What Does It Mean to Have a Prospecting Personality?

• Prospecting personalities like to live life spontaneously and enjoy having a flexible schedule so they can go with the flow.
• Prospectors often get bored quickly and may become overwhelmed by the amount of decisions they have to make.
• If you have a Prospecting personality, you’re likely creative and solve problems by thinking outside the box.

What is a Prospecting personality?

A Prospecting personality is flexible, adaptive, and laid back. These individuals shrug off the inconveniences of life and simply go with the flow. Prospecting people (or those with a “P” in their Myers-Briggs personality type) figure things out as they go rather than forcing things to happen a certain way. They’re confident, impulsive, and ready to take on any challenge; however, they can easily become overwhelmed by the immense amount of possibilities and choices in the world. Someone with a Prospecting personality believes life is a string of opportunities waiting to be discovered. Prospecting personalities work well in creative, flexible, and evolving environments, making them excellent writers, engineers, artists, entrepreneurs, and flight attendants. In Myers-Briggs, “Prospecting” and “Perceiving” are synonymous and used interchangeably.

Traits of a Prospecting Personality

You’re extremely flexible. If you have a Prospecting personality, chances are you don’t like sticking to a schedule. Routines put you in a box and make you feel trapped. You’d much rather do what you want when you want. Focus on jobs and careers that allow you to make your own schedule. This way, you can work at your own pace on your own time. Try being a freelancer or starting your own business.

You’re spontaneous. You’re likely the “yes” guy in your group of friends if you have a Prospecting personality. You want to seize every opportunity life throws your way. This might look like saying “yes” to adventurous things like skydiving, entering a pie eating contest, or fostering a pet. Know that it’s okay to say “no” every now and then. If you don’t feel up to something, look toward the next opportunity. Don’t feel like you have to participate in every opportunity that comes your way.

You’re creative and passionate. The world is likely your muse if you have a Prospecting personality. You see opportunity and beauty everywhere and can turn anything into art. Because of this, you most likely enjoy writing, painting, or entertaining. Keep a notebook or sketch pad in your bag or pocket when you go out. This way, you’ll have something tangible to jot down blooming ideas.

You think outside of the box. If you have a Prospecting personality trait, you probably solve problems in untraditional ways. You’ve never been one to follow everyone else’s lead—you follow the beat of your own drum. You focus on the big picture and believe finer details are a waste of time. Remember that everyone has the same thought process as you, and that’s okay. While you look at the bigger picture, others may zoom in on the details.

You can be indecisive. Even with your confidence and spontaneity, it may be hard to make choices if you have a Prospecting personality. You’re able to see all the possibilities of life, and you may find yourself questioning which path is best for you to take. Make a pros and cons list to help you make decisions when you feel stuck. If you’re torn between 2 choices, think about the good and bad consequences of each, sorting them into a list. Typically, the choice that has the most pros is the better one.

You have a hard time focusing. With so many possibilities in the world, it can be hard to focus on one thing at a time if you have a Prospecting personality. Because of this, you may be a good multitasker, as jumping between tasks can help you stay focused for short periods of time. Consider making a to-do list to help you stay on track of specific tasks. This can be especially helpful if you’re prone to multitasking, as you can stay on top of what you need to do on multiple projects.

You get overwhelmed easily. Seeing the world as an endless pit of opportunities can quickly become stressful. You may struggle with anxiety or stress if you have a Prospecting personality trait. You likely worry about the outcome of your decisions after you make them, wondering if it was the right choice. Use grounding breathing exercises to reduce stress. For instance, when you feel overwhelmed, breathe in through your nose, count to 5, exhale through your mouth slowly, and repeat.

You hate making commitments. If you have a Prospecting personality, you likely avoid making promises at all costs. You like to do what you want when you want, so you do your best to keep your options open. This can look like renting a home instead of buying one or seeking open relationships rather than marriage. Set boundaries with friends so they know not to ask you to make commitments. For instance, you could say, “I don’t keep a schedule. Can you call me closer to the date? If I’m available, I’ll see if I can make it.”

You get bored easily. Prospecting personalities struggle to stay on task or in one place at one time. If you have a Prospecting personality, you most likely bounce from one thing to another to stay entertained. One minute you might like an activity, and the next, it bores you. Pass the time when you’re bored by trying new and unique hobbies. The more things you have to do, the less likely you are to be bored. For instance, learn to play guitar, knit a scarf, or beat a video game.

You embrace failure. Chances are, you see failure as an opportunity to grow if you have a Prospecting personality. Mistakes are simply lessons to learn from, so you don’t mind if you fail. In your eyes, you get the chance to start over and try something new. Use your positive perspective of failure to help others. Volunteer with local youth groups or start tutoring after school. Then, teach your peers that if they fall down or get a bad grade, they can get right back up, learn from their mistake, and try again.

Judging vs. Prospecting Personalities

Judging and Prospecting traits determine how you respond to choices. In Myers-Briggs, there are 2 ways a person can live their outer life, plan for the future, and make decisions: Judging and Prospecting (or Perceiving). Judgers are the opposite of Prospectors and vice versa. While Prospectors thrive with flexibility and spontaneity, Judgers like to think ahead and make plans. Check out other common distinctions below: Judgers prefer to organize their life, while Prospectors prefer to make decisions in the moment. Judgers think inside the box to solve problems, while Prospectors think of outside solutions to problems. Judgers follow the rules, while Prospectors don’t mind bending them. Judgers prefer having solidified plans or schedules, while Prospectors enjoy living on a whim. Judgers are analytical, while Prospectors are creative.