Enneagram Type 1: The Perfectionist
Did you get Enneagram Type 1 on a personality test and curious to know what it means? Then read this short Enneagram post to find out!
The Enneagram is a system of personality typing which describes how a person sees the world and handles his/her emotions. The model consists of nine different personality types with each type mapped on a nine-point diagram to show how they relate to each other.
It’s from the Greek words Ennea that means nine and Gramma which means something written or drawn.
The Enneagram believes that all personalities have their own way of interpreting the world. This means we can better understand why some people behave in a certain way and how they may react in different situations.
Enneagram Type 1: Defining Traits
There are nine possible types in the Enneagram method and “perfectionist” is probably the best way to describe the first type. Here are the usual traits of this personality:
- Dutiful and competent
- Is ‘a natural’ in terms of instructing or teaching
- Can concentrate to great degrees
- Is firm when it comes to decisions and plans
- Has high standards
- Tends to be frugal and practical
- Serious and straightforward in conversations
- As an employee, is diligent and hardworking
What are they Like?
In general, ‘Perfectionists’ are serious and responsible people. They try to improve the welfare of others and find ways on how to apply these solutions in everyday life.
They’re very ethical, too, and will often think twice before acting on their emotions.
Perfectionists would rather work behind the scenes. They’re also quiet, controlled and stick to their words and commitments.
They are also willing to go the extra mile to make sure their work is perfect and top-notch. They are strict when following their schedules and always perform tasks as efficiently as possible.
Their core values
Perfectionists have very high standards and wish to improve all aspects of their lives. They want their values to reflect in their actions, too, and they work hard just to do that.
This means diligence and responsibility are the main values of perfectionists. They take liability in everything they do and apply their beliefs when making important life decisions.
Justice, loyalty, and honesty are also essential ingredients of a Perfectionist’s character.
How to recognize an enneagram type 1?
The main goal of Perfectionists is to have an organized life. They have a clear sense of responsibility and feel like it’s their job to improve the overall state of society.
Perfectionists have little patience for small talk and prefer direct and honest conversations. They also have little concern in terms of fashion and would rather invest in quality pieces that’ll stand the test of time.
They’re more likely to have a career in academia, forensics, law, finance, or the military. As an employee, perfectionists do their tasks very carefully and are willing to go above and beyond to ensure that their work is of high standards.
Enneagram Type 1: What they’re like at different levels
Normal Level
Perfectionists can see a lot of opportunities to improve the current status of their lives. They’re a firm believer in justice and are willing to understand other people if it’s for the greater good.
Moreover, they know the importance of work-life balance and therefore, know how to relax.
Moderate Level
Perfectionists like to organize every aspect of their lives by following strict ideals. They have a passion for social causes, too, which is seen in their personal or professional pursuits and several societal memberships.
They also tend to be workaholics and suppress their emotional needs to get things done.
Extreme Level
Perfectionists may become unrealistic and focus more on irrelevant things. It can lead them to think highly of themselves to the point of compulsion and obsession.
They may start to discredit other’s opinions and nitpick to maintain their ‘perfect’ image. There’s little room for mistakes in this stage so Perfectionists can have explosions of rage and anger when their principles are being challenged.