Understanding the 9 Enneatypes

A Guide to Core Fears, Motivations, Strengths, and Blind Spots

The Enneagram is a powerful personality system that helps people understand themselves, others, and how they relate to the world around them. With nine distinct types, each with its own core fears, motivations, strengths, and blind spots, the Enneagram offers deep insights into human behaviour. Whether you're seeking personal growth, improving relationships, or enhancing your professional life, understanding your Enneagram type can be a game-changer.

Here's a breakdown of the nine types, their core fears and motivations, and a few strengths and blind spots of each.


Type 1: The Strict Perfectionist
Core Fear: Being corrupt, evil, or defective.
Core Motivation: To be good, virtuous, and balanced, and to avoid making mistakes.
Strengths: Type Ones are driven, principled, and detail-oriented. They strive for excellence and are excellent at organising and problem-solving.
Blind Spots: Their pursuit of perfection can lead to rigid thinking, frustration, and burnout. They may be overly critical of themselves and others.


Type 2: The Considerate Helper
Core Fear: Being unwanted, unloved, or unimportant.
Core Motivation: To feel loved and appreciated, and to help others feel cared for.
Strengths: Type Twos are empathetic, nurturing, and deeply attuned to the emotional needs of others. They thrive on making others feel seen and supported.
Blind Spots: Their desire to be needed can lead to self-sacrifice and neglecting their own needs. They may also struggle with boundaries, sometimes becoming too involved in others’ problems.

Type 3: The Competitive Achiever
Core Fear: Being worthless or failing.
Core Motivation: To be successful, admired, and to achieve goals while avoiding failure.
Strengths: Type Threes are goal-oriented, efficient, and energetic. They excel at motivation and are highly adaptable in professional environments.
Blind Spots: Their focus on success can sometimes lead to a lack of authenticity, as they may prioritise image over personal truth. They can also become overly competitive and lose sight of their deeper values.

Type 4: The Intense Creative
Core Fear: Being insignificant or lacking identity.
Core Motivation: To find themselves and their significance through creative expression and authenticity.
Strengths: Type Fours are introspective, creative, and deeply in touch with their emotions. They bring uniqueness and depth to relationships and projects.
Blind Spots: Their search for identity can lead to feelings of inadequacy or envy. They may also become overly focused on what makes them different, feeling misunderstood or isolated.

Type 5: The Quiet Specialist
Core Fear: Being helpless, incapable, or overwhelmed.
Core Motivation: To gain knowledge, understanding, and competence, and to preserve their independence.
Strengths: Type Fives are analytical, insightful, and innovative thinkers. They excel at solving complex problems and are highly self-sufficient.
Blind Spots: Their need for privacy and intellectual detachment can make them seem aloof or distant. They may also struggle with sharing emotions or seeking help when needed.

Type 6: The Loyal Sceptic
Core Fear: Being without support or guidance.
Core Motivation: To feel safe, secure, and supported, often by developing strong relationships and community ties.
Strengths: Type Sixes are reliable, hardworking, and committed. They excel at building trust and are great at thinking through risks and potential problems.
Blind Spots: Their tendency to overthink and seek reassurance can lead to anxiety and indecisiveness. They may struggle with self-doubt and can become overly suspicious or sceptical of others' intentions.

Type 7: The Enthusiastic Visionary
Core Fear: Being deprived or trapped in pain.
Core Motivation: To experience excitement, joy, and freedom, and to avoid feeling limited or bored.
Strengths: Type Sevens are energetic, optimistic, and creative. They bring enthusiasm and a sense of adventure to any situation, inspiring others with their vision and positivity.
Blind Spots: Their desire to avoid pain can lead them to distract themselves from difficult emotions or commitments. They may struggle with follow-through or become scattered when overwhelmed by too many options.

Type 8: The Active Controller 
Core Fear: Being controlled or harmed.
Core Motivation: To be strong, independent, and to protect themselves and others from harm.
Strengths: Type Eights are assertive, confident, and decisive. They excel in leadership roles, advocating for others and standing up for what they believe in.
Blind Spots: Their desire for control and intensity can come across as domineering or confrontational. They may also have difficulty showing vulnerability or trusting others with their power.

Type 9: The Adaptive Peacemaker
Core Fear: Conflict or disconnection.
Core Motivation: To maintain inner and outer peace, and to avoid conflict or tension in relationships.
Strengths: Type Nines are calm, empathetic, and excellent at bringing people together. They are great listeners and work well in collaborative environments.
Blind Spots: Their desire for harmony can lead them to avoid conflict or suppress their own needs. They may struggle with taking action or asserting themselves, often going along with others to keep the peace.

The Enneagram offers a profound way to understand not just your behaviour but the deeper motivations and fears that drive it. Each of the nine types brings unique strengths to the table, but also faces blind spots that can limit growth. By recognising these patterns, you can work towards becoming a more self-aware, balanced, and effective version of yourself. Whether for personal development, relationship enhancement, or career growth, the Enneagram is a tool that can help you better navigate your inner world and your interactions with others.

Ready to unlock your full potential and gain a deeper understanding of yourself? Discover your Enneagram type today and take the first step toward personal growth, improved relationships, and professional success. Our expert Enneagram coaching services will guide you on a transformative journey of self-awareness and development. Contact us now to begin your journey and start harnessing the power of the Enneagram!