Originally Posted by
mikemex
Se is the ability to determine relationships of power or, in other words, relationships of dependence. Se types are better than anyone else at at spotting elements within a system that have more effect over others. For example, most would think that talking to a manager rather to a regular employee in a negotiation would be of higher benefit because the manager has a higher degree of decision power, but it's generally false. A simple secretary often has more real influence over the operation of an office than the manager itself, simply because all details go through her and that allows for a big chance of manipulating stuff.
Se types use this awareness to maximize their effectiveness by focusing into the most influential elements of a given system. This is similar but not identical to the way Te works. The difference lies in that Se does not manipulate the amount or arrangement of the elements; it's kind of static. Te, on the other side, manipulates the system and its elements to arrange them in a more efficient way. Efficiency is thus a shared Se/Te concept.