The P in Obama’s ENTP

As the Jeremiah Wright National Press Club (NPC) debacle gathered steam, many wondered where the hell is Barack Obama. As I am on his mailing list, the only thing I heard from his campaign was yesterday at 9:15 in an e-mail about Limited Edition Car Magnets. I wondered, “do they not see the urgency of this situation?”

Eventually Obama did respond to Wright’s spectacle at the NPC and he emphatically denunciated Wright’s statements in an angry display. However, even during his press conference, he seemed to equivocate. One could be left with the impression that Obama is indecisive.

I empathize with Obama because I understand his desire to analyze all the facts before reaching a conclusion. This is clearly the nature of a ‘P.’ It represents the P in Obama’s ENTP. In the Myers-Briggs personality type framework, P stands for perceiving. This P denotes a preference for gathering data before making a judgment. While this trait may help one avoid confirmation bias, it can be a liability in situations that require a quick response.

So, I see Obama as someone who takes a measured thoughtful approach. However, some situations require an immediate decision, and, as uncomfortable as it may be, one cannot get all the facts first. This is something I believe Obama continues to struggle with.