Page 40 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

What Type Are You? 19

2. Do the four basic issues—craving options, optimism, pain
avoidance, and a synthesizing mind—apply to me?
3. Does the Style Seven leadership paradigm fit my view of
leadership?
4. Did I check 10 or more items in “Areas of Strength” and “Areas
for Development”?

Eights

Eights pursue the truth, like to keep situations
under control, want to make important things
happen, and try to hide their vulnerability.
Core focus: Is everything under control in an
effective and just way?

Common labels: Boss, leader, challenger, protector

Basic Issues for Eights
CONTROL Eights like to exert direct influence over the people and
events that affect their lives. They are also acutely sensitive to the
power-oriented or controlling behavior of others. While Eights usu-
ally respect someone who uses power and influence effectively, the
reverse is also true, with Eights having an instinctive negative reac-
tion to someone whom they feel is abusing authority or exerting
control in an ineffective manner. Eights are quick to sense chaos
and lack of control and will step in quickly to make sure things are
moving in the right direction.
JUSTICE Eights seek the truth and appreciate honesty, expect peo-
ple to take responsibility for their own behavior, and demand that
authority figures take charge in a just and nonmanipulative way.
When they sense injustice, Eights will charge forth with great pas-
sion to assert their own beliefs and values, redress the situation,
and protect those whom they perceive to be innocent victims.