Portrait
of the Provider (eSfJ)
[ Earthly
Service Feels Just ]
In
addition to being concrete in speech and cooperative in reaching
their goals, the Providers are also informative and expressive in
their social interactions. Their most highly developed skill
is in providing for the needs of others, something they tend to
practice doing even when they are children. Second comes the other
conserving skill, protecting others from harm and loss, but eSfJs
can do very well as inspectors and supervisors as well, since these
activities also make use of their logistical talents.
The most
sociable of all the Guardians,
Providers are energized by interactions with people, and are the great
nurturers of established institutions such as schools, churches, social
clubs, and civic groups. Wherever they go, eSfJs take up the role
of social provider, happily contributing their time and energy to
make sure that traditions are supported and developed, and that social
functions are a success.
Providers
are thought to comprise a whopping 15 percent of the general population.
This is very fortunate for all of us because cooperation and social
facilitation is a key to their nature. They make excellent chairpersons
in charge of banquets, rummage sales, charity balls, and the like,
naturally skilled in maintaining cooperation and smooth relations
among their helpers, but also tireless in their attention to the details
of arranging goods and services. As master of ceremonies they are
without peer, able to approach others with ease and confidence, and
seemingly aware of everything that everybody's been doing. And they
are outstanding hosts or hostesses, able to remember people's names,
usually after one introduction, and always attentive to the needs
of their guests, trying to insure that all are involved and comfortably
provided for.
President
George Washington is an example of a Provider Guardian temperament.