The Big Picture: Part II

Here is a quick glossary of the nine personality types referenced in my previous post.  I define them in terms of their core motivations (what they want to feel most), and fundamental action goals.

1- Motivation: feel safe; 
     Action Goal: make the world right

2- Motivation: feel needed; 
     Action Goal: give

3- Motivation: feel successful; 
     Action goal: lead a major agenda

4- Motivation: feel understood; 
     Action goal: communicate honestly or not at all.

5- Motivation: feel important; 
     Action goal: reveal what is important and true

6- Motivation: feel seen; 
     Action goal: be everywhere at once

7- Motivation: feel the high; 
     Action goal: Seek out where thrill can be had in each moment

8- Motivation: feel powerful; 
     Action goal: take charge of people & circumstances

9- Motivation: feel accepted; 
     Action goal: find places and ways to belong

What makes this approach interesting is that the 9 types are diagramed in a nine-sided shape (an enneagram), where each motivation has a relationship to the others.  Our core motivation is influenced by other motivations on the spectrum.  Specifically, I like looking at the relationship between each core motivation and the ‘wings’ on either side of it. 

So, for example, someone whose core motivation is to feel safe (“1”) is influenced by the desire to feel needed (“2”) and accepted (“9”).  Someone whose core motivation is to feel the high (“7”) is influenced by the desire to feel seen (“6”) and powerful (“8”). 

And here’s where it gets complicated… There are many ways that the wings can influence the core.  So for each person, the relationship between the core and the wings expresses itself in the traits that make that person unique.