How to Earn Respect from Explorer Personalities

Part 5 of 5 in our Earning Respect Challenge: Discover how to gain Explorers’ respect – and the biggest turnoff that will lose it

Image from 16personalities.com

Do you lead an Explorer (ISTP | ISFP | ESTP | ESFP)? 

Explorers include all personality types who share the Observant and Prospecting personality traits. They’re spontaneous and can deeply connect with their surroundings. Utilitarian and practical, they shine in situations that require quick reactions and the ability to think on your feet. They’re masters of tools and techniques.

Welcome to the fifth and final day of our five-day Earning Respect Challenge. We’re wrapping up with a look at Explorers – how to earn the respect of these personality types, or lose it, fast. 

But first, a little story. 

I have an Explorer friend who leads wine tours. 

He picks up a different group of guests every time and takes them to wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries in the local area, adjusting on the fly for weather or group requests as needed. 

When I asked him whether he plans out what he’s going to say to each group in advance, he laughed and shook his head. “That would take all of the fun out of it,” he said.

He thrives on the spontaneity of it all, and such freedom truly makes him better at his job and able to connect with each tour guest on a more authentic level.

What does this mean for you and your leadership? By allowing your Explorer team members similar flexibility and autonomy in their roles, you’re likely to see increased engagement, creativity, and performance – and you can significantly boost their respect for you as a leader. 

Today, we’ll explore: 

• The most effective way for you to gain Explorers’ respect

• The biggest turnoff that will (quickly) lose their respect 

• A thought-provoking question to help you refine your leadership approach for these spontaneous, dynamic individuals

The Best Way to Earn Explorers’ Respect

Want to see your Explorer team members light up with enthusiasm and gain their respect as a leader? Try presenting them with open-ended challenges that engage their problem-solving skills instead of handing them a detailed roadmap.  

Let’s consider a real-world scenario.

Imagine that you lead an Explorer team member in customer service. You need to improve your customer satisfaction rates, and there are two different approaches you could take toward doing so:

• Approach #1: You provide a detailed plan to improve customer satisfaction, specifying exact scripts, response times, and procedures. 

• Approach #2: You present an open-ended challenge, perhaps saying something like “We need to boost our customer satisfaction rates by 15% this quarter. I’m curious to see how you’d tackle this. Feel free to experiment and devise creative solutions.”

Do you see how the first approach is restrictive, while the second demonstrates trust in Explorers’ abilities?

They’d likely feel stifled by the direction of the first approach but become energized by the challenge of the second. If presented with that challenge, they might dive into customer feedback data, test new communication methods, or even propose innovative service features. The point is that they have the ability to choose their path. 

Giving Explorers more freedom shows that you trust their skills and judgment. This trust sends a clear message: you understand and value their strengths. It also shows that you’re willing to take risks and see what happens. As a result, Explorers will respect you as a leader who believes in their abilities.

Tip: Provide a clear goal, then allow Explorers space to work independently. By trusting their abilities and valuing their approach, you’ll earn their respect as a leader who empowers rather than micromanages. This respect can strengthen your relationship and drive better results.

The Biggest Turnoff That Will Lose Explorers’ Respect