If you’re reading this post, there’s a high chance that you’re trying to work out if you’re an INFJ vs. ENFJ personality type. These two types are sometimes confused because they share a number of characteristics. Both types are idealistic, empathetic, and creative. They are also deep thinkers who value close, intimate connections.
But there are also some core differences between how these types think and experience the world. In this post, we explore these differences. If you’re unclear about your type, we hope this helps you.
So here are five differences between the INFJ vs. ENFJ personality types:
1. Communication style.
INFJs and ENFJs are both caring and empathetic in the way they communicate. While both have strong opinions and stand up for what they believe in, ENFJs tend to be more outspoken than INFJs.
INFJs tend to speak in a soft voice, and they come across as gentle. They listen more than they talk, and they sometimes drift off because they get caught up in their thoughts. When having a conversation, INFJs will likely use subtle gestures.
In general, INFJs will keep their thoughts to themselves when they first meet people. Nonetheless, they are genuinely interested in others, and as a result, INFJs are some of the best listeners out there. INFJs can need time to collect their thoughts, and they might not always respond in the moment.
On the other hand, ENFJs tend to be louder when talking. They come across as energetic and enthusiastic. ENFJs often use broad gestures to communicate their thoughts, and they tend to be comfortable initiating conversations, certainly more so than INFJs.
In addition, ENFJs are generally more comfortable with eye contact. They come across as warm and open. ENFJs often clarify their thoughts by talking things through, which means their opinions may change quite literally as they are speaking. They may restate their thoughts and will often seek input from others.
2. Making decisions.
INFJs and ENFJs both make decisions based on how their actions will impact other people. This is because they are naturally attuned to other people’s emotions, and this makes them exceptionally thoughtful.
INFJs tend to take more time to make a decision. Essentially, they need to run each decision through their inner framework and carefully weigh up the pros and cons before coming to a conclusion.
In addition, they like to take time to analyze exactly how their decision will affect other people. This is because INFJs are very in tune with other people’s feelings, and they strive for harmony in the outer world. Luckily, they are exceptionally talented at predicting how events will play out.
ENFJs are more likely to make a decision based on what feels most natural in the moment. They make choices based on criteria similar to INFJs, but they are usually quicker to come to a conclusion about how they want to move forward.
This is because they feel less of a need to process their thoughts internally compared to INFJs. That’s not to say that ENFJs don’t think deeply. However, at times, ENFJs can be impulsive. INFJs can make rash decisions, too, but it’s a rare occurrence.
3. Friendships.
Both INFJs and ENFJs value deep, meaningful connections. But they tend to thrive in different situations. INFJs feel most comfortable in intimate settings with a small number of people, whereas ENFJs need to engage with others more frequently in order to feel their happiest.
INFJs prefer one-on-one interactions with people. Meeting a friend for a quiet coffee or going for a walk with them in the park suits an INFJ perfectly. They need more alone time, too, and can find large groups overwhelming.
This extends to the way they work. INFJs often prefer to work alone and they can find busy offices distracting, especially if they need to concentrate.
It’s fairly rare for INFJs to strike up conversations with strangers, and they will often have a small group of close friends.
ENFJs enjoy group interactions more than INFJs. They appreciate deep connections just as much, but they feel more energized from being in a bigger group.
If an ENFJ spends the evening chatting with a group of friends over dinner, they’ll come away feeling motivated and full of enthusiasm. ENFJs feel most comfortable working with other people, and they enjoy collaborating.
In addition, ENFJs are more likely than INFJs to initiate a conversation with people that they don’t know, and they tend to have larger social circles.
4. Openness.
Even though it can take time for both types to truly open up, ENFJs are more open than INFJs. This is especially the case when it comes to sharing their everyday lives.
INFJs are particularly difficult to get to know. They can certainly hold a conversation when they want to, but they don’t usually give much away, particularly when you first meet them.
It might almost seem like they are guarding their thoughts and feelings. INFJs are private, which means they are careful to decide who they let into their inner world.
They aren’t necessarily shy; it’s more that they prefer to avoid spending time and energy talking about things that they don’t see as valuable or interesting.
ENFJs tend to be more open. They are less cautious about what they choose to give away about themselves. Of course, it takes time to build trust with ENFJs, more so than you might think, which means they won’t be sharing their deepest, darkest secrets with you right away.
But they are more willing to talk about what’s going on in their life, how their work is going, their current passions, etc. This means that it’s easier to get to know an ENFJ, at least to a certain level.
5. Solitude.
INFJs need more alone time than ENFJs because they are more sensitive to external stimuli, such as noise and bright lights.
While INFJs value deep connections, they recharge in solitude. Socializing, particularly with large groups or in loud places, can be exhausting for INFJs. They can start to feel drained quite quickly. If they don’t get enough alone time, they tend to become irritable and restless.
ENFJs tend to spend more time with people and interacting with the world than INFJs. However, it’s worth noting that ENFJs need alone time too. Ultimately, every type needs a balance.
The main difference is that they are able to spend much longer without alone time than INFJs.
Up until a point, they draw energy from social settings, particularly if the situation involves a group of close friends happily discussing deep topics with enthusiasm.
INFJ vs. ENFJ frequently asked questions
So now we have explained the key differences between the INFJ vs. ENFJ personality types. Even for those who have explored personality types in depth, it can still be hard to tell the difference between these two types.
Let’s now look at some frequently asked questions about each personality to help make it clearer for you.
Are INFJs vs. ENFJs more thoughtful?
Both types are highly intuitive and natural empaths, so they tend to be very attuned to the needs of others. ENFJs and INFJs are driven by a deep desire to make people happy.
INFJs are more introspective and analytical than ENFJs. They’re always looking for hidden meanings and considering all the possible implications of their actions. This can sometimes make them seem overly cautious or even indecisive, but it also allows them to see things from multiple perspectives, which helps them to gauge other people’s needs.
ENFJs, on the other hand, are more likely to follow their gut instinct and go with their first impulse. While this can lead to impulsive decisions, it can also result in quick, decisive action when it’s needed.
Ultimately, both types are kind and thoughtful in their own way. INFJs carefully consider how to bring harmony and positivity to people’s lives, while ENFJs are more likely to take action quickly to make others happy.
Are INFJs vs. ENFJs more emotional?
INFJs and ENFJs are two of the most emotional personality types. In a recent So Syncd poll, over 90% of both types said that they are in touch with their emotions. After all, both personality types have a preference for intuition, feeling, and judging.
INFJs tend to be more private with their emotions and may not share them as openly as ENFJs. Additionally, INFJs may be more likely to internalize their emotions and may seem calm on the surface even when they’re feeling overwhelmed inside.
On the other hand, ENFJs are usually more expressive with their emotions and tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves. They aren’t afraid of emotions. In fact, they see them as a valuable way to connect with others and build relationships. ENFJs are naturally drawn to people and want to build deep, meaningful connections. They feel that emotions are a vital part of who we are and that hiding them only creates distance.
In summary, both INFJs and ENFJs are equally emotional, but ENFJs are more likely to express their feelings, while INFJs tend to be more guarded.
Are INFJs vs. ENFJs more imaginative?
When it comes to imagination, both INFJs and ENFJs tend to excel. These two personality types are often drawn to creative fields, such as writing, art, and music. They are both highly intuitive and are constantly inspired by the world around them.
Some might say that INFJs are more imaginative because they spend more time reflecting and they have a very rich inner life. INFJs are also more likely to spend time daydreaming and exploring their inner world. This allows them to come up with creative solutions, but it might take them some time.
Some people might say that ENFJs are more imaginative because they’re always coming up with new ideas and thinking outside the box. ENFJs are more likely to be drawn to outside stimulation. They are constantly seeking new social experiences and love to find new ways of connecting with others. ENFJs are one of the personality types that are most likely to describe themselves as musical.
Ultimately, INFJs are more imaginative in terms of being in their heads, while ENFJs are more likely to bring their imagination to the real world.
Final thoughts on INFJ vs. ENFJ differences
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our individual INFJ and ENFJ posts, which delve deeper into each personality type. Last but not least, you might also like our post about INFJ vs. INFP differences.
