Typical Comments
"I'm pretty easy-going--my career just
kind of fell together, and in a very nice way."
"I have CRS disease--Can't Remember Shit!"
"I try to pick the right moment to speak
up in a meeting."
"I didn't cause much trouble for my
parents."
Description
Serene and centered, well-developed Nines bring cooperation
to any relationship or group. They are highly capable of dealing with others'
problems and building consensus. They have a natural tendency to honor diversity, and can
get along with almost anyone.
Unexamined Nines tend to merge with others' preferences,
however, and to forget their own. Taking a strong position is particularly difficult for
them, because they see all sides of an issue and because they are essentially
non-aggressive. Their driving force is indolence--not that they're lazy
(they're very hard workers) but that they are out of touch with their own wishes, a kind
of self-forgetting. Though quiet, once Nines get started they tend toward epic
tales (they hold so many alternative views it's hard for them to focus).
Development options include learning to speak up/confront
others, recognizing passive-aggressive behavior/becoming more assertive, setting
priorities/sticking to them, staying focused, and initiating change. A key development
need is active engagement, the willingness to
stay focused on their own purpose--without distraction. Consequently Nines learn to
embrace the conflict that is a necessary part of human interaction.
Case Description of
a Nine
Development Plan for a Nine
Essay: "Plain Vanilla"
Poems That Speak
to Nines
Distinctions
Among Enneagram Styles
All Nine Styles