Season 7 Episode 106

Listen to this episode to understand the patterns and behaviors of Ennegram Type 1.

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

There is a lot of interest in the Enneagram, and we find it a useful tool for helping us to understand ourselves and our behaviors and why we do things and also to help us understand how to work well with others including our families, friends, colleagues, and yes, even students!

Understanding the Enneagram gives us a different world view. As Brene Brown said, the “Enneagram can change how your see yourself and the people around you” and that has been eye opening and even life-changing.

In this episode we’ll dig into the traits and patterns of Enneagram Type 1. Stay tuned to find out if you are a type one, or if you love, work with or teach someone with the patterns of a type one.

In this episode:

The following notes are not a complete transcript of the episode. On the podcast, we often discuss examples and share stories to illustrate specific points. For the best experience, please listen to the podcast.

Introduction:

In this episode, we’re going to start digging into the Enneagram in a deeper way. There is a lot of shallow understanding and even misinformation about the Enneagram. We also find that while finding your type is a fun activity and people love to know their type, all of that information is not helpful if you are not applying it in some way.

We have a five episode series that will give you basic information on the Enneagram, and the Enneagram types. You can find that in episodes 101-105. If you haven’t done any Enneagram work, those episodes will be helpful.

In this episode and in the following series, we are going to break down the types, looking into the traits and patterns of each type. We’ll also give specific examples for how you might work with people, including students, who exhibit those characteristics. We’ll also talk about the strengths and challenges and paths to personal growth.

General Cautions:

Whether or not you know your type, we recommend that you listen to the episodes for each type. You may recognize yourself, but you will also recognize these patterns in others. The Enneagram is used for personal growth and transformation, but its power also is in the better understanding others. Understand the patterns of all of the types opens the door to better relationships and better supporting people we know, love, or teach.

We don’t recommend trying to type others, especially children who are still forming their behavior patterns. We can’t always type others, because we don’t always know the motivation behind what they do, and your motivations are key to your Enneagram patterns. What we CAN do is look at behaviors and things they say and those give us clues as to how to best understand a person and build better relationships with them.

Always remember that we are more than our type. This is just one way of looking at an entire person.

There is a saying that all theories are wrong and yet some are useful.

So let’s get started with Enneagram Type 1.

Enneagram Traits and Patterns of Enneagram Type 1

Enneagram Type 1, is often called “The Good Person” or “The Reformer” or “The Perfectionist”. Type 1s are known for their strong sense of integrity, high standards, and desire to improve themselves and the world.

Type 1s seek a perfect world and so they work diligently on themselves and everyone around them.

Think of the people you know, your friends, family, colleagues, and students you teach who might be working towards that perfect world.

Here are the types of patterns, behaviors, or phrases you may see that are typical of Enneagram type 1 patterns:

High Standards – Expect excellence from themselves and others.
Strong Inner Critic – Constantly evaluates their own actions and can be self-critical.
Discipline & Responsibility – Hardworking, conscientious, and reliable.
Black-and-White Thinking – Views things in terms of right vs. wrong, good vs. bad.
Rule-Following – Values structure, order, and ethics.
Represses Anger – Bottles up frustration, which can eventually explode.
Logical & Principled – Holds strong convictions and adheres to their moral code.
Perfectionist Tendencies – Struggles with never feeling “good enough.”

Tips and strategies for working effectively with people who exhibit Enneagram Type 1 patterns:

Example 1 : The Teacher Pleaser

The teacher pleaser constantly asks for feedback that they are doing good work and that they are doing it correctly. This reminds me of the character Summer in the movie School of Rock, who was little Miss Perfectionist. She had very high standards.

Remind them that they know what is good and what is right and that you trust them.
Find ways to give them responsibility so they can have a chance to shine and to perform well
Type 1’s like order and consistency. They like to know exactly what is expected of them. It is helpful to offer them tools such as planners, planning sheets, and calendars.
Be clear about deadlines and due dates. The more specific you are, the more comfortable they will feel.
Make expectations clear and write them on the board.
Teach them to be their own source of praise and recognition. Rather than endlessly praising, task them how they think they did.

For example, when Summer asks for positive reinforcement, respond with “Well, Summer, how do you think you did on that science project?” Then validate the experience by saying something like, “Of course you worked hard and did well. You know that about yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back!” You are then teaching her to give herself that pat on the back, and to learn to recognize herself and know that she is doing well.

Do not demand perfection or become overly harsh with errors. This is devasting to type ones, and may cause them to refuse to take any sort of risk so as to not do something imperfectly.

These types of responses gives type ones the clarification they want and need and the freedom to carry on with their work in a positive fashion.

Example 2: The Controlling Person.

Here is a typical situation. Your husband is a type one with controlling tendencies. He has a lot of great qualities, he works hard, does a great job and is well respected. Lately he and your teenage son, Jack, have been fighting. Though they used to get along well, Hubby demands that Jack do everything the way he wants it done and on his timeline. They recently had a screaming fight because Jack mowed the lawn with vertical rows rather than the horizontal rows that his father wanted.

Hubby also complains about Jack’s clothes, his messy room, and his video game playing. Jack is a good kid and does well in school and is generally compliant, but he has started to push back. They argue and fight all the time. It’s gotten so bad that Jack is refusing to do things and sometimes he won’t even come out of his room.

Suggestions for dealing with this type of pattern:

One’s can get lost in the details. Ask what the big picture goals are.
Encourage them to be open to finding other ways of doing things, often there is more than one “right way.” Your “right way” is right for you, but not be right for someone else.
Remind them that demanding compliance does not gain respect or cause the other person to have intrinsic motivation. This is especially applicable for children, spouses, coworkers and people you may manage.
Build understanding that perfection is not always the goal.
Type ones often need to be reminded that they can trust others to get things done. They can’t always manage everything and everyone. They will be able to relax more if they can learn to trust others.

Strengths and Challenges and Opportunities for Growth:

Strengths:

Self-disciplined

Self-motivated

Organized and efficient

Get things done and done well

Challenges:

Judging or trying to control others

Seeing their way of doing things as the only way or the best way and not being open to other ways of doing things

Feeling irritation or anger that others do not follow the same high standards

Opportunities for growth:

Learn to recognize and quiet the inner critic.

Embrace flexibility and accept imperfections.

Allow themselves to relax and enjoy life without guilt.

Acknowledge and express built up anger in healthy ways.

Recognize that multiple perspectives can be valid, not just one “right” way.

Conclusion:

We’re fortunate to have ones in our lives. They connect remind us of what is right and good. The provide role models for hard work, and doing things well. Ones are people of high integrity, and we appreciate them in our world.

Recap:

Type 1’s bring us goodness and wisdom. They are the go to people when we need something done and want it done right. They have integrity and remind us of what is right and just. They are often hard on themselves and can use some gentle guidance that perfectionism is not the goal. They may also need reminders that trying to control everyone and everything is not helpful.

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Inspired Together Teachers Network Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Learning

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

If you are dedicated and caring but often overwhelmed and exhausted, join us at Inspired Together Teachers. We’ll give you inspiration, strategies and tips that help you navigate life’s challenges as a stronger, more confident, and more joy filled person, both in and out of the classroom.

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Co-hosts Paula Schmidt and Michele Vosberg are award winning educators with the experience and skills to help teachers thrive in life and work. They’ve taught at all levels, worked with thousands of teachers, and conducted workshops around the world. They are also the authors of the #1 best-selling book The Inspired Teachers Journal: A Weekly Guide to Becoming Your Best Self.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to live inspired lives.