Am I an Enneagram type 6?

6’s Core Motivation – I am striving to be:

  • Secure, and feel safe and supported

I focus my attention on:

  • What can go wrong, establishing certainty
  • Determining who and what I can trust
  • Preparing to prevent bad things from happening and how to respond when they do (phobic 6)

I avoid:

  • Situations and people that are perceived as dangerous, untrustworthy or risky

Typical characteristics and strengths:

  • Dependable, dutiful, reliable
  • Trustworthy, loyal
  • Team player
  • Responsible
  • Protective, supportive
  • Perceptive, mentally sharp
  • Troubleshooters, problem solvers
  • Hardworking, persevering
  • Strategic
  • Convicted to beliefs, steadfast
  • Sensible, cautious

Typical challenges or blindspots:

  • Anxious, worrisome
  • Defensive, reactive
  • Over analyze, analysis paralysis
  • Rigid
  • Projectors (project thoughts and feelings on to others)
  • Overcommunicates
  • Question and challenge authority
  • Overly cautious and risk-averse
  • Paralyzed by fear
  • Skeptical, suspicious, paranoid
  • Lots of “should-ing”
  • Inflexible, rigid, stuck thinking
  • Negative, nay-saying, pessimistic

Typical patterns and behaviors:

  • Once you prove trustworthy, I am steadfast in my loyalty and devotion to you or your cause.
  • I work hard. I want you and the team to know you can rely on me.
  • I typically see issues and problems coming before others do.
  • I tend to project my feelings of anxiety outward, sharing my concerns often and with urgency that is not always acknowledged (or appreciated) by those around me.
  • I worry about a lot of different things. While I wouldn’t say I like to worry, I do like that worrying keeps me thinking and well-prepared for whatever may happen.
  • I go to great lengths to avoid negative scenarios becoming realities (phobic behavior.)
  • I face my fears head-on, meeting danger when I can (counterphobic behavior.)
  • When my worry gets the better of me, I become suspicious and paranoid seeing trouble at every turn.
Enneagram 6

Considering your wings and arrows may help clarify nuances of your type.

  • 6’s Wings: 5 and 7. Most of us “lean” more toward one of our two wings, sharing some behaviors with that type.
  • Growth Arrow: 9. 6’s “move” toward 9 adopting 9ish behaviors and patterns for growth and development.
  • Stress Arrow: 3. Where 6’s may go when they are experiencing acute stress or difficulty. Here we see the 6 demonstrate “low-side” or unhealthy type 3 behaviors.

Not sure what Enneagram type you are? Please contact me to learn more about Enneagram typing.