9’s Core Motivation – I am striving to:

• Feel settled, at ease and content

I focus my attention on:

• Making sure those around me feel comfortable and happy
• Maintaining an internal sense of peace and calm
• How to get my needs met without upsetting others

I avoid:

• “Rocking the boat”
• Situations that can lead to conflict, disagreement, or tension

Typical characteristics and strengths:

• Optimistic
• Agreeable, easygoing
• Steady, patient
• Natural mediator
• Good listener, receptive
• Kind, compassionate, understanding
• Gentle, yet strong and powerful
• Reassuring
• Collaborators, inclusive, good at bringing people together
• Caring, supportive, helpful
• Accepting and non-judgmental
• Able to hear and appreciate multiple viewpoints

Typical challenges or blindspots:

• Complacent, uncertain
• Indecisive
• Waver, hem-haw, procrastinate
• Resist change
• Quietly stubborn, passive-aggressive
• Ignore or oversimplify problems
• Focus on less important issues
• Disengage, check-out
• Go along to get along
• Aloof, disconnected from feelings

Typical patterns and behaviors:

• I am easy to be around, friendly and kind. My steady, gentle demeanor often makes me approachable.
• I am positive and hopeful. I see the glass half-full even when things are rough.
• I like to collaborate and build-consensus. I think listening to others and hearing multiple perspectives is important.
• I often collect feedback and opinions before making a decision. Sometimes I spend too much time hearing opinions as a way to avoid making a decision.
• I can easily give up on my priorities to keep those around me content.
• I can have a hard time asserting myself. When I do assert myself, those around me can be surprised or uncomfortable.
• When stress or conflict overwhelms me, it is common for me to “numb out” – sleeping, watching shows, reading, gambling, drinking, etc. – to avoid feeling the discomfort of an unsettling reality.

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

• 9’s Wings: 8 and 1. Most of us “lean” more toward one of our two wings, sharing some behaviors with that type.
• Growth Arrow: 3 – 9’s “move” toward 3 adopting 9ish behaviors and patterns for growth and development.
• Stress Arrow: 6 – where 9’s may go when they are experiencing acute stress or difficulty. Here we see the 9 demonstrate “low-side” or unhealthy type 6 behaviors.

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