The ultimate type cheat sheet
Sometimes compact is key! We’ve compiled what we think is one of the best Enneagram type “cheat sheets” out there. Trying to figure out someone’s type, or merely curious how the personality types compare? Here are nine juicy summaries.
Ones
Primary driver
Want to avoid being bad, corrupt, or defective
Leads them to focus on
- doing good
- improving themselves and others
- finding balance
- being objectively right
- ensuring fairness and justice
- living up to their ideals
- trying to be beyond criticism
Stress path
They want the best from themselves and others, leading them to become frustrated and judgmental when neither lives up to their high standards.
Growth path
At their best, they are discerning, conscientious, and noble, possessing pure integrity and driving positive change in the world.
Twos
Primary driver
Want to avoid feeling unworthy of love and appreciation
Leads them to focus on
- being helpful and giving
- building strong relationships
- adding practical value
- advocating for others
- being heralds of information
- sharing their positive feelings for others
- rising to the occasion in times of crisis
Stress path
They are driven by a need to be helpful and indispensable to others, which devolves into taking pride in their own virtue and denying their own needs.
Growth path
At their best, they are selfless, sincere, and radiant, possessing deep compassion and garnering unconditional love from others.
Threes
Primary driver
Want to avoid feeling worthless or without inherent value
Leads them to focus on
- accomplishing their goals
- triumphing over situations
- getting affirmed for their achievements
- being the best at what they do
- being socially significant and impressive
- distinguishing themselves
- acting efficiently
Stress path
They are driven by a need to be important, so they focus their efforts on achieving and succeeding in order to fill their inner void.
Growth path
At their best, they are self-assured, attractive, and esteemed, being role models for others and achieving consistent success.
Fours
Primary driver
Want to avoid being without identity or personal significance
Leads them to focus on
- expressing their true selves
- finding meaning and inspiration
- creating beauty in their environments
- searching for what is missing from their lives
- taking care of their emotional needs
- finding an ideal romantic partner
Stress path
They feel that something fundamental is missing within them, leading them to long for what is absent and envy what others seem to have.
Growth path
At their best, they are self-aware, perceptive, and truly original, highly in touch with their intuition and the depths of reality.
Fives
Primary driver
Want to avoid feeling incapable and incompetent
Leads them to focus on
- accumulating knowledge to feel secure
- building mental models
- mastering areas of expertise
- exploring reality
- searching for the truth
- reducing their dependencies on others
Stress path
They want to preserve internal resources to build competence, which devolves into isolating themselves from others and retreating into their minds.
Growth path
At their best, they are open-minded, objective, and visionary, perceiving the world as it truly is and making innovative discoveries.
Sixes
Primary driver
Want to avoid being without support or guidance
Leads them to focus on
- finding sources of security
- easing their anxiety
- building support networks
- gaining others’ trust and approval
- testing others’ attitudes and intentions towards them
- analyzing outcomes
- defending their beliefs
Stress path
They want to feel a sense of certainty and stability, which causes them to be anxious and overly vigilant about possible future events.
Growth path
At their best, they are trustworthy, genuine, and courageous, standing up for their values and using their foresight to protect others.
Sevens
Primary driver
Want to avoid being deprived or trapped in pain
Leads them to focus on
- having a variety of positive experiences
- analyzing possibilities
- learning new skills
- escaping negative thoughts or feelings
- winning competitions
- enjoying themselves
- keeping their options open
Stress path
They seek out stimulating experiences and ideas in order to feel satiated, leading them to over-consume and become scattered and erratic.
Growth path
At their best, they are vivacious, resilient, and truly free, quick-minded explorers whose high spirits infuse others with energy.
Eights
Primary driver
Want to avoid feeling violated or controlled by others
Leads them to focus on
- being independent
- staying in control of their sphere
- prevailing over situations and people
- resisting inner weakness
- asserting their will on their environment
- keeping others at a safe distance
Stress path
Eights are driven by a need for raw intensity and independence, which devolves into domineering and antisocial behaviors.
Growth path
At their best, they are resourceful, independent, and heroic, willing to bear the brunt of tough decisions and empowering others with their fortitude.
Nines
Primary driver
Want to avoid loss and separation (within themselves, their relationships, and the world)
Leads them to focus on
- having peace of mind
- feeling connected to people and nature
- having a positive impact on their sphere
- creating harmony
- preserving their routines
- seeing the best in others
Stress path
They want to be unaffected by disruptions to their serenity, which leads them to mentally detach from the world around them while appearing engaged.
Growth path
At their best, they are humble, contemplative, and indomitable, able to truly understand other perspectives and bring about profound peace.