The Nine Enneagram Types
A field guide from Ninefold
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Type 1: The Reformer
- Motivation
- To be good and right.
- Fear
- Being corrupt or defective.
- Best
- Principled wise teacher.
- Worst
- Rigid critical perfectionist.
- Example
- Michelle Obama
-
Type 2: The Helper
- Motivation
- To be loved and needed.
- Fear
- Being unwanted.
- Best
- Generous selfless nurturer.
- Worst
- Manipulative people-pleaser.
- Example
- Mother Teresa
-
Type 3: The Achiever
- Motivation
- To be valuable and admired.
- Fear
- Being worthless.
- Best
- Authentic self-accepting role model.
- Worst
- Image-obsessed status-chaser.
- Example
- Taylor Swift
-
Type 4: The Individualist
- Motivation
- To find identity and meaning.
- Fear
- Being ordinary.
- Best
- Inspired creative with emotional honesty.
- Worst
- Melancholic self-absorbed.
- Example
- Frida Kahlo
-
Type 5: The Investigator
- Motivation
- To understand and be competent.
- Fear
- Being helpless or overwhelmed.
- Best
- Visionary pioneer.
- Worst
- Isolated detached intellectual.
- Example
- Bill Gates
-
Type 6: The Loyalist
- Motivation
- To feel safe and secure.
- Fear
- Being without support.
- Best
- Courageous committed protector.
- Worst
- Anxious suspicious worrier.
- Example
- Mindy Kaling
-
Type 7: The Enthusiast
- Motivation
- To experience joy and avoid pain.
- Fear
- Being trapped.
- Best
- Joyful grateful adventurer.
- Worst
- Scattered impulsive escapist.
- Example
- Robin Williams
-
Type 8: The Challenger
- Motivation
- To be strong and in control.
- Fear
- Being harmed or controlled.
- Best
- Magnanimous heroic leader.
- Worst
- Domineering confrontational.
- Example
- Martin Luther King Jr.
-
Type 9: The Peacemaker
- Motivation
- To maintain inner and outer peace.
- Fear
- Loss and separation.
- Best
- Accepting grounded mediator.
- Worst
- Complacent conflict-avoidant.
- Example
- Barack Obama