Each type’s lesser known personality traits

The Enneagram is based on nine distinct fears and desires, which manifest nine unique personality types. But sometimes we notice that in books and online, the Enneagram types become caricatures of nine relatively high-level descriptions. There are some lesser-known skills and personality traits that each type possesses for which they deserve full credit. Here are some of our favorites.

Twos will:

• Nail the details, front to back. Twos are often highly conscientious and make expert planners and executors, with few things missing their notice (especially details about people).
  
• Make you feel truly seen. Perhaps no other type in the Enneagram can make the person they’re with feel special just for being themselves: seen, heard, appreciated in ways big and small.
  
• Take effective action. Twos do not merely bond; they take action. If something needs to get done, they think things through and then take practical steps to getting it done.
  
• Make you laugh with playful humor. Yes, almost all Twos have a killer sense of humor. They know how to play, tease, and pick up on other people’s subtle jokes.
  
• Go on risky adventures with you. Occasionally preoccupied by all the things they have to do and people they have to manage, Twos are also extremely underrated adventurers. They will surprise you with their capacity for adrenaline.
  
• Dish out suspiciously good advice. Yes, they’re happy to just listen. But do yourself a favor and ask for their advice; it tends to be thoughtful, practical, and well-rounded.
  
  

Threes will:

• Take supportive (or even life-saving) action. Something for which Threes often don’t want any credit is perhaps the most admirable. They are likely to take care of something important for you, or literally run into a burning car to save someone, with zero hesitation.
• Bring spark plug energy. Threes are some of the most optimistic and enduring personality types. They will bring the positive thinking and the drive, and it’s often contagious.
• Offer dynamite solutions. Few types are as well-blended in high-level and details-oriented thinking, plus a layer of sheer practicality. They probably have a handful of reasonable solutions to the issue at hand.
• Trek onwards, no matter what. Everyone can get discouraged. But Threes tend to use adversity as fuel. Tell them they “can’t” at your own risk…
• Spot life’s beauty. They may not always show it, but Threes can be surprisingly sentimental and attuned to beautiful art, family times, and moments in the now.
• Roll with the punches. Sometimes in life, flexibility is the name of the game: at work, in relationships, and in life circumstances. Hit a wall? Threes will evaluate and take another path.
  
  

Fours will:

• Enliven with a smart (or inappropriate) joke. If you think Fours are withdrawn all the time…think again. Fours oftentimes have an incredible sense of humor, and slightly favor inappropriateness, because it’s real.
• Express truths the world needs to hear. In times of conformity, Fours may stand alone saying important or nuanced things that others often intuitively know to be true.
• Listen…like, actually listen. Fours ask incredible questions of others, because they genuinely want to understand where they’re coming from. And they will share the space fully.
• Offer groundbreakingly creative thinking. Truly original and tapped into emotional expression: just two of the reasons Fours tend to be the most creative type in the Enneagram.
• Reign supreme at spotting nuances. They will detect if someone’s vibe is “off,” if a person can’t be trusted, or even a stunning detail within an oil painting.
• Bring beautiful ideas to life. Natural idealists and visionaries, Fours always have their antennas up for ideas, and will create beautiful output from conception to finish.
  
  

Fives will: 

• Explore the hidden corners of the universe. While all others are busy chasing fads or popular theories, Fives will explore everything to get to the truth.
• Offer solutions based on the facts. Almost all people operate based on motivated reasoning, aligning their answers to fit their emotions. Fives are the best at solely looking at the facts.
• Stimulate your brain with any convo. Fives will pique your interest with philosophy, technicality, and subject matter expertise. They are walking books.
• Uncover what *everyone* missed. They may seem shy. But they are observing, studying, researching. They’ve got insights.
• Laugh at the absurdity of human existence. It really is all pretty wacky when you think about it. Fives will accept and even chuckle at the wild craziness of it all.
• Secretly help their homies. Fives will lend a helping hand, no questions asked. While they’re known for being independent, they’re also reliably sweet and generous with their people.
  
  

Sixes will:

• Provide CIA-level analysis. You can go to them to think through anything, especially a situation that involves people, social dynamics, or a confluence of interacting variables.
• Stick with you through it all. Once you’re in, you’re in. They will stand with you in a f*cking blizzard and not back down; their relationships are their lifeblood. 
• Serve up practical, actionable advice. Sixes will analyze, and then they’re ready to give you their thoughts in a real, impactful way.
• Embark on (well-planned) risky adventures. Most Sixes we know have at least one high-adrenaline or risky hobby. They are not always risk-avoidant, and will surprise you if you let them.
• Enliven with playful intellectualism. They can be seriously brainy while weaving in plenty of playfulness. Discussions are often some of the most fun with Sixes.
• Supportively tell you the truth. You’ll often feel held my Sixes, because if you’re close, they’ll tell you whatever truth it’s important for you to hear, and they’ll still support you through it.
  
  

Sevens will:

• Surprise you with their sweetness. Sure, they want to have fun and are often bopping around on their own pursuits, but Sevens are actually highly sensitive to others. And in moments of calm, they show’ll it.
• Turn everyone’s creativity level up to 99. Sevens are natural ideators and outside-the-box thinkers. They do not judge, and encourage others to play and experiment.
• Inspire others with a positive vision. Their ability to think positively is often a self-fulfilling prophecy. Challenges, setbacks, “impossibilities” are merely temporary.
• Devour new intellectual topics for breakfast. Sevens are Renaissance thinkers and doers. Their humor often overshadows the fact that they learn eagerly, and they learn fast.
• Pull wild plans out of their hat. We’re willing to wager that some of the most insane, fun, and memorable spontaneous experiences you’ve had were thanks to a Seven.
• Bring electric socket energy. Their upbeat vibes truly are contagious. Even more grumpy or rational types can’t help but feel looser and sillier around them.
  
  

Eights will: 

• Give you their word and mean it. They may have healthy boundaries and say no, but if they say they’ll do something, their reliability is solid as a rock.
• Open up your mind to entirely new possibilities. Eights like thinking big, and thinking originally. You can, in fact, have your dream life and live outside of the Matrix. Pick their brain for ideas.
• Go deep on any taboo topic. They are not afraid to talk about things they find important or real. It’s a refreshing change for people accustomed to niceties and small talk.
• Infuse others with bulletproof confidence. Eights are so confident that their self-assurance is literally enough to empower others. “They’re right…I can do this.”
• Accept your quirks and weirdnesses. No, Eights are not usually bullies. In fact, they usually identify more with the loners and outcasts. If you show them respect, they’ll accept you fully, warts and all.
• Curate an epic home experience. For Eights, their home is their cave, fortress, and oasis all in one. They tend to make awesome hosts who are proud to show off their stuff and make you feel welcome.
  
  

Nines will:

• Spot subtleties that others usually miss. Yes, they noticed what you said, what she said, and the context of what was happening. They often therefore possess loads of insight.
• Light up with innovative solutions. Nines are remarkably creative. Their brains are synthesizing disparate bits of information constantly, so new solutions pop up regularly.
• Consider all 100,000 details. Nines are conscientious. They plan, execute, and have a firm grasp on the details that need to happen in order to make it so.
• Provide calm in the hurricane. Nines may hear “you’re chill” or “you’re shy” a lot. But it’s important they know that they literally shift environments to be more pleasant, calm portals in their presence.
• Go on activity-filled adventures. Nines embrace adrenaline and adventure FAR more than people realize. World-traveling nomads, extreme outdoorsmen, and elite athletes are oftentimes Nines.
• Quietly do the right thing. Nines almost always try to do what’s right by others, what’s kind, and what will be best for the people and world around them — and they don’t expect you to notice (but it’s nice when you do).
  
  

Ones will: 

• Crush the big goals and the details. Ones not only have ambitious, impactful goals; they have a practical roadmap for getting there. No wonder they make some of the best coaches and teachers.
• Preserve integrity in a world of debauchery. Ones will do the right thing for its own sake, whether that’s picking up a piece of trash in the park or speaking up against cruelty.
• Bring thoughtful intellect. Conversations tend to be elevated with Ones around, because they bring well thought-out questions, theories, and ideas.
• Have win-win ideas for the situation. Their brains are naturally attuned to evaluating things, and fairness. They therefore often have great ideas about how to create a positive outcome for both sides.
• Make you laugh. When they’re in a playful mood, and even many times when they’re not, Ones will surprise people with an incredibly dry, witty sense of humor.
• Go on worldly adventures. Naturally wanting to be better, learn more, and experience more all combine to make Ones some of the most inspired world travelers. They truly are sneaky-adventurous.

Which type are you, and what do you wish more people knew about you? Let us know in the comments!