The existential job of type SIX is to be in covenant with humanity, dedicated to the interests of the collective and to the bonds that keep humanity together. More than any other type, SIXes teach us how to have courage.
What does that mean?
The gift of covenant
SIXes are deeply committed to the survival and well-being of the collective, fostering trust and security in their relationships and communities. Their gift of covenant lies in their unwavering devotion to the greater good, ensuring that no one is left behind. Through their vigilant care and sense of responsibility, SIXes protect and sustain the bonds that hold humanity together, offering stability and support in uncertain times.
The Night’s Watch
Much like the guardians in The Night’s Watch, SIXes stand guard at the edge of the unknown, protecting those they care about from unseen dangers. SIXes demonstrate their unwavering dedication to ensuring safety and stability. Gifted with vigilance, they maintain a watchful state alert to and anticipating threats ready to act when others may falter, embodying a faithful and protective spirit that ensures collective safety.
Self-preserving
SIXes excel at understanding what is necessary to sustain oneself, relationships, work, and life. With innate “spidey-senses,” they possess the intelligence to prepare for and fortify what matters most. Their self-preserving nature drives them to anticipate challenges and build systems of support enabling them to maintain a healthy, sensible, well-balanced existence.
Core motivations
These are the deepest, less conscious sources of our needs and behaviors.
Core drive: Security
SIXes strive for security in all forms—financial, familial, and communal. Their ability to provide stability to others stems from their deep desire for safety.
Core fear: Insecurity
The greatest fear of SIXes is to be left alone without support or guidance. They dread being abandoned in times of uncertainty, feeling isolated and without a safety net.
Hard-hitting truths
The substitution: SIXes substitute commitment for growth
SIXes use duty and a commitment to protocols and rules or principles as a proxy to maintain an often false sense of stability. Instead, they must gain capacity for risk, failure, and uncertainty in order to grow.
The invitation: Redefine true security
The invitation for SIXes is to move beyond their conventional understanding of security as external stability, such as loyalty to people, institutions, or structures, and explore a deeper sense of security grounded in self-trust.
The reminder: SIXes are security, so they don’t have to seek security
The reminder for SIXes is that there is undeniable evidence of their trustworthiness. The reliability, support, and guidance SIXes seek externally already exist within them—so there is no need to look to others for the security they already possess.
Core brilliance
These are the parts of us that are not only heroic but otherworldly. These elements are coded into our design and while you might not relate to all of them, you should sense their presence when you are at your best.
Partnership
SIXes excel at collaboration, recognizing and maximizing the strengths of others. They lead through cooperation, aligning team efforts for the collective good.
Prescience
SIXes possess the gift of foresight, anticipating potential problems and preparing for them with meticulous plans. Their ability to foresee risks makes them exceptional at protecting systems and people around them. This cathedral thinking also allows them to build into a future they might never see.
Courage
SIXes face their fears demonstrating real bravery. Their willingness to confront what others might avoid allows them to make informed decisions and have deep emotional strength, showing true courage.
The paradox of type SIX
Paradoxes emerge when the strengths of each type are over-leveraged, leading to unintended opposite effects.
Analysis becomes paralysis
While SIXes are skilled at analysis, their attention to detail can lead to overanalyzing, causing them to become stuck when certainty is impossible. This paralysis can undermine their ability to move forward when they feel overwhelmed.
Risk assessment becomes paranoia
SIXes are adept at assessing risks but may fall into the trap of seeing threats everywhere, both real and imagined. This over-focus can cloud their judgment and create unnecessary fear.
Partnership becomes dependency
Although strong in partnership, SIXes can become overly reliant on others for support. This can lead to toxic loyalty or dependency as they struggle to navigate relationships without external validation.
Due diligence becomes skepticism
SIXes’ diligence can shift into skepticism when they start to doubt everything. Rather than verifying, they may become overly suspicious, hampering their ability to trust others or move forward confidently.
Mapping movement
Each personality type takes on the qualities of two other Enneagram types. Type SIX adopts traits of types THREE and NINE.
Type SIX gains self-confidence and direction from type THREE
By embracing traits of type THREE, SIXes learn self-confidence and decisiveness. This helps them set goals and take action without being paralyzed by over-analysis.
Type SIX gains self-regulation and objectivity from type NINE
Type NINE offers SIXes the ability to stay calm in the face of anxiety, teaching them to find stability and perspective. This lets them step back from overwhelming details and see the bigger picture.
Type SIX gains internal and external guidance from types THREE and NINE combined
Types THREE and NINE help SIXes refine their internal and external guidance systems. These complementary sources of intelligence enable SIXes to find balance, trust themselves, and confidently move forward in both planning and decision-making.
Listening style
SIXes listen with an ear for trustworthiness, often projecting their fears onto the conversation as they assess whether they can trust the information and the person sharing it.
Relating to type SIX
Key gifts in action
- Commitment and collaboration.
- Excellent at risk analysis and creating plans.
- Multidimensional, expansive, and they don’t miss shit.
Tips for relating to SIXes
- Speak honestly and avoid sugar-coating the truth.
- Allow them time to prepare for changes.
- Show commitment and provide consistent feedback.
- Offer structure and support, especially when delivering bad news.
Encourage SIXes to
- Differentiate between imagined fears and real dangers.
- Trust themselves and others.
- Take calculated risks and see positive possibilities.
Revealing the missing elements of the Enneagram in popular teachings, Ni’coel and Chelsea dive into the nuances of the Enneagram and invite listeners to embrace the complexity and break free from the “tips and tricks” way of learning.
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In summary
Type SIX offers the world a profound sense of partnership, security, and courage. Through their ability to foresee potential challenges and their dedication to the greater good, they serve as vigilant protectors. By investing in the bonds that tie humanity together, they teach us about commitment and time. They are the true cathedral thinkers whose contributions can last generations. They remind us of the importance of both internal and external security, guiding us toward a more resilient and connected humanity.