16Personalities

Mediator

Personality

INFP-A / INFP-T

Introduction

Mediator personalities are true idealists, always looking for the hint of good in even the worst of people
and events, searching for ways to make things better. While they may be perceived as calm, reserved, or
even shy, Mediators have an inner flame and passion that can truly shine. Comprising just 4% of the
population, the risk of feeling misunderstood is unfortunately high for the Mediator personality type –
but when they find like-minded people to spend their time with, the harmony they feel will be a fountain
of joy and inspiration.

Mediator personality

Being a part of the Diplomat Role group, Mediators are guided by their principles, rather than by logic
(Analysts), excitement (Explorers), or practicality (Sentinels). When deciding how to move forward, they
will look to honor, beauty, morality and virtue – Mediators are led by the purity of their intent, not
rewards and punishments. People who share the Mediator personality type are proud of this quality, and
rightly so, but not everyone understands the drive behind these feelings, and it can lead to isolation.

All that is gold does not glitter; not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither;
deep roots are not reached by the frost.

J. R. R. TOLKIEN

We Know What We Are, but Know Not What We May Be

At their best, these qualities enable Mediators to communicate deeply with others, easily speaking in
metaphors and parables, and understanding and creating symbols to share their ideas. Fantasy worlds in
particular fascinate Mediators, more than any other personality type. The strength of their visionary
communication style lends itself well to creative works, and it comes as no surprise that many famous
Mediators are poets, writers and actors. Understanding themselves and their place in the world is
important to Mediators, and they explore these ideas by projecting themselves into their work.

Mediators have a talent for self-expression, revealing their beauty and their secrets through metaphors
and fictional characters.

Mediators’ ability with language doesn’t stop with their native tongue, either – as with most people who
share the Diplomat personality types, they are considered gifted when it comes to learning a second (or
third!) language. Their gift for communication also lends itself well to Mediators’ desire for harmony, a
recurring theme with Diplomats, and helps them to move forward as they find their calling.

Listen to Many People, but Talk to Few

Unlike their Extraverted cousins though, Mediators will focus their attention on just a few people, a
single worthy cause – spread too thinly, they’ll run out of energy, and even become dejected and
overwhelmed by all the bad in the world that they can’t fix. This is a sad sight for Mediators’ friends, who
will come to depend on their rosy outlook.

If they are not careful, Mediators can lose themselves in their quest for good and neglect the day-to-day
upkeep that life demands. Mediators often drift into deep thought, enjoying contemplating the
hypothetical and the philosophical more than any other personality type. Left unchecked, Mediators may
start to lose touch, withdrawing into “hermit mode”, and it can take a great deal of energy from their
friends or partner to bring them back to the real world.

Luckily, like the flowers in spring, Mediator’s affection, creativity, altruism and idealism will always come
back, rewarding them and those they love perhaps not with logic and utility, but with a world view that
inspires compassion, kindness and beauty wherever they go.

01

Strengths & Weaknesses

Mediators You May Know

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16Personalities

Mediator

Personality

INFP-A / INFP-T

Strengths & Weaknesses

Mediator Strengths

Mediator strengths

Idealistic – Mediators’ friends and loved ones will come to admire and depend on them for their
optimism. Their unshaken belief that all people are inherently good, perhaps simply misunderstood,
lends itself to an incredibly resilient attitude in the face of hardship.

Seek and Value Harmony – People with the Mediator personality type have no interest in having power
over others, and don’t much care for domineering attitudes at all. They prefer a more democratic
approach, and work hard to ensure that every voice and perspective is heard.

Open-Minded and Flexible – A live-and-let-live attitude comes naturally to Mediators, and they dislike
being constrained by rules. Mediators give the benefit of the doubt too, and so long as their principles
and ideas are not being challenged, they’ll support others’ right to do what they think is right.

Very Creative – Mediators combine their visionary nature with their open-mindedness to allow them to
see things from unconventional perspectives. Being able to connect many far-flung dots into a single
theme, it’s no wonder that many Mediators are celebrated poets and authors.

Passionate and Energetic – When something captures Mediators’ imagination and speaks to their beliefs,
they go all in, dedicating their time, energy, thoughts and emotions to the project. Their shyness keeps
them from the podium, but they are the first to lend a helping hand where it’s needed.

Dedicated and Hard-Working – While others focusing on the challenges of the moment may give up
when the going gets tough, Mediators (especially Assertive ones) have the benefit of their far-reaching
vision to help them through. Knowing that what they are doing is meaningful gives people with this
personality type a sense of purpose and even courage when it comes to accomplishing something they
believe in.

Mediator Weaknesses

Mediator weaknesses

Too Idealistic – Mediators often take their idealism too far, setting themselves up for disappointment as,
again and again, evil things happen in the world. This is true on a personal level too, as Mediators may
not just idealize their partners, but idolize them, forgetting that no one is perfect.

Too Altruistic – Mediators sometimes see themselves as selfish, but only because they want to give so
much more than they are able to. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, as they try to push themselves
to commit to a chosen cause or person, forgetting to take care of the needs of others in their lives, and
especially themselves.

Impractical – When something captures Mediators’ imagination, they can neglect practical matters like
day-to-day maintenance and simple pleasures. Sometimes people with the Mediator personality type
will take this asceticism so far as to neglect eating and drinking as they pursue their passion or cause.
Dislike Dealing With Data – Mediators are often so focused on the big picture that they forget the forest
is made of individual trees. Mediators are in tune with emotions and morality, and when the facts and
data contradict their ideals, it can be a real challenge for them.

Take Things Personally – Mediators often take challenges and criticisms personally, rather than as
inspiration to reassess their positions. Avoiding conflict as much as possible, Mediators will put a great
deal of time and energy into trying to align their principles and the criticisms into a middle ground that
satisfies everybody.

Difficult to Get to Know – Mediators are private, reserved and self-conscious. This makes them
notoriously difficult to really get to know, and their need for these qualities contributes to the guilt they
often feel for not giving more of themselves to those they care about.

02

Introduction

Romantic Relationships

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16Personalities

Mediator

Personality

INFP-A / INFP-T

Romantic Relationships

Mediators are dreamy idealists, and in the pursuit of the perfect relationship, this quality shows
strongest. Never short on imagination, Mediators dream of the perfect relationship, forming an image of
this pedestalled ideal that is their soul mate, playing and replaying scenarios in their heads of how things
will be. This is a role that no person can hope to fill, and people with the Mediator personality type need
to recognize that nobody’s perfect, and that relationships don’t just magically fall into place – they take
compromise, understanding and effort.

Mediator romantic relationships

Love All, Trust a Few, Do Wrong to None

Fortunately these are qualities that Mediators are known for, and while it can be a challenge to separate
long-fostered fantasy from reality, Mediators’ tendency to focus their attention on just a few people in
their lives means that they will approach new relationships wholeheartedly, with a sense of inherent
value, dedication and trust.

Mediators share a sincere belief in the idea of relationships – that two people can come together and
make each other better and happier than they were alone, and they will take great efforts to show
support and affection in order to make this ideal a reality.

But Mediators aren’t necessarily in a rush to commit – they are, after all, Prospecting (P) types, and are
almost always looking to either establish a new relationship or improve an existing one – they need to be
sure they’ve found someone compatible. In dating, Mediators will often start with a flurry of
comparisons, exploring all the ways the current flame matches with the ideal they’ve imagined. This
progression can be a challenge for a new partner, as not everyone is able to keep up with Mediators’ rich
imagination and moral standards – if incompatibilities and conflict over this initial rush mount, the
relationship can end quickly, with Mediators likely sighing that “it wasn’t meant to be.”

As a relationship takes hold, people with the Mediator personality type will show themselves to be
passionate, hopeless romantics, while still respecting their partners’ independence. Mediators take the
time to understand those they care about, while at the same time helping them to learn, grow and
change. While Mediators are well-meaning, not everyone appreciates what can come across as
constantly being told that they need to improve – or, put another way, that they’re not good enough.
Mediators would be aghast to find that their intents were interpreted this way, but it’s a real risk, and if
their partner is as averse to conflict as Mediators themselves, it can boil under the surface for some time
before surfacing, too late to fix.

Better Three Hours Too Soon Than a Minute Too Late

This aversion to conflict, while contributing greatly to stability in the relationship when done right, is
probably the most urgent quality for Mediators to work on. Between their sensitivity and imagination,
Mediators are prone to internalizing even objective statements and facts, reading into them themes and
exaggerated consequences, sometimes responding as though these comments are metaphors designed
to threaten the very foundations of their principles. Naturally this is almost certainly an overreaction,
and Mediators should practice what they preach, and focus on improving their ability to respond to
criticism with calm objectivity, rather than irrational accusations and weaponized guilt.

But that’s at their uncommon worst – at their best, Mediators do everything they can to be the ideal
partner, staying true to themselves and encouraging their partners to do the same. Mediators take their
time in becoming physically intimate so that they can get to know their partners, using their creativity to
understand their wants and needs, and adapt to them. People with this personality type are generous in
their affection, with a clear preference for putting the pleasure of their partners first – it is in knowing
that their partners are satisfied that Mediators truly feel the most pleasure.

03

Strengths & Weaknesses

Friendships

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16Personalities

Mediator

Personality

INFP-A / INFP-T

Friendships

The true friends of people with the Mediator personality type tend to be few and far between, but those
that make the cut are often friends for life. The challenge is the many dualities that this type harbors
when it comes to being sociable – Mediators crave the depth of mutual human understanding, but tire
easily in social situations; they are excellent at reading into others’ feelings and motivations, but are
often unwilling to provide others the same insight into themselves – it’s as though Mediators like the
idea of human contact, but not the reality of social contact.

Mediator friends

How Poor Are They That Have Not Patience

In a lot of ways, this limits the potential pool of friends to other types in the Diplomat Role group, who
are able to pick up on the subtle clues left by their Mediator friends, and who are more likely than not to
enjoy something of a human enigma. A friendship with a Turbulent Executive (ESTJ-T) on the other hand,
governed by social conventions and community participation as they are, would almost be a non-
sequitur – though Mediators may find the idea of being paired with their opposite fascinating enough to
outweigh the practical challenges to such a friendship.

To top it all off, ideas like networking and “the friend of my friend is my friend” hold little weight with
Mediators. Friendships are earned on their own merit, by dint of the intuitive respect Mediators have for
those with similar principles and values, rather than more practical alignments like those of coworkers.
Mediators’ tendency to protect their sensitive inner cores and values from criticism, especially if they are
on the more turbulent side of the spectrum, means that acquaintances will likely get nowhere near them
without sustained and tactful effort.

But, if Mediators’ shields are properly navigated and they decide to open up and trust another person, a
strong, stable friendship will ensue, marked by passionate support and idealism, subtle poetic wit, and a
level of emotional insight that is hard to match. Mediators’ friends will be rewarded with calm,
sensitivity and depth, and an ever-present desire to help, learn, and grow. But even the most confident
and assertive Mediators will only be able to keep up this relaxed and present exterior for so long.

Even as friendships grow stronger and deeper, and friends are lulled into a sense of mutual
understanding, Mediators’ enigmatic qualities will never truly vanish.

Mediators will always need to disappear for a while, removing themselves from others so they can re-
center on their own minds and feelings. Often enough people with the Mediator personality type will
emerge from this time alone having come to some momentous decision that even their closest friends
didn’t know was weighing on them, evading even the option of receiving the sort of support and advice
they so readily give. Such is Mediators’ way, for better or for worse.
04

Romantic Relationships

Parenthood

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16Personalities

Mediator
Personality

INFP-A / INFP-T

Parenthood

People who share the Mediator personality type share a tendency to not only strive to learn and grow as
principled, moral individuals, but to bring likeminded people on that journey with them. In their own
subtle, often shy way, Mediators want to lead others forward, as kindred spirits – they will find no
greater opportunity for this than in parenthood.

From the start, Mediator parents are warm, loving and supportive, and take immeasurable joy in the
wide-eyed wonder of their children as they explore, learn, and grow. People with the Mediator
personality type will give their children the freedom they need to do this, keeping an open mind and
letting their children gain their own sense of understanding. At the same time, Mediator parents will try
to provide a backdrop to this freedom and experience, establishing a set of morals and values that guide
that liberty with a sense of personal responsibility.

Mediator parents

Mediators never stop encouraging their children to learn and grow, and they consider it their duty to
inspire and motivate them, both by using their sensitivity and intuition to speak in their children’s
language and by leading the way themselves.

However, this sense of responsibility has a harder side – if their children fall foul of their Mediator
parents’ values, it will not be taken lightly. People with the Mediator personality type take their
responsibilities in parenthood seriously, and in this measure above all others.

In some ways, Mediators’ tendency to hide their inner selves from view can be an advantage in
parenting, as they are able to portray themselves as good role models on the outside, shielding their
loved ones not just from their own occasional anger and depression, but from the broader evils in the
world as well. This helps Mediators to demonstrate outwardly the moral lessons they want their children
to adopt, and at the same time to establish a sense of harmony in the household.

Modest Doubt Is Called the Beacon of the Wise

The biggest challenge for Mediator parents, especially more Turbulent types who often have even more
trouble with self-doubt than most, is to establish more practical and day-to-day structures and rules.
Mediators may be able to convey the abstract value of honesty with remarkable skill, but it’s not always
easy to equate that idea with the practical reality of their children being home from the movies when
they said they were going to be, and it’s especially challenging when these misunderstandings result in
conflict. In these situations, Mediator personalities do best with a partner who is able to play a stronger
hand in more administrative tasks than they can, so they can focus on the underlying spirit of those
rules.

05

Friendships

Career Paths

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Parenthood

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16Personalities

Mediator

Personality

INFP-A / INFP-T

Career Paths

It is perhaps more challenging for Mediators to find a satisfying career than any other type. Though
intelligent, the regimented learning style of most schools makes long years earning an advanced degree
a formidable undertaking for people with the Mediator personality type – at the same time, that’s often
what’s needed to advance in a field that rings true for them. Mediators often wish that they could just
be, doing what they love without the stress and rigor of professional life.

Oftentimes, as with so many things, the answer lies somewhere in the middle, in a line of work that
begins with passion and dedication, but which comes to require training so that the academia feels
intimately linked to that passion. Too many Mediators drift in frustration, ultimately succumbing to the
necessities of day-to-day life in a job that wasn’t meant for them. But it turns out that, despite such
exacting demands, modern economics places a premium on the very keys to Mediators’ challenges: their
creativity, independence, and need for meaningful relationships with individuals who need their help.

Mediator careers

There’s Place and Means for Everyone

First and foremost is seemingly every Mediators’ dream growing up – to become an author. While a
novel is a classic choice, it is rarely an accessible one, and there are many viable options for freedom-
loving Mediators. The internet brings to the world the opportunities of blogging and freelance work – as
organizations expand their reach beyond their native tongues, they will come to depend on Mediator
personality types, with their gift for language and written expression, to take their rougher translations
and stale pitches and inject them with a sense of beauty and poetry. Smaller organizations will need
more than ever to express with elegance the value they bring to local communities.

Most any cause, idea, or field can benefit from the artful and natural expression that Mediators bring to
the table, and Mediators have their pick of the world in choosing who they work with.
The real beauty here is that it takes a core interest that people with the Mediator personality type share,
while helping a cause they believe in, independently, through creative expression and personal growth,
and makes it applicable to any interest there is. There will always be a need, and now more than ever, to
win people’s hearts and minds with the written word.

Some Mediators will prefer a still more personal touch, being able to work face-to-face with clients,
seeing that their personal effort really impacts another’s quality of life. Service careers such as massage
therapy, physical rehabilitation, counselling, social work, psychology and even academic roles and
retraining can be exceptionally rewarding for Mediators, who take pride in the progress and growth they
help to foster. People with the Mediator personality type have a tendency to put others’ interests ahead
of their own, a mixed blessing by itself, but when a patient takes their first unaided step in the long road
to recovery after an accident, nothing will feel more rewarding than that selflessness.

If to Do Were as Easy as to Know What Were Good to Do...

Where Mediators will not thrive is in a high-stress, team-heavy, busy environment that burdens them
with bureaucracy and tedium. Mediators need to be able to work with creativity and consideration –
high-pressure salespeople they are not. It can be a challenge to avoid these roles, as they are the basis
for so much starting work, and it’s often a risk to break away into something less dependable, but more
rewarding. To find a career that resonates with Mediators’ values though, that’s more than just a job,
sometimes it’s just what needs to be done.

06

Parenthood

Workplace Habits

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16Personalities

Mediator

Personality

INFP-A / INFP-T

Workplace Habits

In the workplace, Mediators face the challenge of taking their work and their profession personally. To
Mediators, if it isn’t worth doing, it isn’t really worth doing, and this sense of moral purpose in their
work colors everything from how they respond to authority to how they express it. Though the way the
Mediator personality type shows through depends on the position, there are a few basic truths about
what Mediators seek in the workplace: they value harmony, need an emotional and moral connection to
their work, and loathe bureaucratic tedium.

Mediator workplace habits

Mediator Subordinates

As subordinates, Mediators prefer latitude, and would much rather immerse themselves in a project,
alone or with a close team, than simply be told what task to do and move on. People with the Mediator
personality type aren’t looking for easy, forgettable work that pays the bills, they’re looking for
meaningful work that they actually want to think about, and it helps for their managers to frame
responsibilities in terms of emotional merit rather than cold rationalization or business for its own sake.
Mediators would rather know that their work will help to deliver a service they believe in than to know
that the bottom line has been boosted by 3%.

If these standards are met, managers will find an extremely dedicated and considerate employee in
Mediators. As idealistic opportunity-seekers Mediators may not always work well in technical
applications, where the facts and logic really matter and critique is often necessary, but they work
beautifully in more human and creative endeavors. While some types, especially those in the Analyst
Role group, respond favorably to negative feedback, taking criticism as an opportunity to not make the
same mistake twice, people with the Mediator personality type would much rather hear what they did
right and focus on what to do, rather than what not to.

Mediator Colleagues

Mediators feel most comfortable among colleagues – they aren’t interested in controlling others, and
have a similar distaste for being controlled. Among their colleagues, Mediators will feel freer to share
their ideas, and while they may maintain some psychological distance, they will make every effort to be
pleasant, friendly and supportive – so long as their coworkers reciprocate. Mediators don’t like conflict
or picking sides, and will do everything they can to maintain harmony and cooperation.

Most of this comes down to good communication, which Mediators prefer to conduct in person, for that
personal touch, or in writing, where they can compose and perfect their statements. People with the
Mediator personality type avoid using phones if they can, having the worst of both worlds, being both
detached and uncomposed. Mediators also like to feel like their conversations are meaningful, and while
they enjoy exploring philosophy more than most, their patience for arbitrary hypothetical brainstorming
or dense technical discussions is limited.

Mediator Managers

As managers, Mediators are among the least likely to seem like managers – their egalitarian attitudes
lend respect to every subordinate, preferring communication as human beings than as a boss/employee
opposition. People with the Mediator personality type are flexible, open-minded and give their
subordinates the tools they need, be they responsible delegation or an intuitive and receptive sounding
board, to get the job done. Keeping their eyes on the horizon, Mediators set goals that achieve a
desirable end, and help the people working under them to make that happen.
There is a downside to this style, as sometimes the boss just needs to be the boss. Mediators know how
they feel about criticism, and are reluctant to subject others to that same experience, whether it’s
needed or even welcome. Further complicating this role, when Mediators are under stress, as when
someone really does warrant criticism, they can become extremely emotional – they may not show it,
but it can affect their judgment, or even cause them to withdraw inwards, in ways that can really hold
back their team.

07

Career Paths

Conclusion

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16Personalities

Mediator

Personality

INFP-A / INFP-T

Conclusion

Few personality types are as poetic and kind-hearted as Mediators. Their altruism and vivid imagination
allow Mediators to overcome many challenging obstacles, more often than not brightening the lives of
those around them. Mediators’ creativity is invaluable in many areas, including their own personal
growth.

Yet Mediators can be easily tripped up in areas where idealism and altruism are more of a liability than
an asset. Whether it is finding (or keeping) a partner, making friends, reaching dazzling heights on the
career ladder or planning for the future, Mediators need to put in a conscious effort to develop their
weaker traits and additional skills.

Mediator conclusion

What you have read so far is just an introduction into the complex concept that is the Mediator
personality type. You may have muttered to yourself, “wow, this is so accurate it’s a little creepy” or
“finally, someone understands me!” You may have even asked “how do they know more about me than
the people I’m closest to?”

This is not a trick. You felt understood because you were. We’ve studied how Mediators think and what
they need to reach their full potential. And no, we did not spy on you – many of the challenges you’ve
faced and will face in the future have been overcome by other Mediators. You simply need to learn how
they succeeded.

But in order to do that, you need to have a plan, a personal roadmap. The best car in the world will not
take you to the right place if you do not know where you want to go. We have told you how Mediators
tend to behave in certain circumstances and what their key strengths and weaknesses are. Now we need
to go much deeper into your personality type and answer “why?”, “how?” and “what if?”

This knowledge is only the beginning of a lifelong journey. Are you ready to learn why Mediators act in
the way they do? What motivates and inspires you? What you are afraid of and what you secretly dream
about? How you can unlock your true, exceptional potential?

Our premium profiles provide a roadmap towards a happier, more successful, and more versatile YOU!
They are not for everyone though – you need to be willing and able to challenge yourself, to go beyond
the obvious, to imagine and follow your own path instead of just going with the flow. If you want to take
the reins into your own hands, we are here to help you.

08

Workplace Habits

Academy

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