ENTPs (extraverted, intuitive, thinking, and perceiving) are natural dreamers and debaters, relishing any chance they get to exercise their effortlessly quick wit, wide base of knowledge and ability to prove an effective point. As a result, ENTPs likewise tend to be natural polemics, readily playing the role of devil's advocate to push and test arguments to their limits – not just for the thrill, but to prove to themselves and others that they can. While this can clash with some other, more conflict-averse personality types, their charisma, conversational nature, and ability to deconstruct the obvious, are sought after in business, as well as general problem-solving.
principles
The ENTP is a dreamer, a visionary, appearing a bit scatterbrained at times, a conversationalist, and a rational creator. ENTPs love to be the ones to synthesise the data of others, point to the vision of the future, and let others work to execute that vision. As conversationalists, they are known to play the devil's advocate. This conversational stance may rub others the wrong way, but it's how the ENTP evaluates an idea. What's a more effective way to understand a point than trying to argue against it?
In general, all ENTPs display these traits:
• They are creative visionaries
• They are masters of language and conversation
• They prefer to avoid the details
• They will play the devil's advocate
strengths
e pluribus unum
“Out of many, one.” The ENTP has the innate ability to draw data from several sources and amalgamate them into a cohesive theory that usually explains the 'why' behind an action.
quick-witted
Debate skills, finding points and counterpoints, and enjoying conversation all employ the ENTP to be quick-witted. They usually have a sharp sense of humor and a firm grasp of wordplay.
adaptive
The practice of debate makes most ENTPs adaptable in unexpected circumstances. From their experience creating and countering arguments, they are quick to find solutions that others may miss.
unique
In the famous poem by Robert Frost, "I shall be telling this with a sigh, Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by," it embodies the direction of the ENTP. Rarely satisfied with the tried-and-true path, they will be inclined to make their own way.
weaknesses
argumentative
While the ENTP isn't emotionally charged when they get into a heated debate, often their conversational partner can negatively misinterpret their enthusiasm.
emotionally distant
ENTPs make decisions based on a logical understanding of causal events. Because they are so quick to disregard their own emotions in decision-making, they can be seen as emotionally distant.
non-traditional
Although this is often a benefit, sometimes rules are better followed, and worn paths are such because they are already known to be the most effective. An ENTP may insist upon taking a non-traditional approach, even when the traditional system is the best option because ENTPs prefer to choose their own path.
inattentive
ENTPs like to extrapolate the big vision from the information they take in but instead leave the details to someone else. This penchant for dreaming big can leave them unfocused on some of the more practical matters of their life.
friendships
ENTPs view friendships differently than many other personality types. They don't seek emotional support or loyalty first, but rather the ability to mentally spar to the same degree. The joy for ENTP personality types is exploring ideas by debating for or against them, breaking them down to understand them better, and finding counterpoints to new information. A true friend to the ENTP is someone they can share this experience with and someone they can trust not to take their intellectual rigor personally. After all, the ENTP may be vigorously arguing for a point they don't even believe in.