You aren’t just a number. That is the beauty of the Enneagram. It goes much deeper and we are just beginning our journey here in the Spiral of Discovery. Next stop - Wings.

Last week we discussed the criss-crossing lines and what they mean (Arrows) and today, we dig into our Wings. Wings are those numbers flanking our type. Wings nuance our personalities even more. Many in the Enneagram world identify as a type and then a wing for example, I’m a Type Five, Wing Four. This let’s people know (at least the ones that understand the Enneagram) who they are dealing with, giving the person quite a bit of information. Another aspect of the Wings is that at any given time, you have access to the Strengths of these other types meaning although my personality doesn’t overtly look like it has Six qualities, I can tap into their gifts of being awake and aware. Let’s get into this.

If you haven’t been typed, check out the Strengths below and see what resonates with you. From there, look at the graph, check out your wings (the numbers that flank your type) and see which strengths you can tap into. For example, Type One can tap into Type Nine and Type Two strengths. Type Five can tap into Type Four and Six strengths. Get it? Let’s have some fun now.

Type One: principled, mission/purpose-oriented, objective, conscientious

Type Two: empathetic, nurturing, open-hearted/warm, generous

Type Three:  oriented to growth and learning, inspiring others to success, belief in self, ambitious

Type Four: sensitive, emotionally intelligent, emotionally honest, self-revealing

Type Five: perceptive observer, curious, playful and whimsical, focused - able to concentrate

Type Six: awake and aware, trustworthy, cooperative, committed

Type Seven: playful and spontaneous, versatile, quick-minded, entertaining

Type Eight: assertive, self-determining, decisive, visionary

Type Nine: receptive and accepting, bridge builder, patient, unpretentious

What did you come up with? Can you see as we step into the Spiral of Discovery how much there is to learn about yourself? OK, let’s take is a step further.

Last week, I wrote about Integration and Disintegration Arrows. Well, this can happen with Wings too. You can take the negative sides of your Wings as well. Each Wing has a Saboteur (PQ Intelligence™) and you can (unfortunately) unwittingly tap into these not so cool parts of your Wings too. Here are the not-so-fun parts of each type:

Type One: Stickler - Perfectionism and a need for order and organization taken too far.

Type Two: Pleaser - Indirectly tries to gain acceptance and affection by helping, pleasing, rescuing or flattering others.  Loses sight of own needs and becomes resentful as a result

Type Three: Hyper-Achiever - Dependent on constant performance and achievement for self-respect and self-validation (attention and acceptance from others). Leads to unsustainable workaholic tendencies and loss of touch with deeper emotional and relationship needs. 

Type Four: Victim - Emotional and temperamental as a way to get attention and affection. An extreme focus on internal feelings, particularly painful ones.  Martyr streak

Type Five: Hyper-Rational - Intense and exclusive focus on the rational processing of everything including relationships.  Can be perceived as cold, distant and intellectually arrogant.  

Type Six: Hyper-Vigilant - Continuous intense anxiety about all the dangers and what could go wrong.  Vigilance that can never rest.

Type Seven: Restless - Constantly in search of greater excitement in the next activity or constant busyness.  Rarely at peace or content with the current activity. Restlessness could be a strategy to escape from dealing with fears, anxieties and painful feelings.  

Type Eight: Controller - Anxiety-based need to take care and control situations and people’s actions to one’s own will. High anxiety and impatience when that is not possible.  

Type Nine: Avoider - Focus on the positive and pleasant in an extreme way.  Avoiding difficult and unpleasant tasks and conflicts.  

I know not so fun. But I’m just trying to bring you into more self-awareness. Remember the personal growth journey - self-awareness, self-reflection, self-development. Most conflicts arise from those Saboteurs listed above. Next time you are in conflict, check your reaction and see where it lands in the Types. More on Saboteurs in a couple of weeks.

Our Wings and Arrows (among other Enneagram topics) all nuance our personalities. When you take these into account, assessment results get tricky which is why they are only approximately 60% accurate. One of your Wings could be showing up as your dominant type when in fact, it is just a Wing leaving you feeling a bit confused. Another reason to type with me (it’s FREE remember) and start your real journey into much more self-awareness.