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Table of contents: ALL
KEY TYPES - READ THIS FIRST
READ THIS FIRST: When reading this information, rather than looking for a perfect 100% match of the way you see yourself, just sort of "try on" the key type description of the Key Type and see if it sounds like how you have been most of the time in the past. The truth is, each of us has some of the aspects of all nine of the key types in our personalities. As we grow and mature through the lessons that life presents to us, it is the dynamic power of the nine key system which allows us to move within the keys and to be able to take on more and more of the healthier attributes of the key types other than our own. However, it is the basic core structure of each of our personalities which is formed out of the specific aspects of our own "core" key type. The results of your profile are the outcome of the decisions you made as you scored the inventory statements. Only you can determine your personal master key type, as only you can become aware of all the various aspects of yourself and your personality. So it is helpful to think of the following information as just a beginning, a general guide to some of the key aspects your type, along with some suggestions of how you can put this knowledge to use in your own personal growth. It is our hope and intention that these insights will enable you to see how, through your strengths and natural talents, you are able to make a contribution to your career, your family and those close to you, your life, and to the world. Go back up to Choose Your Type The Enneagram's Path to the West Back to “Honing In” with Michelle Papineau-Stoen
His father - a remarkable man in his own right - had a great influence on him as well, bringing forth in him, by Gurdjieff's own account, poetic images and high ideals through their conversations on many philosophical topics and through the principles he raised him by. His father was a master of poems and folk traditions from Russian, Greek, Sumerian, and other sources and, at various stages in his life, a wealthy sheepherder, a businessman, and a carpenter. Though a genius, Gurdjieff was a careful student and studied simultaneously for the medical profession and the Russian Orthodox priesthood. However, when he did not find in either discipline the answers to the questions he was asking about life - why most of us never awaken to the real purpose of life, and how we can become free - he began a long historical, anthropological, and spiritual quest. In his later teaching and writing Gurdjieff was unclear, possibly on purpose, about the origins of the Enneagram, but a chronology for his contact with it can be assembled. For many years he traveled throughout the Middle East to Egypt, Jerusalem, Crete, and Turkey, and through the Gobi desert, and to Tibet and India, and finally in 1905 to the monastery where he learned the tradition from which the Enneagram originates. This monastery seems to have been related to an ancient wisdom society called the Sarmoun Brotherhood. (Sarmoun is the Sanskrit word for bees; they used it to describe themselves because they saw their work as analogous to that of bees who gather nectar to make honey and then preserve it.) The members of the Sarmoun Brotherhood claimed to have inherited their knowledge from the wisdom seekers of ancient times whom many identify with the Magi. Gurdjieff took this wisdom first to Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where he attracted a small group of students and colleagues, including Pietr Ouspensky. Before the revolution of 1919 he led this group through western Asia and Europe, finally settling in Paris. There in 1923 he set up an institute to continue and develop his teaching and attracted, among others, John G. Bennett and Maurice Nicoll to his work. In the 1920s and 1930s Gurdjieff wrote and traveled to various European cities and to America, where he also taught groups of people in several locales. During the Second World War he did very little work and became something of a recluse, rarely leaving his apartment in Paris. Not long after the war, in 1949, he died of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Though for a long time he did not practice the Russian Orthodox faith he learned as a child, Gurdjieff said he was teaching esoteric Christianity. It is said of Gurdjieff that he believed he was imparting an ancient wisdom by which humanity could be set free from that which drives it to destruction. The Nine Prime Addictions of the Enneagram One approach to the Enneagram finds its starting point in an idea that comes
The word sin creates its own difficulties for many modern people, however. For our purposes, sin is defined as alienation from self and from the Self (the image within). This alienation inevitably leads to personal fragmentation and to separation from others through unconscious dysfunctional and destructive behavior. In the Enneagram these behaviors are seen as addictions to a particular way of perceiving life. The word addiction is not used lightly here. Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines addiction as devoting or surrendering oneself to something “habitually or obsessively.” One's Enneagram number describes an obsessive way of approaching life - focusing in on one aspect of reality while discarding the rest. This addiction is so psychologically blinding that it causes a distortion in perspective - reality appears as illusion and so we are not compelled to deal with it; illusion masquerades as reality and entices us into collusion with it. Thus do the nine prime addictions described by the Enneagram work upon the human spirit. These drives within the human personality cause distortion that prevents us from seeing or acknowledging the truth about our lives. Each of these nine fixations of attention is so addictive that every person can have only one prime addiction at the root of his or her personality. Thus, although people can identify with several or many of the faults and gifts that the Enneagram describes, only one personality pattern is deeply rooted in any human soul. The capital sins of the other patterns may cause difficulties in a person's life, but they are not the genesis of the pain that person creates for self and others. These prime addictions have led each of us to embrace illusion, thus stunting
Throughout the ages, teachers of wisdom traditions, both religious and philosophical, have posited the need for some energy outside human nature to initiate and assist a person's struggle against addiction. Among the first teachers of the Enneagram in the West, George I. Gurdjieff and John G. Bennett were utterly convinced of the blindness of humanity to its own destructive behavior. They taught about an energy from God that would awaken humans from addictive life as from a dream and begin to lead them into reality. This energy - not a part of human nature but definitely available through surrender to higher laws and principles and the Deity - has been commonly referred to in many cultures as grace or favor. Contrary to the secular assumptions of the modern era - that human nature contains within itself all it needs to achieve its potential - the notion of grace is neither outdated nor arcane: it is common to cultures throughout the world. If this notion seems childish to certain intellectual circles in the West, they only have the traditions of Western Christianity to blame for their mechanized under standing of this ancient universal concept. If Christianity is failing to transmit the wisdom of the ages in the West, that does not invalidate the wisdom itself. Gerald May reports that not only does grace occupy a central place in Western Christianity, but in fact [it] has its counterparts in all religions. The Torah of Judaism is suffused with cries for Yahweh's loving salvation. Islam finds its very heart in Allah's mercy. Even for Buddhists and Hindus, with all their emphasis on personal practice and effort, there could be no liberation without the grace of the Divine. Even in the twentieth century, Mohandas Gandhi was very clear: “Without devotion and the consequent grace of G-d, humanity's endeavor is vain.” The Enneagram reveals humanity's need for grace as it demonstrates the addictive nature of human behavior. Our attachment to psychological and spiritual addiction is relentless because, unassisted by grace, it is blind. To give in to one's prime addiction not only appears to be the most natural way to respond to a person or situation, it also appears to be the only logical or correct choice. The experience of failure is often the direct result of our acting from a motivation fueled by a psychological and spiritual addiction. Failure can either cause us to intensify the prime addiction through anger, denial, withdrawal from life, and blaming others, self, or the Deity or prompt us to accept grace and weed out the destructive elements in life that led to this experience, thus opening the possibility of new and exciting growth. Recognition of your prime addiction is essentially a spiritual awakening. The
With all the benefits that accompany personal growth, one may wonder why anyone would not choose this exciting path. Often the answer is simple: changing our conscious values can cause our egos to scream out in pain, even though the promise that change brings is freedom, new life, and fulfillment. Identifying your prime addiction can be difficult, embarrassing, and painful; however, it is the beginning of a process that can unearth the irresistible treasure of a new and more fulfilling life. Choosing Illusion over Reality The Enneagram does not describe personality types by simply portraying characteristics, tendencies, and preferences. Rather, its goal is to unveil motivation. It invites us to look deeply into self and touch that core that can only be identified as spiritual. It holds up to the human soul a stark mirror of reality, allowing those of us who dare to look into it the opportunity to acknowledge the distorted ways we have perceived ourselves, others, G-d, and the world. As the insight and intuition of a great portrait artist can reveal the breadth and depth of a subject's character, so too does the secret wisdom of the Enneagram delve beneath the appearance created by personality to reveal the person's essence. Some people think that spirit and spiritual are words that name something unknowable, unreal, or illusory. This is not the approach of the Enneagram. In the language of the Enneagram, the essence or spirit of a person is the true self. Yahshua of Nazareth said, “Anyone who tries to preserve life will lose it; anyone who loses it will keep it safe” (Luke 17:33). His insight was that we live on two levels, one of appearances and the other of reality. We must detach ourselves from the first to discover the second. The level of appearances is the untrustworthy aspect of a person, what modern psychology identifies as the ego infected by egocentricity. Ego often operates out of illusion and leads a person into unreality. The Enneagram treats the spirit as the preeminent aspect of a person, but one that must come to be known, experienced, and liberated. This goal is accomplished as the illusions of the ego are unmasked and discarded. In studying the Enneagram, a person's essence or spirit is at first revealed by examining personality tendencies and characteristics. However, as students of the Enneagram, we must not allow ourselves to be caught up in these observations, for they will distract us from the Enneagram's deeper intent. The true focus of the Enneagram is to present the basic spiritual issues of human life: the ways people hurt themselves and others, the path of transformation, the possibilities for unleashing spiritual potential, the capacity to become a fully mature person, and the principles of constructive relationship with other people. Thus, the Enneagram is not so much about the way we are perceived by others as it is about the way we perceive ourselves, others. God, and the universe. Although through the Enneagram we first identify ourselves in negative terms, the Enneagram's perspective is that every one of us begins life as an expression of the Divine. At the core of every person is a Divine Image, a strength signifying that each person is created whole and free. This whole and free person is born into a selfish world in which destructive attitudes control us from childhood on leading us down the blind alleys of life. As Fritz Kunkel has written, human beings come into a world controlled by egocentricity and become egocentric to cope with life. Soon egocentricity takes control. In a hopeful but desperate search for love, we bend and twist our human souls and in the process lose our integrity. Egocentricity so blinds us to the realities of life that freedom to respond is soon replaced by mechanical reactions. In manipulating reality to meet our own needs, we hold hostage our own individual and communal freedom, thus preventing ourselves from experiencing the fullness of life. The Enneagram describes the choices people make to live in illusion rather than in reality-on the level of ego rather than spirit. Attitudes that are objectively destructive are subjectively seen as helpful. Attitudes that are objectively helpful are subjectively evaluated as inferior. By organizing these pretenses around egocentricity, people conclude that they are lovable and acceptable only when they choose to give in to their prime addiction. The Enneagram reveals how prime addiction and dysfunction always masquerade as good; the notion of what makes people good, of what is important or real in life, is turned upside down and inside out. Thus although much of our initial work with the Enneagram is spent in identifying self-defeating attitudes and behaviors, the underlying purpose is to discover that these compulsive attributes are but distorted gifts. In taking an honest look at ourselves, we find the raw material of goodness and creativity that, freed from distortion and compulsion, will propel us into a future of dreams fulfilled. Becoming a Work of Art As you work with the Enneagram in the following pages you will experience a wisdom that is, in a certain sense, endless. It is an evolving knowledge that begins with an awakening-to the truth of human nature and to the true potential human beings possess and to the ways people get caught in an ever-narrowing labyrinth that compresses and distorts their true selves. This awakening process is the invitation to embark on the journey of genuine personal growth. If you accept the invitation and follow the path, this mysterious journey will lead to transformation, regardless of your pattern in the Enneagram. Those who continue to pursue this journey become seekers of wisdom who see and understand the importance of the inner work to which human beings are called during their earthly lives.
This book is an introduction to the secret wisdom of the Enneagram, but the true potential of the Enneagram is revealed in the living of it. There is a principle in the Work-the name Gurdjief gave to the ideas that support the Enneagram - that says, “Books are like maps, but there is also the necessity of traveling.” The Enneagram's potential is the ability to guide us in practicing the art of awakening and transformation-to help us choose the wisdom and grace that can set us free. Freed from the entanglements of our own egocentricity, we will no longer see other people as puzzles to be solved but works of art to be appreciated. Back to “Honing In” with Michelle Papineau-Stoen Personality Types The
ONE KEY PERSONALITY TYPE - The PERFECTIONIST
/ REFORMER
ONEs set high standards and expect the best out of both themselves and others .....are into improving things ..... strive for perfection ..... they dress neatly and appropriately ..... have a high level of honesty and integrity ..... are responsible, capable and dependable ..... they keep their word and can be counted on ..... have strong self-discipline ..... judge things as either right or wrong ..... have lots of shoulds and oughts ..... they believe in and will follow rules ..... are organized and orderly ..... like everything in its place ..... and have a place for everything ..... they feel they know what is truly correct and right ..... will strongly stand up for what they believe is right ..... and find it very difficult to compromise their standards .... they would like everyone else to see and agree with their point of view.
SOME KEY TRAITS OF The
PERFECTIONIST / REFORMER
ONEs tend to strive
for perfection: Whether in the
home or at work, there is at least one aspect of their life that ONEs will
strive toward perfecting. Although one aim of this striving for perfection by
ONEs is aimed at gaining praise, an even greater motivation for their need to
live their life the "right way" is to avoid any potential criticism,
either from others or from their own internal critic. This drive toward
perfectionism supports the ONEs high ideals and their deep sense of right and
wrong relative to their ideals. As
high as a ONEs expectations might be of others, their own self-expectations are
even tougher. They tend to get overly frustrated by having to live up to the
high standards of their own level of self-perfection, and at not being able to
live up to their perfect ideals that they mentally have for themselves. This
creates a constant internal comparison of the way things are to the ONEs ideal
of the way things "should" be. ONEs tend to want to
reform others: ONEs are driven
toward improving themselves as well as the world around them. They want and tend
to encourage others to have, and live up to, the same standards and ideals they
have for themselves. Being convinced of the righteousness of their own ideals
and convictions they feel compelled to support others in embracing their (the
ONEs) ideals and standards. They strongly believe that if others could follow
their high standards then the world will be a better place for everyone. As they
see very others slip from their (the ONEs) standards they are compelled to help
them get back on the track. The ONE knows the "right" way, and they
have a sense of duty to show others "the" right way! ONEs tend to be very
organized and orderly: ONEs tend
to be meticulous, a place for everything and everything in its place. They are
detail oriented, knowing just how things "should" be. With the help of
their highly powerful internal critic, ONEs are compelled to mentally categorize
everything into good or bad and right or wrong. For them everything tends to be
either black or white and no room for any gray areas; they tend to have a low
tolerance for any loose ends. ONEs work hard at keeping things neat and orderly
so that things will work out right. They are detail planners and they know just
how tools, procedures and rules should be treated and organized for everyone's
good. They tend to like things clean and neat, and when they become frustrated
or mad they will tend to occupy themselves doing cleaning and organizing to make
everything right. ONEs tend to have a
high level of honesty and integrity:
The motivation behind being honest for the ONE is to limit their inner critic's
reprimanding them for doing something wrong. With their strong sense of right
and wrong and the attendant list of "shoulds" and "oughts",
honesty for them has to be the best policy. By being so honest, ONEs can come
across to others as do-gooders who always stick to the rules. However, to a ONE
this is the only way they know how to be. What a ONE might think of as a
suggestion comes out to others as "you should or else ..." The ONEs high level
of rules and standards as an asset:
The ONEs non-personal standards and objectivity can all work together and
be very valuable and create excellent results in certain jobs and tasks that
require a high level of rational and critical sense such as quality control,
proof reading, legal advisors, accounting, property appraisal, insurance
adjusters and secretaries. ONEs tend to stand up for what they believe is right: ONEs have a strong sense of what is right and wrong in the world and they are not afraid to stand up for what they believe to be right. They tend to be strong supporters of the causes that they believe in. A ONEs' cause may be religious, political, environmental or in the economic/business arena. "Save the Whales" or a similar cause can be a rallying cry for a ONE. They are easily able to see the correctness of these issues and can be powerful debaters and spokespersons for their causes. The PERFECTIONIST / REFORMER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLDWith their high ideals ONEs make significant contributions to the causes they deem worthwhile. The cause they support may have a long term goal that does not need to be immediately successful (e.g. the elimination of starvation on the planet), as long as they sense that they are working and contributing toward an ideal they believe in. The ONEs attention to detail can contribute to jobs that need detail, such as those requiring math, correct grammar or precise explanations. They have an almost uncanny ability to see imperfections in almost any form, from tax forms to legal agreements; the ONE can spot just about any discrepancy that can be found. Through their striving for perfection and their high ideals ONEs can make inspiring teachers and great leaders of causes. They become the great crusaders leading the "battles" for justice and integrity. Well known people considered to have a ONE personality: Ross Perot, Nancy Regan, Ralph Nader, Hillary Clinton, Martin Luther, Katherine Hepburn, Sidney Poitier, William F. Buckley, Ann Landers, Tom Smothers, Emily Post, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Peter Jennings, Jacqueline Onassis, Bill Moyers, Glenda Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Angela Lansbury, Jerry Falwell, Margaret Thatcher, Charlton Heston, Meryl Streep, George Bernard Shaw, Harrison Ford, Vannessa Redgrave, Sandra Day O'Conner, Gregory Peck, Charles Dickens, Barbara Walters, Nelson Mandela, Mary Baker Eddy, Eric Sevareid. WEAKNESSES of the PERFECTIONIST / REFORMER PERSONALITYAllowing themselves to be slavish about their sense of what is right and wrong has a tendency to become dogmatic with inflexible opinions. ONEs can become addicted to taking their perfectionism too far, developing a tendency to become overly self-righteous and intolerant of any other viewpoint but their own. As demanding and righteous as they may be to others, ONEs are, in fact, even more demanding and critical of themselves. They tend to have a persistent and ever present self-critic that is continually setting and monitoring the standards and ideals that few humans would ever be able to attain leading to an anger that many times gets turned against others. HOW ONEs TEND TO COMMUNICATEIt has been said that
everything about us and everything we do communicates something; the clothes we
wear, the cars we drive, the words we use in our conversations all paint a
picture of us in the minds of others. So in reality, no matter what we do or
say, we are always communicating information about us to others.
ONEs have a tendency to communicate in what many describe as a
"preachy" style. Others come away from a conversation with a ONE
having been told what the right thing to do is. They can be very persuasive with
a slight undertone of anger which comes across as "if you don't do this, or
do it my way, it will be wrong or incorrect." ONEs do not mind giving
advice, but they dislike having to tell the same thing to someone more than
once; they have a low tolerance for people who don't get or pay attention to
what they tell them the first time. ONEs tend to dress and groom themselves with
great attention to detail and correctness.
SOME PROBLEMS AREAS
and GROWTH PATHS of the ONE PERSONALITY TYPE
ONEs generally have
difficulty handling any type of criticism. They gain much self growth as they
work with themselves to become less defensive and more open to appropriate
outside input. ONEs often have
difficulty recognizing when they are angry and they tend to stuff and suppress
their anger until it boils over. Growth comes as they learn to express their
anger in appropriate ways, and not let it build up to destructive proportions. ONEs tend to always be
striving for perfection. They are on their path to growth when they realize that
doing their best is all that's required, and by learning to relax and enjoy life
more. ONEs have a tendency to believe that
they are the only ONEs that can "do it right." They grow by learning
to let things go, encouraging others to do their best and acknowledging others
for what they do get done. ONEs are seldom totally
satisfied with what they, themselves, produce. They are growing as they learn to
be less critical and appreciate themselves for what is accomplished. ONEs tend to become overly upset when things go wrong. Their path to self-growth comes as they realize that in most cases people are doing their best, and acknowledging them for what is accomplished. The
TWO KEY PERSONALITY TYPE - The
HELPER / CARETAKER
SOME
KEY TRAITS of the HELPER / CARETAKER Personality
TWOs
tend to enjoy helping others:
TWOs enjoy and have a great capacity for helping others.
They tend to be always available and ready to help, to give whatever
assistance is needed to others. In
fact, they seem to be paying constant attention to the feelings and needs of
others. If you have a TWO in your
life, you know they will be there for you either in a crisis or just to give
some loving support. The underlying
motivation in their helping others is to not only give needed support, but also
to be able to get the approval and acknowledgment that the TWO needs to make
them feel wanted and loved. TWOs
tend to be very giving and caring to others:
TWOs have a deep inborn natural understanding of human nature, and what it takes
to support and care for others. They
are easily able to adapt to the needs of others, with just the right word, deed
or gift. They are very giving of
their own personal time and things. Generous
to a fault they want people they care for, or many times barely even know, to
feel cared for and nurtured. Saying
the right thing or finding just the right gift or present is done with taste and
always with feeling. TWOs
tend to be very empathic to the feelings of others: TWOs
seem to always understand what others are feeling and need.
They have a tendency to take on others' experiences and lose themselves
in them. The hurts, concerns or
problems of those they care for can easily become the TWO's hurt, concern or
problem. They seem to merge with
others to better understand their inner needs. They can be quite sensitive to
the concerns and pain of others and appear to have a sixth sense of what others
are going through. They can be of
great comfort to others as "someone who understands" their concerns,
pain, problems. TWOs pay attention
to the feelings of others more than any of the other eight personality types. TWOs
tend to consider the needs of others before their own:
TWOs
will tend to drop everything, including their own needs, to help others.
The needs of someone they care for becomes their need.
This becomes a problem for the TWO to the degree that they start to see
the need in everyone, and their world becomes a very needy place.
TWOs learned early in their lives that they felt better about themselves
when they were attending to the needs of others, rather than their own.
As a result, they may not have developed a healthy understanding of
themselves and their own needs. Being
always on the lookout for ways to be of service to others, their lives can go up
and down like a yo-yo as they react to attending to other peoples needs and
problems. TWOs may find themselves giving an unlimited amount of their
time in supporting others and allowing very little time for paying attention or
taking care of their own needs. TWOs
tend to see everything as a service: Many
TWOs create their jobs and careers as an act of service, such as being in the
service professions as doctors, social workers, personnel managers, teachers and
counselors. Any profession with no
outlet for serving or being needed would be uninviting to a TWO.
Off the job they enjoy giving their time as the Brownie troop leader, the
volunteer at the soup kitchen, PTA or service club secretary. TWOs
tend to act from their heart or feelings: TWOs
are deeply feeling people. They act
and react from a highly subjective point of view in reaction to how things
effect them and their feelings. Their
feelings are both their antenna to the outside world and the barometer of their
ups and downs. Did they like me? Did they seem mad at me?
Do they really appreciate me!! In
search of positive feedback to their willingness to help and be of service, TWOs
easily show an interest in everyone's affairs.
They love providing advice and somehow know just what is right for the
other person; which can lead to being overextended in their relationships and
social commitments for many TWOs. TWOs
like to have lots of friends and close relationships:
TWOs
attract many people to them with their warmth and caring.
They develop a support group of relationships to whom they can give them
their caring attention and energy. They
can be quite busy on the phone trying to stay in constant contact with people. As a parent, their families are very important to them; they
need to feel needed by their children and their spouse. Married female TWOs have a tendency to merge with their
spouse and can be a strong support behind their success, many times at the
sacrifice of having their own career. TWOs
mainly like to be involved within small groups or in one-on-one relationships.
If they are involved in a large group event they prefer to be a
behind-the-scenes support person. The
HELPER / CARETAKER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD
TWOs
are the greatest helpers in the world. They
are highly sensitive to others, seeming to understand what others need even
before those others do themselves. Warm
and kind they make others feel important, loved and better about themselves.
As a support person, they can be a great asset to people in power and
play an import part in their success. TWOs
take the time to make celebrations happen and are always there with a special
gift. Very thoughtful to other
people, they can seem like a warm fire on a cold day.
They are naturally accommodating, making good conflict mediators or
diplomats. They are touchy-feely
people who are always ready to give everyone a big hug. Well
known people considered to have a TWO personality:
Leo
Buscagila, Mother Teresa, Edith Bunker, John Denver, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill
Cosby, Johnny Mathis, Sandy Duncan, Danny Thomas, Dolly Parton, Mahatma Gandhi,
Doris Day, Harry Belafonte, Barbara Bush, Mr. Rogers. WEAKNESSES
of the HELPER / CARETAKER Personality
Average
or unhealthy TWOs have a tendency to use their helping and giving as a subtle,
or not so subtle, form of manipulating others.
Down deep many TWOs are looking for a return on their investment of
helping and giving. They
desperately want to receive tokens of love in return through acknowledgment,
gratitude and a show of appreciation from those to whom they gave.
They tend to feel that they have no value in the world if they are not
needed. If they get involved with a
group or are in a meeting and feel they are not needed, they will not
participate and exit at the first opportunity feeling it is a waste of time. HOW
TWOs TEND TO COMMUNICATE
It
has been said that everything about us and everything we do communicates
something; the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the words we use in our
conversations all paint a picture of us in the minds of others.
So in reality, no matter what we do or say, we are always communicating
information about us to others. TWOs are the "touchy feely" style communicators. They have a seductive quality of communication that tends to be close, intimate, caring. They enjoy closely paying attention to what others are telling them, giving advise and being flattering. They do not seem to mind asking personal questions and getting close to others if they feel they can help or give others advice "for their own good." TWOs
communicate on a feeling level and on matters of the heart they are not afraid
to express their emotions and tell how they feel.
Although very open to asking very personal questions of others, they maynot be very open to answering the same kind of personal questions about
themselves. SOME
PROBLEM AREAS AND GROWTH PATHS OR THE TWO PERSONALITY TYPE TWOs
often feel unappreciated for the help they give others.
Growth comes as they learn that giving to and helping others is its own
reward, not the response they get back for their actions. TWOs
have a tendency to put all of their energy into looking out for and taking care
of the needs of others without taking care of their own needs.
They are growing as they come to realize that their first responsibility
needs to be toward their own well-being and that the better they are able to handle their own needs, the more able contribute to others
they will be. TWOs
often allow their actions to be dictated by their emotions.
Growth occurs as they learn to be more objective in making decisions and
taking action. Many TWOs tend to feel they are victims of life. They are on their growth path as they learn to build their own self-confidence and depend less on others for their self-esteem. The THREE KEY PERSONALITY TYPE - The ACHIEVER / PERFORMER / MOTIVATORTHREEs
are competitive and achieving ... they are aggressive in getting tasks and
projects completed ... like titles and recognition ... and dress for success ...
they are good at enrolling and motivating others ... and making a good
impression is important to them ... they are good at organizing projects and
people ... are good communicators ... are doers and like to accomplish things
... they are proud of their successes and accomplishments ... are goal setters
and decision makers ... they are players versus spectators ... and like to be
part of the action ... they are enthusiastic, social and charming. SOME KEY TRAITS Of
The ACHIEVER / PERFORMER THREEs
love the position of being a winner and getting the acknowledgment and attention
winners get. Their own assessment of winning and achieving success may
include wealth, driving a status car, belonging to the best clubs, awards, and
being stars at school. They will
strive to be #1, the best, or top of the class.
THREEs
tend to be performers and like to "look good": THREEs are highly
adaptable. They will strive to
improve themselves and make whatever changes are necessary to move them toward
the successful outcomes they seek. Their
radar for success gives them an uncanny ability to be at the right place at the
right time to be the right person for the greatest chance of success. Dressing for success and "looking the part" are
important to THREEs. They tend to
have a pleasing appearance knowing what accessories to use for the
"part". They can switch
from a pair of fashion jeans to a charity ball formal in no time and look great
at both. THREEs
tend to be organized and efficient: For
a THREE, efficiency and organization are the paths to success.
If they are in sales, and many are, their credo is "He who gets the
most sales in the shortest time wins".
They work hard, many times becoming workaholics, to get to and keep the
status of being number 1, top producer, best in class.
They have no problem applying whatever means it takes to get them to
their target goals; for a THREE, the end always justifies the means.
They tend to be constantly re-evaluating and re-establishing their goals
and re-organizing the resources to obtain them. When
success can be seen or is assured, the THREE will put everything they have into
obtaining it. They are not your 9 to 5 worker; overtime to them is just a
necessary part of moving toward their goals.
Known for their successes and being able to "get the job done",
many times they are given even more work to accomplish.
They are the people behind the old saying "If you need to get
something done, give it to a busy person." THREEs
are good communicators and team leaders:
Highly verbal and sometimes quite glib, THREEs use their own motivation
as an example to motivate others. They
enjoy displaying the trappings of success and make use of their communication
skills to project the job to be done. The
charm of their convincing charisma can influence and persuade people to accept
and take on their viewpoint. They
are excellent networkers and their enthusiasm carries over to others, inspiring
them to join in their successes. Many
of the most successful people in "Multi-level" or "Network"
marketing are THREEs which is a good example of their ability to share their
success with others so they can be even more successful. THREEs
are good promoters: A major
reason for the success THREEs have in promoting themselves and their goals is
that they can be so convincing, seeming to be and believing 100% in whatever
they are promoting. To the THREE,
they "are" the company or product they are promoting.
Highly self-assured, they give their own successful image to whatever it
is that they are promoting. The
ACHIEVER / PERFORMER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD The
United States is very much a THREE environment.
The general belief is that if you set high goals and work hard to reach
them, anyone can be successful in America.
THREEs are hard working, enthusiastic, and inspire confidence to get the
job done. In their success they
motivate others to be successful and set an example for many to follow. Almost
everyone is drawn to what a THREE represents, success through hard work,
distinguishing themselves in the eyes of others, helping others climb the
ladder. Well-known
people considered having a THREE personality: WEAKNESSES
Of The ACHIEVER / PERFORMER PERSONALITY While
success is important to almost everyone, different people define true success
differently. THREEs have the tendency to lose themselves in their quest
for success. They will adopt
practically any look, speech, or attitude to be successful. They become driven by the trappings of success rather than
what they really want. For some
people they appear as phony, a shell without anything inside. For the average to
unhealthy THREE, the fear of failure can become so great that they will do
anything, without remorse, to achieve or maintain success. They will use unscrupulous and even illegal ways to be and
stay successful; success at any cost.
HOW THREEs TEND TO COMMUNICATE
It
has been said that everything about us and everything we do communicates
something; the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the words we use in our
conversations all paint a picture of us in the minds of others.
So in reality, no matter what we say or do, we are always communicating
information about us to others. A
THREE can sell ice to Eskimos. They
seem so sure of what they say, so utterly knowledgeable, that there is little
others can do to disagree with them. At
their best they can convince you of what you really do need, at their worst they
are the ultimate huckster and showman.
SOME PROBLEM AREAS AND GROWTH PATHS FOR
THE THREE PERSONALITY TYPE
THREEs tend to be
overly concerned with how they appear to others and what kind of impression they
are making. Growth comes as they
learn to be more genuine and authentic in their interactions and less concerned
with just looking good. THREEs
will generally do almost anything to "avoid" failure.
They are growing as they learn to recognize their own self-worth and
their value in accomplishing things. THREEs
have a tendency to not only work hard and be competitive on the job, but to make
"play" competitive and hard as well.
Growth comes as they learn to ease off and relax and just enjoy being
with others. THREEs
may have a problem with delegating things to others. They
are on the path of growth as they learn to trust that others will do their best
to get the job done, many times as well or better than they can.
THREEs
tend to overly value the achievement of goals and success. Growth comes with their ability to make the people that
brought about the success as important as the goal itself. THREEs tend to always look toward the future for their happiness. They grow as they learn to experience more satisfaction and happiness in the present. The FOUR KEY PERSONALITY TYPE - The AUTHENTIC INDIVIDUALIST
SOME KEY TRAITS Of The AUTHENTIC
INDIVIDUALIST
FOURs have the
need to be authentic: FOURs feel they are special and
that they need to be true to themselves and their feelings.
They constantly want to know more about themselves and to understand
themselves in relation to the world, other family members and their environment.
In finding out more about themselves they are looking to confirm just how
unique they really are. This search
for their true authentic self, the self that they know is inside them waiting to
be expressed, is a key feature to their type.
This need to express their “authentic” self motivates them in their
search for the perfect relationship and for beautiful and emotional experiences
in their lives. FOURs tend to be individualistic: FOURs make every attempt to avoid being ordinary, average, plain or just one of the crowd. They see themselves as one-of-a-kind “special” individuals following the beat of their own drummer and in touch with their inner voice or drive. They show their need to communicate their individualism as an expression of themselves. This can show up in their job or vocation, their clothing and way of dressing, in their homes or work environment. Uniformity and normal means death and restriction while individualism and uniqueness means life and freedom. FOURs tend to
dress and do things with flair and style: Their
expression of their individualism is often accomplished through fashion and
dress. Rather than dressing in something “off the rack,” they will design or
“throw together” something in the latest fashion or completely unique to
express their own style. Their sense of beauty adds to their drive to express
themselves. Most often seen in
youth, and more subtly in adults, the latest trendy fashion dresser is a FOUR.
Things that are new and different have a special attraction to a FOUR in
their wanting to feel and be special and different. FOURs are
creative and often quite artistic:
FOURs have an aesthetic look for life.
They are able to see the hidden beauty in things that many of the other
personality types do not. They need
and are constantly looking for ways to express themselves; ways to bring their
inner world out. Creating something is a way for them to understand themselves
as well as a way to live that expression. Their
strong level of emotions draw on hidden levels of creativity. FOURs tend to
be sensitive to their own emotions:
FOURs emotionally experience the highs and lows that life has to offer
more than any of the other personality types.
For a FOUR, life can seem like a roller coaster ride.
Always on a quest for beauty, uniqueness, the perfect love, the true
romance in their life, they have both strong attractions and dislikes in their
constant comparison against their sense of the ideal.
Their depth of feeling and emotions make them feel alive as opposed to
the regularity of feeling ordinary. FOURs pay close attention to their feelings
in order to gain the deeper understanding of themselves that is so important in
their quest for authenticity. Being
overly sensitive to any kind of criticism, they can be easily triggered into
depression by just a minor critical remark from someone important in their life. FOURs tend to
be empathetic to the feelings of others: FOURs have
known the pain and joys of life and have a way of tapping into the feelings of
others. They tend to be emotionally
honest, using feeling to inspire and direct.
For those they are close to, FOURs they will be there in a crisis with
empathy and support. In fact, the
four feels very alive sharing in a special non-ordinary moment of pain or
tragedy. FOURs tend to
feel misunderstood: FOURs have great difficulty being
able to totally express or describe what is going on emotionally in their lives.
This may often times lead to their feeling down and depressed; like
something is missing in their life. They
feel the pain from the misunderstanding of others, of what they say or do and
not really being able to express themselves as adequately or perfectly as they
would like in order for people to understand them.
THE AUTHENTIC INDIVIDUALIST'S
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD
FOURs
are creative and often quite artistic. With
an ability to see hidden beauty in things, they are constantly looking for ways
to express themselves, ways to bring their inner world out. Being creative and
tapping into the beauty of the world are traits that the FOUR tends to bring to
any working environment, be it working in a bank, department store, teaching,
interior, clothing or just about any kind of design, anywhere they choose to be. FOURs
share their sense of beauty with the rest of the world. Intuitive and tuned in
to this sense of beauty and style, the FOUR contributes much to the world. They
are many times the depth gauge for the other personality types, dipping into
their strong emotions to create plays, films, books, music that we can all
enjoy. Well known
people considered to have a FOUR personality: Kate
Bush, Robert Bly, Oscar Wilde, Joni Mitchell, Marion Brando, Bette Davis, Robert
DeNiro, Sarah Bernhardt, Edgar Alien Poe, Vanessa Redgrave, James Dean, Marilyn
Monroe, Rudolf Nureyev, Martha Graham, Tennessee Williams, Judy Garland, Vincent
Van Gogh, Scarlet O'Hara, Francis Ford Coppola, Virginia Woolf, Don Riso, Winona
Ryder, Billy Crystal, John Lennon, Daniel Day Lewis, Joan Baez, Orson Wells,
Cher.
WEAKNESSES OF THE
AUTHENTIC INDIVIDUALIST PERSONALITY
Average and lower
level of health FOURs tend to envy what they perceive that others have that they
don't. They can sometimes get so caught up in their emotions about
what they feel others have that they lack, that they begin to look to others to
fill this void or what they see as the source of their emptiness.
This may lead them to an addiction to a love relationship and to looking
to others to give them what they feel they are missing. A sense of tragedy can
be pervasive in their life, taking them on a continual search for things to make
them feel special. They tend to feel misunderstood by others and have difficulty
being able to clearly express what is going on emotionally for them.
FOURs have a
tendency to dwell in their past, in their losses, and in the drama of their
melancholy feelings. Overly
sensitive to any kind of criticism, they can be easily triggered into depression
by just a minor critical remark from someone important to them.
Their being so sensitive to criticism can lead to low self-esteem and
self-doubt, causing them to withdraw even further into their emotions and
leading to isolation and depression. As
they experience life's highs and lows, life can seem like an emotional roller
coaster ride for a FOUR.
HOW FOURs TEND TO COMMUNICATE
It has been said
that everything about us and everything we do communicates something; the
clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the words we use in our conversations all
paint a picture of us in the minds of others.
So in reality, no matter what we do or say, we are always communicating
information about ourselves to others. FOURs can be dramatic in their
communication. It may be overstated
or understated but is usually not ordinary. They have a deep sense of non-verbal
communications that can be expressed in dance, photography, sculpture, or other
forms of artistic expression.
SOME PROBLEM AREAS AND GROWTH PATHS
FOR The FOUR PERSONALITY TYPE
FOURs tend to
bring a lot of drama into their lives and to dwell on the upsets created in
their relationships. They are able to foster their growth as they learn to be more
objective, rational and more in control of their emotions FOURs tend to easily
get emotionally down and can experience serious depression about life in
general. Growth comes from their
learning to live more in “true” reality, rather than in their fantasies, and
to be more accepting of the way things are. FOURs see themselves as being
special, and they can often appear to be aloof or elitist to others, precluding
possible relationships. They are on
the road to growth as they learn to be comfortable with who they are and to be
more accepting of others as they are, and not separating themselves from those
who don't see them as being special. FOURs can get so caught up in their emotions that they procrastinate with getting the important things done in their life. Growth comes out of their learning to be more in action and less caught up in their emotions. FOURs can have strong feelings of shame for even small mistakes, causing them to try to cut themselves off from further exposure. They find that as they are able to strengthen their self-esteem and character they are more able to look upon their mistakes as paths to growth and improvement. The
FIVE KEY PERSONALITY TYPE
- The OBSERVER / PHILOSOPHER
FIVEs are analytical and logical ..... they tend to be original, knowledgeable and insightful thinkers ..... are very independent ..... and dislike competition or any kind of supervision ..... they are very self-sufficient ..... and quite private ...... they enjoy being by themselves ..... and doing things on their own ..... they prefer to observe rather than participate ..... and are highly reflective about everything in their lives ..... they are very curious and enjoy gathering information and knowledge ..... they like being an expert ..... are focused when interested ..... and need to get the big picture ..... they are emotionally detached ..... are in the world of thoughts ..... and are reluctant joiners ..... they strongly dislike small talk ...... and are generally not at ease in social situations.SOME
KEY TRAITS of The OBSERVER / PHILOSOPHER Personality
FIVEs
tend to be observers rather than participants:
Being highly reflective about their lives and everything in their environment,
FIVEs tend to observe and mentally gather information before participating. The
energy of a FIVE tends to get easily drained when they have to participate in
groups, making small talk, or having to be “on” for other people for any
length of time. FIVEs tend only to able to recharge their energy batteries when
they are able to have time alone and off to themselves. It
is especially important for the FIVE to have some private place which they can
call their own where they are able to think and read.
FIVEs tend to be very good at figuring things out, however, they will
only offer to contribute their thoughts and viewpoints after they have had time
to understand and feel they have the whole picture. FIVEs
tend to be original and insightful thinkers:
FIVEs like to be in the world of ideas and to “tinker” with concepts and
ideas. They tend to be good at synthesizing concepts and putting together new
and inventive ideas. As a matter of fact, creative and exciting ideas tend to
pop into their heads on a regular basis. They have a strong tendency to
compartmentalize everything in their minds. They are able to move ideas and
concepts around in their head and can be quite reflective and contemplative of
just about everything around them. FIVEs
tend to be analytical and logical:
Words are important to a FIVE, and they tend to reflect on and think about what
was said in a conversation. They have a need for words and information to be
precise. They will want to learn and understand all of the parts and to analyze
things until the precision they require is reached for it to be logical to them.
They tend to think things out by taking in what is going on and logically
breaking it down to try and understand it. FIVEs
are not easily swayed by emotion:
When there are emotions involved, either theirs or someone else’s, they will
analyze it with logic and reasoning. For FIVEs, thinking is an actual
“doing” activity in their minds and, as a result of all of this on-going
mental activity, they can get quite physically exhausted by all of their
thinking and analyzing. FIVEs
tend to be self-sufficient and have a need for freedom:
FIVEs are very good at not letting themselves get too attached to anyone or
anything. They don not like being encumbered or to owe people. They tend to
prefer living within modest means so as to not be bound to people or things.
They see this as freedom to be able to explore wherever their new and exciting
thoughts take them. Cherishing their privacy and the ability to be with
themselves, FIVEs are happy in the freedom of their “own world” of knowledge
and exploration with minimal entanglements and frustrations about others
opinions. FIVEs
thrive on independence and dislike any kind of supervision:
FIVEs do not like being told what to do, or for that matter, telling others what
to do. To be supervised or told what to do, to a FIVE, means that they are being
judged about what or how they are doing and if they are doing a good job or not.
To a FIVE, only they know how good or great a job they are really doing, and
they know how competent they really are without anyone telling them.
FIVEs
are generally curious people:
FIVEs are forever exploring new ideas and possibilities. They are very good at
pursuing and gathering information and knowledge about almost anything that they
have a particular interest in or that intrigues them. Life offers so many
questions and FIVEs want to pursue and learn the answers to them all. FIVEs
like to be an expert:
FIVEs will tend to focus on and become experts on special subject areas that
interest them. They would rather create their own systems rather than be a part
of someone else’s. When asked their opinion about a subject that they know
well (actually very well) they will open up and can be quite helpful and
personal. FIVEs like to show off their knowledge from time to time but only to
people whom they believe will appreciate what they share. The
OBSERVER / PHILOSOPHER’s CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD
FIVEs
tend to make their contributions to the world in the area of intellectual
thinking. None of the other key types are able to delve into areas of knowledge
as deeply as the Observer / Philosopher, and few are able to develop the depth
of understanding of a particular subject. However, this does not mean that all
FIVEs are librarians or researchers, it simply means that FIVEs value and gather
knowledge and information in the areas which interest them. FIVEs can contribute
a great deal to others in the areas which they make themselves experts in. FIVEs
also make a contribution with their ability to synthesize different subjects,
finding new connections and new variations on ideas and things that can be
important to the future knowledge regarding a particular subject area. Well-known
people considered to have a FIVE personality: J.
Paul Getty, Brent Scowcraft, Emily Dickinson, Howard Hughes, Franz Kafka, Al
Pacino, J. D. Salinger, Michele Pfeiffer, Jerry Brown, Henry Fonda, Greta Garbo,
Albert Einstein, John Richards, D.H. Lawrence, Stephen Hawkings, Sigmund Freud,
Anthony Hopkins, Bobby Fischer, Thomas Edison, Isaac Asimov, Jeremy Irons,
Fredrich Nietzsche, Buddha. WEAKNESSES
of The OBSERVER / PHILOSOPHER PERSONALITY
It
seems to be the nature of the human system that many of our greatest strengths,
or what seem to be our strongest attributes, have a flip or negative side to
them. In the case of the FIVE, their deep and sometimes all consuming intellect
may produce a detached hermit that only wants to be left alone with their ideas.
Another major problem for FIVEs is that they many times appear like they prefer
to be an “outsider” to others because participation in social groups outside
of the areas that they specialize in tend to hold little interest for them. A
further problem impacting their relationships is their tendency to have low
tolerance for slow or mediocre thinking in others due to their keen and
knowledgeable minds. HOW
FIVEs TEND TO COMMUNICATE
It
has been said that everything about us and everything we do communicates
something; the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the words we use in our
conversations all paint a picture of us in the minds of others. So in reality,
no matter what we do or say, we are always communicating information about us to
others. FIVEs
tend to be somewhat subtle in their communications. It is a paradox that FIVEs
have so much in their minds and relative little tends to come out of their
mouths. Verbal communication on their part will usually be minimal unless it is
on a topic they feel comfortable talking about, such as a subject that they feel
they are expert on. A FIVEs language and communications may also contain a lot
of jargon or “techno speak” that seems very normal to them, but tends to
confuse or put off others who may not be as well versed in their particular
field of expertise. FIVEs tend not to be very expressive in the way that they
dress or with their other personal items, preferring not to stand out too much
or be conspicuous. SOME
PROBLEM AREAS AND GROWTH PATHS FOR The FIVE PERSONALITY TYPE FIVEs
often tend to be observers rather than participants in group and social events.
They gain personal growth as they learn to be able to devote more time to
participating and spend less time in their heads. FIVEs
will strongly avoid being controlled in any way and tend to dislike being
supervised or being told what to do. Personal growth comes as they learn to be
more open to the input of others which may be helpful and a positive
contribution. FIVEs
have a tendency to gather information and then to be stingy about sharing it.
They are able to expand their personal growth as they learn to share their
knowledge and information with others. FIVEs
try to be totally self-sufficient and will often have difficulty requesting any
kind of help or assistance from others. Personal growth comes as they find that
no one is an island and they become more open to the input and assistance of
others. FIVEs
tend to hoard their time to themselves and can be quite stingy with sharing
their time and resources. Their personal growth expands as they expand their
participation in life and become more open to spending time with others. The FIVEs tendency to be rational and logical can make it quite difficult for them to be in touch with their feelings and emotions. Personal growth comes from their being able to receive the input and acknowledge the value of their emotions and the feelings of others. The SIX
PERSONALITY TYPE
- The LOYAL TEAM MEMBER
SIXs are loyal, warm and faithful friends ..... they are reliable ..... careful in their responsibilities ..... and have a strong sense of loyalty and duty ..... they can be threatened by too much change ..... prefer established structure ..... and lean toward the tried and proven ..... they like clear rules and directions ..... and can become stressed over instability ..... they are somewhat cautious ..... tend to worry that things might go wrong ..... and prefer the older and wiser to make decisions .... they take their responsibilities seriously .... are hard working ..... dependable, faithful, trustworthy ..... and true champions of their causes.SOME KEY TRAITS of The LOYAL TEAM MEMBER
PERSONALITY
SIXs tend to have a strong sense of
loyalty:
Once the SIX key type is able to establish trust in a person, family, group,
organization, political party or even their country, they put their heart and
head behind it. The loyalty of a SIX is deeply rooted as a place where they can
belong and where they are valued. SIXs are known for not missing any days at
work and their staunch support and defense of their family or organization
against all threats. Once having gained their loyalty, you can count on their
being steadfast in their cooperation and support when you need them.
SIXs tend to want to be part of a team:
SIXs work well within a defined structure which provides purpose and direction
in what they are doing. Being a
part of a team spreads the level of responsibility they have to personally take
on for which they are willing to forgo receiving all of the rewards that would
come with being solely responsible. A job, family, or company can represent a
team that the SIX can contribute to. They usually feel more comfortable and
secure in the “second seat” where they are not solely responsible for making
all the decisions.
SIXs tend to make more sacrifices for
their family
than any other type, contributing to the security and well being of all family
members. Being well liked, reliable, hard working and loyal, they usually rise
to the level of middle management where they feel comfortable in their
professions. SIXs prefer clear rules, laws procedures,
and regulations: SIXs prefer to not be responsible for
setting the rules, they just want to follow them. They tend to solve conflicts
by going by the book and would tend to say: “If everyone would just follow the
rules we would have fewer problems.” Within the structure there is freedom for
them to act. The structure allows the SIX the ability to know they are doing the
right thing and they are able to predict what is expected of them. Without the
boundaries of structure the SIX tends to feel uncertain and uneasy having to
“make up” rules as they go. To not know what is expected of them can be
threatening and even frightening to a SIX.
SIXs will listen to a leader, or whomever
they see as an authority: SIXs respect titles, be it
President, Chairperson, Manager, Supervisor, Captain or Sergeant. They feel that
an authority knows more than they do and are to be respected and followed.
Sometimes the authority can be merely a friend or a spouse whom they respect who
has a strong view on something. A strong part of this tendency is their belief
that if they follow the word of the authority they are not personally
responsible for any potential problems that might arise. However, if things do
go wrong, they will tend to hold the authority figure accountable, but not
themselves for their participation in the matter. SIXs tend to feel threatened by change: SIXs
tend to like the tried and proven, they will worry and can become stressed by
too much change and instability in their jobs, family life or other parts of
their lives. They seek stability and order because they sense that things can go
wrong if there are many unknowns. In meetings, they prefer participating within
a clear agenda and even when it comes to vacations SIXs prefer having a vacation
that has a detailed itinerary. Suspicious
by nature, they are especially wary of anyone who makes promises they sense may
not be fulfilled. They feel threatened by all the new “Chaos” theories of
business and like to live by the slogan: “If it ain’t” broken leave it
alone.” Change for just the sake of change is just asking for trouble.
SIXs tend to be cautious: SIXs tend to only take calculated risks. One of their major strengths is their ability to see dangers and problems before they happen or before they become big problems. Murphy’s Laws were written by and for SIXs. They will be on the lookout for the defects and possible problems in situations so they can be careful and on guard for the worst-case situation. They are very good risk managers, accountants and lawyers who can provide |
