My Personality Type: ESFJ
My personality type was defined as ESFJ by the Myers-Briggs test. Extraversion, sensing, feeling, and judgement are characteristics of the ESFJ personality type. ESFJ can have an impact on health leadership in both positive and bad ways. ESFJ leaders are both facilitative and charismatic (ISTJ leadership, n.d.). They are gregarious, warm, lively, and task-driven, and thus create a wonderful balance of people and work. Furthermore, these leaders not only evaluate the goals and tasks that must be completed, but they also actively participate in such work with other team members. They also demonstrate dedication, perseverance, and contention. In a healthcare environment, the ESFJ creates a good personal relationship between leaders and other nurses and motivate them to offer quality services to patients (Kennedy, Curtis & Waters, 2014).
ESFJ Leaders: High Discipline and Visionary
Furthermore, ESFJ leaders have high discipline and visionary in achieving goals. They focus on the task before them and do not allow other issues to distract them. The personality would be vital in a healthcare setting because the environment requires individuals who are not distracted by other problems as patients' lives take priorities at all times. Besides, they set their vision in clear and precise steps and present these goals to the team in language understandable to them. Such clear and unambiguous communication of objectives is vital in accomplishing a goal is health environment (Plonien, 2015).
Responsibility and Delegation
ESFJ personality calls for one to be responsible. Therefore, it would enable a leader to identify problems in a health setting and develop a strategic plan for handling them (ESFJ, n.d.). Such quality would also motivate a healthcare leader to delegate the task to other nurses and physicians (ISTJ leadership, n.d.). Through such delegation, the health practitioners would feel the same sense of responsibility and work towards the accomplishment of organizational goals (Plonien, 2015).
Caring and Proactive ESFJ Leaders
Furthermore, ESFJs are caring, proactive and encouraging, and actively engage themselves in their team areas of operation to meet the organizational needs. The personality makes one a servant leader who acts swiftly to help team members solve a crisis. In a healthcare setting, the crisis is frequent due to various patient complications. This crisis may put pressure on nurses (Jo-Ann McPhail, 2002). Therefore, a servant leader is necessary to assist the physicians in handling these situations well.
Emotional Quality and Sense of Caretaking
ESFJ personality calls for leaders to significantly employ their emotions in dealing with the task. Emotional quality can be vital in a healthcare setting because it motivates one to show empathy and mercy toward patients and therefore provide quick and quality care. Also, ESJ personality creates a sense of caretaking, allowing leaders to sense the danger that surrounds them. They believe that the world is a dangerous place that requires constant caution. This character would help a nurse manager to take every step to protect patients from any potentially harmful situations (Kennedy et al., 2014).
Adverse Effects of ESFJ Leadership
ESFJ personality for a nurse leader may also have adverse effects in a healthcare setting. Being task-oriented, a leader may demand high standards from other physicians, and this may lead to micromanagement. Besides, setting high standards makes the team members have resentments and unhappiness, particularly nurses who desire to be independent (ISTJ leadership, n.d.). Furthermore, ESFJ leaders may not distinguish efficient and effective. Most of these leaders may be active in completing the task at hand but may not be able to prioritize and strategize with the task before them. They may fail in priorities and strategies because they always do not have a long-term plan for handling jobs before them but rather embrace practical and immediate plans. Besides, ESFJ personality may not allow a new way of handling the task but may prefer status-quo. As such, they may inhibit creativity and any suggestion for the improvement of the health environment (Kennedy et al., 2014).
ESFJ Aspects from Myers and Briggs Test
The score of ESFJ aspects from the Myers and Briggs test includes Extravert (51%), Sensing (20%), Feeling (28%), and Judgment (16%). The test indicates that I am an extrovert at 51%. This aspect shows that I tend to focus on interacting with others more than thinking things through. The score also means that I would prefer socializing with others in clubs, churches, and ceremonies more than being alone (ESFJ, n.d.). Besides, I tend to follow the traditional way of handling issues from other authority rather than developing new ways of doing things.
Furthermore, I have a high sense of what is right and wrong, as indicated by a score of 20%. I tend to perceive sensing facts rather than new possibilities. I would evaluate persons and activities as either normal or abnormal (Mueller, 2017). I would be more compelled with a sense of responsibility toward others' needs and try to get involved in issues affecting others with the intention of coming up with solutions.
The test also indicates that I have a feeling of 28%. This aspect shows that I make decisions based on subjective values more than using objective logic (ESFJ, n.d.). I tend to make decisions that are guided by the personal or social situation more than those guided by the logics. I also like to remain dutiful and practical in caring for others.
Still, the Myers and Biggs indicate that I have a judgmental attitude of 16%. I tend to enjoy an organized or planned life rather than flexible lifestyle (Mueller, 2017). I would want to act according to my plan and do not appreciate adjustment or flexibility of the original plan. I would also feel uncomfortable in disorganized environments. Besides, the score shows that I enjoy routine and keep a regular schedule in line work.
References
ESFJ. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality/esfj
ISTJ leadership (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.personality-central.com/ESFJ-leadership.html
Jo-Ann McPhail, K. (2002). The nursing profession, personality types, and leadership. Leadership in Health Services, 15(1), 7-10.
Kennedy, B., Curtis, K., & Waters, D. (2014). Is there a relationship between personality and choice of nursing specialty: an integrative literature review? BMC Nursing, 13(1), 40.
Mueller, S. (2017, January 21). The ESFJ Personality Type Explained. Retrieved March 17, 2017, from http://www.planetofsuccess.com/blog/2017/esfj-personality-type/
Plonien, C. (2015). Using Personality Indicators to Enhance Nurse Leader Communication. Association of Operating Room Nurses. AORN Journal, 102(1), 74.
