May 20, 2026 • Written by Rich McNabb • Proofread & Edited by Claude AI
A look at how my 16 Personalities ENFJ result, CliftonStrengths top 10, and neurodivergent thinking all point to the same thing: someone wired to solve complex problems and lead with purpose.
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Personality tests are one of those things hiring managers and collaborators love to ask about. Rather than hunting through old emails every time, I figured I’d put it all in one place.
I completed the 16 Personalities test back in 2019 and the CliftonStrengths assessment in 2024. Five years apart, two different frameworks, and honestly pretty consistent results.
ENFJ stands for Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging. The 16 Personalities description frames it well: ENFJs are inspiring optimists who feel called to do the right thing, even when it’s hard.
A few things that ring true for me: I genuinely enjoy helping people grow, I lead with empathy before logic, and I find it hard to stay quiet when something feels off. I care deeply about the people I work with and the quality of the work we produce together.
CliftonStrengths is a strengths assessment developed by Gallup, based on decades of research into human potential. Unlike personality tests, it doesn’t put you in a box or tell you how you behave. Instead it identifies your natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and doing. The things you do instinctively and consistently well.
I completed the assessment in 2024 and my results came back heavily weighted in Strategic Thinking, which anyone who has worked with me for more than five minutes would probably recognise. There are 34 strengths themes in total, grouped into four domains: Strategic Thinking, Executing, Relationship Building, and Influencing. My top ten came back as:
1. Futuristic
I’m wired to think ahead. I’m energised by possibilities and often see the potential in something before others do.
2. Learner
The process of learning excites me more than the outcome. I’m always looking for ways to improve and go deeper.
3. Strategic
I naturally spot patterns and find routes through complexity. I tend to see the path before I can fully explain it.
4. Intellection
I need time to think. Some of my best ideas come from quiet reflection rather than a whiteboard session.
5. Relator
I do my best work with people I trust. I value deep, genuine working relationships over surface-level networking.
6. Restorative
I’m drawn to problems others avoid. I get genuine satisfaction from diagnosing what’s broken and finding a way to fix it.
7. Responsibility
If I say I’ll do something, it’s done. I take ownership seriously and hold myself to a high standard, even when no one is watching.
8. Consistency
I believe in fairness and clear expectations. I work best in environments where everyone knows the rules and is treated the same way.
9. Individualisation
I notice what makes people tick. I naturally adapt how I work and communicate based on the person in front of me.
10. Adaptability
I’m comfortable with uncertainty. When plans change or things go sideways, I adjust quickly and keep moving forward.
Put them together and a picture emerges: someone who thinks in systems, leads with care, and does their best work in a team that trusts each other. The Futuristic and Strategic strengths pair well with the ENFJ drive to take action on a clear vision. The Relator and Learner strengths explain why I thrive in collaborative environments where people are invested in the work and each other.
There’s one more layer worth adding. I’m a dyslexic thinker. ADHD and dyslexia are part of how I’m wired, and they show up in the work in ways I wouldn’t trade.
The dyslexia gives me pattern recognition and big-picture thinking. The ADHD brings hyperfocus, curiosity, and the ability to adapt fast. Put that alongside a Futuristic and Strategic top two in CliftonStrengths, and an ENFJ drive to lead with purpose, and you start to see why I’m drawn to complex problems with no obvious answer.
I’ve always seen things from a different perspective. It took me a while to recognise that as a strength. Now it’s the thing I lean into most.