictional ENFJs:

• Professor X (X-Men)
• Margaery Tyrell (Game of Thrones)
• Mufasa (The Lion King)
• Morpheus (The Matrix)
• Wonder Woman (Diana Prince)

ESTJs – Gift: Management
ESTJs are logistical machines. They break down big goals into manageable steps and make sure everyone is on track. They’re not flashy—they’re reliable, decisive, and focused. You want them in charge when it’s crunch time. They execute plans with ruthless efficiency.
Linda Berens calls them: Implementor Supervisors
Fictional ESTJs:

• Peter Pevensie (Chronicles of Narnia)
• Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)
• Mary Poppins
• Leia Organa (Star Wars)

ENTJs – Gift: Planning & Mobilizing
ENTJs see the big picture, build the systems, and rally the troops. They’re the long-range visionaries who still manage to get stuff done now. They don’t just organize people—they optimize them. If something’s broken, they fix it. If it’s inefficient, they rebuild it. Strategy is their love language.
Linda Berens calls them: Strategist Mobilizers
Fictional ENTJs:

• Frank Underwood (House of Cards)
• Tywin Lannister (Game of Thrones)
• Number Five (The Umbrella Academy)
• Harvey Specter (Suits)

ESTPs – Gift: Execution
ESTPs are adrenaline in human form. Fast on their feet, sharp with their words, and clever even in a crisis, they tackle challenges in real-time with laser focus. They don’t theorize—they act. Friendly, bold, and resourceful, they lead by doing and expect others to keep up.
Linda Berens calls them: Promoter Executors
Fictional ESTPs:

• Bigwig (Watership Down)
• Jamie Lannister (Game of Thrones)
• Merida (Brave)
• Arthur Curry / Aquaman
• Joanna Mason (The Hunger Games)

Find out more about these types here: Here’s What ENFJs, ENTJs, ESTJs and ESTPs Have in Common

ENFPs, ESFJs, ESFPs, and ENTPs – Engaging Energy

You know those people who can light up a room, spark a conversation out of thin air, and somehow convince you that cleaning out the garage is a grand adventure? That’s engaging energy.

These four types are masters at getting people involved. They radiate curiosity, charisma, and just the right amount of chaos. They don’t want to just do something—they want to do it with you. Together. Preferably with snacks and at least one spontaneous brainstorm along the way.

They feel that there’s an urgent need to be integrated into what’s happening around them, and they feel that each individual deserves a voice. They are strong negotiators, presenters, and persuaders. Communication with these types involves a lot of humor and curiosity, eye contact, hand gestures, and physical openness.

Summing Up the Engaging Energy Personality Types:

• Pull people into projects like it’s a party
• Stir up motivation like it’s their job (it kind of is)
• Build momentum through dynamic social energy
• Usually animated, expressive, and maybe slightly caffeinated
• Make hard things feel easier for everyone else
• Love options, ideas, and “what if?” scenarios
• Charm you into caring about their vision
• Track progress through mini-goals and milestones
• Tend to focus outward before going inward
• Thrive on a fast, active pace
• Leap into action before overthinking it
• Initiate conversations like pros
• Inspire more than command
• Get twitchy without regular communication
• Hate being micromanaged
• Want everyone to buy in, not just obey

Unique Differences and Skills Among These Types:

ENFPs – Gift: Envisioning & Inspiring
ENFPs have a sixth sense for motivation. They see people—what lights them up, what holds them back—and they use that insight to launch wild, imaginative ideas that make others feel alive. Brainstorms are their love language. They make you want to do more, be more, dream bigger.
Linda Berens calls them: Discoverer Advocates
Fictional ENFPs:

• Barley Lightfoot (Onward)
• Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables)
• Jo March (Little Women)
• John Keating (Dead Poets Society)

ESFJs – Gift: Facilitating
ESFJs are the social glue that holds a team together. They notice who needs what, when, and how—then make sure it happens. They explain things clearly, cheer you on, and keep the train running on time. Think hospitality meets leadership with a side of checklist wizardry.
Linda Berens calls them: Facilitator Caretakers
Fictional ESFJs:

• Kanga (Winnie the Pooh)
• Margaret Hale (North and South)
• Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit)
• Anna Smith (Downton Abbey)

ESFPs – Gift: Motivating
ESFPs walk into a room and instantly raise the vibe. They don’t just talk—you feel them. They lead by example, inspire with action, and show people how to enjoy life while crushing goals. Bonus: they’re calm in a crisis and know how to teach through doing.
Linda Berens calls them: Motivator Presenters
Fictional ESFPs:

• Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
• Finnick Odair (The Hunger Games)
• Steve Harrington (Stranger Things)
• Fred (A Christmas Carol)

ENTPs – Gift: Innovating
ENTPs are the logic-powered mavericks in this group. They push boundaries, ask sharp questions, and stir up excitement around big, offbeat ideas. Collaboration is their playground. They want minds to move, systems to shift, and people to wake up and think differently.
Linda Berens calls them: Explorer Inventors
Fictional ENTPs:

• Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
• Tony Stark (Iron Man)
• Fred & George Weasley (Harry Potter)
• Dustin Henderson (Stranger Things)
• Jeff Winger (Community)

Find out more about these types here:
10 Things You’ll Relate to if You’re an ENFP

7 Ways That ESFPs Make an Impact

ENTP Personality Profile

10 Stress-Busting Tips for ESFJs

What Are Your Thoughts?

Do you have any input or insight to share? Let us (and other readers) know in the comments!

Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type,  The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!

Want to learn more about these personality types and interaction styles?
Check out Linda Berens’s books:
Understanding Yourself and Others – An Introduction to Interaction Styles
Understanding Yourself and Others: An Introduction to the Four Temperaments
Interaction Essentials: 3 Proven Strategies to Remove Communication Barriers