ESTP Personality Type [Promoter, Ultimate Realist, Thrill-Seeker]

It’s fun to be around people with an ESTP personality type, and, thankfully, ESTPs aren’t very rare — about ten percent of the general population, according to David Keirsey, but other sources cite much lower numbers.

Have you ever wanted to meet someone who makes even going to the grocery store an adventure? Then you should look for an ESTP! ESTPs are witty, clever, and fun — your life will never be dull around them.

Not sure about your personality type? Take this test to get your answer.

ESTPs are particularly socially sophisticated:

• they know how to say the right thing at the right time,
• they are extremely engaging with people,
• they are very attentive,
• they are great at reading other people’s body language and picking on non-verbal cues,
• they know how to persuade others.

Unfortunately, not everything is always great about ESTPs. At their best, ESTPs are fantastic friends and excellent salespeople. At their worst, they are mean manipulators.

Some ESTPs have a tendency to do what works for their goals without worrying whether or not what they do is right. This type of people will typically use their superb people-reading skills to their advantage without considering other people’s interests.

Once again, this doesn’t mean that every ESTP does this; it only means that thanks to their people skills, some ESTPs are capable of taking advantage of others.

Generally, ESTPs are goal-oriented people who look for challenges and like to live on the edge. Because they prefer to focus on the moment, on the here and now, some authors gave them descriptive names that reflect that:

• The Ultimate Realist (Otto Kroeger)
• The Supreme Realist (Brownsword)
• Energetic Problem-Solver (official MBTI site)
• Energetic Promoter (Niednagel)
• Promoter Executor (Linda Berens)
• Promoter (David Keirsey)

Other online names include The Entrepreneur and Persuader.

One may imagine that with their extraordinary abilities, ESTPs must be very successful in their career or their entrepreneurial pursuits. But in reality, the ESTP’s tendency to get distracted often gets in the way, and without proper follow-up, some of their otherwise excellent projects fail.

The ESTP has a huge potential and all the necessary skills to get whatever they want if only they could train themselves to be more persistent and focused.

ESTPs’ four-letter combination means that

• their focus is directed toward people and things (E for extraversion or “extroversion”);
• when gathering information, they tend to use their five senses rather than intuition and imagination (S for sensing);
• they tend to be objective and analytical (T for thinking);
• they are delightfully spontaneous and flexible (P for perceiving).

According to David Keirsey, ESTPs want to be seen as artistic, audacious, and adaptable, which says a lot about them. They want their life to be action-packed and fun; if life gets a little boring, they will stir things up to make it more bearable.

ESTPs like to live on the edge and tend to get involved in many activities, especially sports. Unsurprisingly, they prefer energy-intensive or even extreme sports.

ESTP Learning Style

Many ESTPs aren’t A students because they simply can’t sit still. Pleasing others with good grades has little value to them — first and foremost, ESTPs want to please themselves. Even if the ESTP has all abilities to become an all-A student, they rarely do.

Young ESTPs will usually get a job very quickly because

• they like independence,
• having a job means being active.

ESTP students prefer active learning and have little tolerance for abstract theory or information that can’t be applied immediately. ESTPs are better off studying subjects they like, especially if it offers an immediate payoff.

If ESTP students don’t like the subject, they will get bored quickly. Bored ESTPs end up taking too many breaks and joke-cracking in the class. While those who like structure and organization will find this ESTP behavior disruptive, others will fall in love with their lively spirit.

ESTP in Love, Dating, and Relationships

When it comes to love, different personality types may look for different criteria to decide whether or not their special someone qualifies to be their life partner.

Some types look for someone reliable who also knows how to appreciate traditions. Some others need someone who is intellectually stimulating and shares their interests. Our ESTP friends, however, are looking for playmates. With their extroverted orientation and playful approach to life, they strongly prefer someone they could have fun with and avoid life’s negativity as much as possible.

If we compare the 16 personalities to the four classical personality types, ESTP is equivalent to the sanguine-choleric personality type. It’s an action-oriented type that is poor at tolerating boredom and requires constant stimulation. Unfortunately, they find routine boring, and the ESTP’s idea of dealing with boredom in relationships is to either surprise their partners with something extravagant (such as a second honeymoon) or to have an affair.

Generally, the ESTP doesn’t rush to commit to one person, and their love is usually far from unconditional. Being trapped in a boring marriage is one of the ESTP’s worst nightmares, and they will evaluate potential candidates very carefully before committing. If the ESTP can clearly see reasons to commit, they will be a very captivating partner, bringing fun and surprise to the relationship.

More: ESTP Relationships: Looking for a Playmate

How to Get an ESTP Like You

To appeal to an ESTP, you need to be perceived as someone fun to be with. They tend to avoid very conservative or hesitant types. You need to demonstrate your sense of humor and some flexibility when it comes to activities you do together.

Another important point is that you should never allow to let them feel you are too easy. It means you need to have your own opinions and, perhaps, not always accept every crazy idea your ESTP throws at you.

Stay busy with other things and interests; if you aren’t, pretend that you are! Don’t take it too far but make sure to show your ESTP partner that you are an exciting and independent person with a life of your own. (Learn more about relationship games people play here.)

ESTP Decision-Making Style

When making a decision, the ESTP needs to remember that there might be options that aren’t immediately obvious and take time to look into them.

Generally, the ESTP is good at gathering and logically processing all necessary information for effective decision-making. Even better, they will remember to consider the impact their decisions have on other people.

However, the ESTP doesn’t like to overanalyze things and, similarly to the ENTJ, will intentionally limit the time spent reflecting on a decision.

Best Work Setting for ESTPs

Ideally, ESTPs want to work in a flexible work environment. Too much pressure and excessive control hinder ESTPs’ productivity; people with this personality type do their best work in a results-oriented environment where problems are solved in a practical way. ESTPs hate bureaucracy and will only last for a while in organizations with excessively complicated administrative procedures.

Leadership Style

ESTPs make direct and proactive leaders. Thanks to their sense of urgency, they deal with problems quickly and move on quickly. Leaders with an ESTP personality type want fast, measurable results — they will not waste time on meetings where people discuss different theoretical possibilities.

Typically when faced with a problem, the ESTP will identify the underlying issue (the root cause), request feedback from other team members, then make an optimal decision.

One trait that separates ESTP leaders from others is that they want their subordinates to enjoy their work and will attempt to find ways to make it happen.

Random Facts About ESTPs

Seeking external stimulation is ESTPs’ way of dealing with problems and frustrations; they will play games, read books, socialize, and travel — anything to keep their mind off the issues they can’t solve.

• The ESTP is very physically-driven and is likely to be athletic.
• The ESTP likes to be the center of attention and sometimes resorts to grand gestures to feel popular.
• The ESTP sometimes acts before thinking.
• The ESTP prefers hands-on experience to theory.
• The ESTP is adventurous and spontaneous.
• People with an ESTP personality type tend to love luxury and appreciate the finer things in life.
• Although ESTPs are very action-oriented, they rarely follow a real plan and makeup things as they go instead.
• Because ESTPs tend to seek adventure and new experiences, they often appear immature to others, which is not necessarily true. In fact, ESTPs can be very wise. They are very aware of the fact that how we spend our days is how we spend our lives. This thought gives them their characteristic sense of urgency, which in turn, drives their lives.
• ESTPs can get bored very quickly — if you sense that the ESTP is becoming too quiet or restless during a conversation, it’s time for you to excuse yourself unless you want to be avoided in the future.
• It’s not that ESTPs have no respect for rules — they do; the issue is that they see the rules as guidelines and recommendations rather than mandates.
• Men and women with ESTP personality types tend to start many projects, but only a few are followed through to completion.
• ESTPs are natural risk-takers.
• Because ESTPs can’t sit still and always look for something to do, they are often labeled as hyperactive.
• Because of their love for sports, ESTP girls are sometimes labeled as “tomboys.”
• ESTP’s lifestyle is restless — too many things are going on, too little time; if there isn’t enough to do, the ESTP will look for new challenges — perhaps learn a new language or acquire a new skill.

ESTP Jobs

• Actor
• Air Traffic Controller
• Airline Pilot
• Artisan
• Athlete
• Auditor
• Biologist
• Broker
• Budget Analyst
• Building Inspector
• Carpenter
• Chef
• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief Information Officer
• Chiropractor
• Civil Engineer
• Coach
• Cook
• Corrections Officer
• Cost Estimator
• Craft Worker
• Craftsperson
• Engineer
• Entrepreneur
• Exercise Physiologist
• Factory Supervisor
• Farmer
• Financial Advisor
• Financial Planner
• Firefighter
• Fitness Instructor
• Flight Attendant
• Flight Engineer
• Forester
• General Contractor
• Government
• Health Technologist
• Hotel Manager
• Insurance Agent
• Insurance Sales Person
• Investigator
• Investor
• Land Developer
• Landscape Architect
• Manager
• Marketing Professional
• Mechanic
• Mechanical Engineer
• Military Officer
• Paramedic
• Performer
• Photographer
• Physical Therapist
• Pilot
• Police Officer
• Promoter
• Property Manager
• Real Estate Broker
• Reporter
• Respiratory Therapist
• Restaurateur
• Sales Engineer
• Sales Manager
• Service Worker
• Surveyor
• Tour Agent
• Transportation Worker

Famous ESTP People

Otto Kroeger in his book “Type Talk” said that the following famous people are likely to belong to ESTP personality type:

• Lee Iaococca
• General George Patton
• Jim McMahon from Chicago Bears

As for fictional characters, he mentioned Peppermint Patty from “Peanuts”.

Related Posts:

• INFP Personality Type [Healer, Idealist, Dreamer, Harmonizer, Seeker]
• ENTJ Personality Type [The Fieldmarshal]
• INFJ Personality Type [The Counselor]
• INTP Personality Type [The Architect]
• INTJ Personality Type [The Mastermind]