Enneagram type 9 — the peacemaker

mediator, naturalist, accommodator

type nines essentially feel a need for peace and harmony. they tend to avoid conflict at all costs, whether it be internal or interpersonal. as the potential for conflict in life is virtually ubiquitous, the type nine's desire to avoid it generally results in some degree of withdrawal from life — many type nines are, in fact, introverted. other type nines lead more active, social lives, but nevertheless remain to some to degree "checked out," or not fully involved, as if to insulate themselves from threats to their peace of mind. most type nines are fairly easygoing — they adopt a strategy of "going with the flow." they are generally reliable, sturdy, self-effacing, tolerant, and likable individuals.

type nines tend to adopt an optimistic approach to life. they are, for the most part, trusting people who see the best in others, and they often have a deep-seated faith that things will somehow work out. they want to feel connected, both to other people and to the world at large. they often feel most at home in nature and generally make warm and attentive parents.

the type nine's inability to tolerate conflict sometimes translates into an overall conservative approach to change. change can provoke unpleasant feelings and disrupt the type nine's desire for comfort. less healthy type nines seem incapable of motivating themselves to move into action and bring about effective change. when change does come however, as it generally will, type nines find that they are usually well able to adapt.

they tend to be more resilient than they give themselves credit for. in fact, type nines tend not to give themselves enough credit in general, and their self-effacing attitude often seems to invite others to take them for granted or to overlook their often-significant contributions. this can cause a subterranean anger to build inside the type nine's psyche, which can erupt into consciousness in occasional fits of temper which quickly blow over, but which more often manifests itself in passive-aggressive foot-dragging. being overlooked is often a source of a deep sadness in type nines, a sadness that they scarcely ever give voice to.

basic propsition — you gain belonging by merging with others, and comfort by dispersing your energy into objects and activities.

strengths — excellent mediators, caring, supportive, adaptive, steady, receptive, non-judgmental.

challenges — stubborn, ambivalent, self-forgetful, indecisive, conflict-avoidant.

defense mechanism — narcotization — using food, drink, entertainment, or repetitive patterns of thinking and doing to “put oneself to sleep.”

type nines use narcotization to avoid conflict, manage their anger and maintain a self-image of being comfortable or harmonious. even productive activities can keep type nines sedated if they become too habitual. avoiding conflict with others keeps type nines from being fully present in relationships. avoiding internal conflict leads to inertia and becoming side-tracked from personal priorities.

type 9 self-mastery indicators

what it means what it looks like in type 9
low
self-mastery
  • primarily reactive
  • low productivity behavior
  • low personality integration
  • deep identification with beliefs
 the sleeper

do not pay attention to themselves or to others • low energy • refuse to face the obvious consequences of their desire to pretend that everything is okay • consistently neglectful and forgetful • chronically sluggish and immovable • when pressured, become passive-aggressive or unleash a burst of fury.
moderate
self-mastery
  • responds mainly from habit
  • some personality integration
  • more flexible to change
 the harmonizer

want everyone to get along, thirsting for peace and harmony • adept at mediating differences among others • highly anxious when conflict is directed at them • lose focus and pursue activities that distract them • difficulty asking for what they want • enjoy predictable pace of routine activities • affable and agreeable, rarely taking a strong position.
high
self-mastery
  • aware of inner experience
  • responds productively, flexibly
  • high personality integration
  • self-acceptance
 the fully conscious one

approach life in an active and purposeful way • know they have the right to voice own opinions • embrace differences and perceive conflict as means to further mutual understanding • involved, engaged, and vital • solid, substantial, and alert • serene, deeply content, and "in flow," all of which come from a firm inner core.

awareness practice

observe your habit of mind or focus of attention — others’ agendas and the external environment — with as little judgment as possible. ask yourself the following questions, while noticing your feelings and how your body responds:

type 9 in business

the easygoing, accommodating type — receptive, reassuring, agreeable, and complacent. type nines create harmony among group members by emphasizing the positive so that conflicts and tensions can be eased. they are supportive and inclusive and work with everyone, humbly allowing others to shine. they dislike conflict and division in the team and try to create harmony and stability. however, they may accommodate others and avoid self-assertion too much, becoming secretly angry as a result. they can deteriorate into ineffectual "make-work," stubborn passivity, and serious neglect. at their best, they can negotiate differences and bring people together in a stable but dynamic way.

what they look for

comfort, peace, harmony, and stability

what gets in the way

insisting on not acknowledging problems and remaining neutral in conflicts; manipulating by "checking out" and by passive-aggressively resisting others.

leadership paradigm

creating a clearly structured and harmonious work environment that allows the achievement of a collective mission

natural qualities as leader

the type nine’s greatest ability is the creation of high-functioning, effective teams that are strategically targeted to meet the business plan. they can assimilate large amounts of organizational information and develop effective organizational roles, processes and structures that lead to success of the group, large or small. they make others feel comfortable, support them in their efforts to be successful and maintain long-term professional and personal relationships. because they combine steadfastness with practicality, others frequently seek their advice.

areas for development

the type nine’s greatest weakness is their tendency to focus on small items at the expense of the bigger picture. they like to have all the specifics worked out but may miss taking care of some of the larger priorities. they may also become overwhelmed with the amount of work on their desk and delay important tasks as a result. with their analytical and detailed minds, type nines can see multiple viewpoints in every situation and consequently be indecisive on issues both large and small. while appearing easygoing, the type nine is often quite sensitive to criticism. they can become resistant and angry when they feel not listened to fully or pushed to make a decision.

focal points for self-awareness and leadership

ultimate development goal

  • realizing that we all are unconditionally and equally loved, accepted, and appreciated as individuals
  • realizing that our worth and well-being come from within.

what hinders growth

  • feeling that i do not count and that my needs are not worthwhile
  • giving everything equal importance to the point of missing my real priorities
  • avoiding the discomfort and disruption required for change.

furthering growth

  • start a daily practice of previewing feeling what is important for you today, and a review of how well you did with this.
  • join a group which encourages you to contact and express your gut feelings, including anger.
  • notice what the accompanying feelings are when you get distracted or obsessive and start to let yourself feel them.
  • avoid belittling yourself.
  • ask yourself what you think, regardless of other people’s opinion.
  • take the time to ask yourself what is important to you.
  • practice taking a position and stating it.
  • notice how dependency and merging allow you to blame others when things go wrong.
  • notice your stubbornness and passive resistance and learn to state what you disagree with.
  • express anger in your imagination, to blow off the charge and make it more immediate.
  • notice your discomfort around change and start to welcome change despite this discomfort.
  • learn to say no to new commitments.
  • use anger as a signal of feeling discounted and remind yourself that you really do matter.
  • notice when your prolonged ruminating keeps you from setting priorities and acting on them.
  • accept discomfort and change as a natural part of life.

specific leadership development

  • assert yourself more — instead of first finding out what others are thinking, express your own thoughts and feelings and let others react to you.
  • emphasize what is most important — instead of talking in paragraphs and using abundant detail, practice communicating with others by highlighting the key points you want to make, as if you are making a presentation.
  • move things off your desk — make sure you are not an organizational bottleneck by delegating more, moving administrative items quickly from your desk, and dedicating a specific amount of time each day to paperwork.

adapted from different sources including Ginger Lapid-Bogda, Don Riso & Russ Hudson