Typical Comments

"I know I'm right, why should I have to compromise?"

"I'm my own worst critic."

"My whole career, I've been brought in to fix things."

"My message as a kid was always, 'You can do better.'"

Description

A self-observing One can be wise, tolerant, balanced, and focused on standards of excellence in ways that provide an exemplary vision for others. In business organizations, Ones are often the purveyors of quality.

When less well-developed, people of this personality style show their perfectionism. They carry an internal judging voice, which chastises themselves (or others) for falling short of perfection (preaching) or, in a very healthy individual, invokes higher attainment (teaching). Their driving force is anger, which is typically over-controlled until it erupts as resentment when someone has failed to live up to their expectations. They're prone to moral tirades, yet they also show a "running amok" side that allows them to escape their own high standards.

Development options include de-potentiating their critical voice, techniques for channeling anger more effectively, learning to respond to criticism non-defensively, and moving away from black-and-white thinking with positive reframing and creative problem-solving. Their key development need is patience, the willingness to accept conditions that do not conform to one's ideal.

Case Description of a One      Poems That Speak to Ones      

Essay: "Forgive Yourself..."       Development Plan for a One     

Distinctions Among Enneagram Styles           All Nine Styles         

 

Much more in Out of the Box Coaching Book
(Click here for free preview of One chapter)

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