The Eight Function-Attitudes In Depth

Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

  • Prioritizes discovery through ideas and possibilities
  • The Possibilities Seeker: Also called Creativity or the Brainstorming function
  • Ne applies especially to NP types (ENFP, ENTP, INFP, INTP)

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

How to Spot Ne

  • Novel ideas. They’re energized by anything that shakes up the usual frame—fresh angles, unexpected connections, or new ways of seeing a familiar situation.
  • What if? They naturally speak in “What if…?” language, offering angles, alternatives, and imaginative twists in rapid succession.
  • Idea-jumping. Their mind moves quickly and non-linearly, flipping between concepts before finishing the previous thread.
  • Multi-versing. They see through objects, moments, or situations into what else they could be—alternate uses, alternate meanings, or even alternate timelines.

"Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things." - George Carlin

How to Motivate Ne

  • Invite possibilities, not decisions. Use open-ended prompts (“What could we try?”) to spark momentum without triggering pressure or commitment too soon.

  • Get curious. Warm, exploratory responses (“Oooh, say more…”) keep the creative tap open and prevent shutdown.

  • Give freedom for novelty. Let Ne roam, experiment, and shift directions; new environments or twists on routine reignite focus and energy.

  • Allow iteration. Ne thrives on rough drafts, sketches, and prototypes - not polished results on the first pass.

  • Connect ideas to meaning. Tie possibilities to deeper values or purpose, so Ne stays engaged long enough to follow through.

"I always say: 'Don’t make plans, make options.'" - Jennifer Aniston

How to Connect With Ne Types

The above ways to motivate Ne also help you connect with Ne types. These additional approaches create rapport and build relational ease.

  • Follow the thread, not the order. Let conversations branch and meander—this is where connection happens for Ne.
  • Reflect back possibilities. Say things like “One angle might be…” or “Another possibility is…” to join them in their imaginative space.
  • Share your own associations. Offer a related idea, metaphor, or image; Ne types feel close to people who think with them, not just respond to them.
  • Validate the jump. When their mind leaps between ideas, acknowledge the connection (“Oh! I see how you got there!”). Feeling understood is a deep form of bonding for Ne.

"The more a thing tends to be permanent, the more it tends to be lifeless." - Alan Watts

Don't Do It!

NP types have minds that naturally diverge and explore. Don’t box Ne into long stretches of tracking, monitoring, or rigid routines. When exploration is stifled, Ne’s energy drops and focus scatters. 

Collaborate With NP Types

Ne can help almost any effort with any type of person. Other types often benefit from an up-front explanation of the Ne process, which can feel unpredictable and random to those who don't use it.

Ne Strengths

Ne Brain Strengths

Research by Dario Nardi found that NP types often show a unique brain pattern called the “Christmas Tree effect.”Instead of settling into one focused state, multiple brain regions activate at different intensities and switch rapidly - like multicolored lights blinking on and off.

This supports Ne’s lived experience:

  • rapid idea-jumping

  • loose associations

  • blending unrelated concepts

  • imagining multiple future paths

  • improvisation and creativity

Ne users only enter classic “flow states” when doing something extremely familiar.
New situations trigger exploration, not deep focus.

Ne Team Strengths

Extraverted Intuition (Ne) strengthens teams and organizations through six core capacities rooted in discovery, adaptability, and creative connection.

  1. Expands possibilities. On teams, Ne surfaces alternative paths and creative solutions. For organizations, this fuels innovation, strategic foresight, helps them pivot quickly in changing environments.
  2. Reframes problems so teams don’t get stuck. Ne reconceptualizes issues where others see barriers, helping groups move forward. This strengthens adaptive problem-solving and reduces stagnation in complex or uncertain situations.
  3. Cross-Pollination.& Innovation. Ne naturally spots cross-disciplinary links and builds bridges across perspectives. Teams benefit from synergy and shared insight, while organizations gain a culture of collaboration.
  4. Optimism and momentum. Its curiosity and enthusiasm lift morale, especially when projects drag or challenges mount. It helps create a culture that embraces exploration, experimentation, and proactive engagement rather than fear-based caution.
  5. Pressure-tests plans. Ne instinctively imagines multiple future outcomes and surfaces potential blind spots. This strengthens decision-making, supports risk awareness, and strategic resilience.
  6. Adapts rapidly & pivots gracefully. When conditions shift, Ne adjusts effortlessly and encourages others to do the same. This flexibility enhances team responsiveness and helps organizations remain agile, innovative, and competitive in dynamic environments.

The Ne Project Process

Think of Ne as your team’s real-time R&D lab.

Ne is an iterative engine, not a production line. Ne users finish work through cycles of re‑thinking, sketching, and refining - more like a series of design sprints than step‑by‑step execution.

  • Early-stage innovation. Ne excels at idea generation, brainstorming, noticing patterns, and imagining alternative paths.

  • Conceptual and strategy roles. Ne thrives when exploring systems, designing solutions, reframing problems, and creating new approaches.

  • Mid-stage problem-solving. When things get stuck, Ne quickly generates workarounds, alternatives, and creative pivots.

  • Late-stage refinement. Ne stress-tests assumptions, explores edge cases, and imagines alternate outcomes - strengthening the final result.

At their best, Ne users help teams explore possibilities, refine concepts, and discover better paths forward. This can happen when their process is understood and supported.

3 Steps to Inspire Ne Productivity & Focus

  1. Capture: Follow curiosity and let ideas flow freely without judgment.
  2. Clarify: Begin shaping those ideas by noticing which align with your core values or immediate goals.
  3. Commit: Translate the most resonant ideas into tangible prototypes, conversations, or creative experiments.

Ne’s Best Friend: Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is the closest visual representation of how Ne actually works. It turns Ne’s natural branching into something visible, shared, and surprisingly productive. It helps conversations flow, organizes ideas without shutting them down, reduces overwhelm, and creates instant collaboration. Use it for brainstorming, connection, clarity, prioritizing, or even resolving conflict.

Try Extraverted Intuition

  1. Think of 10 possible ways someone could use a can opener, the manual kind with a pointy tip.
  2. How are soccer and American football alike? Think of 10 similarities.
  3. What are 10 other things you could be doing right now?
  4. Identify a routine you have and break it. Try a new way of doing something familiar.
  5. Think of a place where you feel completely stuck. Come up with 5 alternative ways to go about it.
  6. Think of a moment where your life took a turn. What were 5 other ways it could have gone?

“Everything’s changing, everything’s dynamic. ... You get this idea, and you get another idea, and this doesn’t work out and you have to replace it with something else.” - Steve Wozniak

For Ne Users

Leave a Comment