Enneagram Type 1

Written by: Renata Meredith

Continuing our series on the Enneagram, I would like to introduce you to the first personality type, which is Type 1. Also known as the Perfectionist or the Reformer. It is important to emphasize that the Enneagram focuses on the motivations and fears of each personality type. According to experts on the Enneagram, we all have a little bit of all 9 types, but some will display a stronger pull than others. One specific type will be predominantly active and relying on its “wing types” to draw its own characteristics. For example, a person who is a Type 1 will be either Wing 9 or Wing 2. The type 1 will carry within itself some of characteristics of both 9 and 2 but one wing will have a stronger pull. In Enneagram language we will say “This person is a Type 1, Wing 9.”

How do you know your type? Start by asking yourself: “Where do I focus my attention?” “Where do I zoom in? What are my motivations?” The focus is connected to the core motivation, which is connected to your fears. “What is that I try to protect at all costs?”

Reformers or Perfectionists will focus their attention on improving things, identifying errors, and fixing stuff. As soon as they enter a room, they are already scanning the environment to see what can be improved. They focus on what is wrong or what is not working so they can make it better. They have very high performance requirements and set high standards for everything they do. Now, you would ask, “Why do they behave this way? Because Type 1s want to do the right thing. They want to be perfect, so they always see room for improvement everywhere they look. They need to be above reproach and above criticism. Their biggest fear is to be judged and condemned. To avoid this feeling of being condemned, they pursue righteousness and perfection. They also want to be surrounded by righteousness and perfection and that is the very reason why they want to fix everything and everyone.

Tips for Type 1s: since you are naturally oriented to look for improvement and perfectionism, try to intentionally look for what is already working well or what seems to be going “right” in life. Instead of focusing on the “glass half empty,” work on reframing your situations to find the good in them.

For right now, I will not go into wings since this will be another layer for us to go deeper into the Enneagram.