Now more than ever people want to engage in work that is meaningful and fulfilling. In this post, we’ll take a look at enneagram type 1 careers that will provide a sense of purpose. Below is more than a generic listing of job titles, you’ll find ideas for finding and creating work that you enjoy as an enneagram one.
The purpose of connecting the dots between your enneagram type and a career is NOT to narrow you into a specific field or niche but to help you understand what motivates you as a person and how to connect that with work that you’ll find fulfilling.
The enneagram is useful for discovering your personality type, along with the core motivations that shape you. It is also useful for helping you find a career path that will be meaningful and fulfilling.
Your career is an opportunity to make a difference, serve others, and find joy in the work that you do. The enneagram career guide is specifically designed to help you understand how your unique personality can intersect with the work you’re passionate about.
Understanding Enneagram Type 1 Personalities And How It Can Impact Their Career
An enneagram one tends to be very rational. They can be very black and white, principled, and focused on perfectionism. Also, a type one often feels responsible to improve themselves and the world around them.
The nine enneagram numbers are divided into three categories of expression: Action, Feeling, and Thinking. An enneagram one is situated within the action center. However, their action is oriented internally. Because of this, an enneagram one is typically self-disciplined, organized, and concerned with quality.
The core desire of an enneagram one is to have integrity, be good, full of virtue, and right.
The message an enneagram one most wants to hear from others is something along the lines of, “You are good.”
The gifts of an Enneagram One include:
- Principled: Ones value integrity and want to lead by example. They stand for what is right and good.
- Objective: A One can see and judge details, people, and situations objectively, without emotion.
- Conscientious: Reliable and responsible, Ones stick to their word and diligently see things through to the end.
- Structured: Ones enjoy opportunities to structure things and are naturally adept at organizing, prioritizing, and creating an order.
- Quality-minded: Ones have a knack for detail and will pay attention to quality standards and the application of rules and procedures. (Integrative9.com)
Considering these traits, an enneagram one is commonly referred to as the “reformer” or “perfectionist”. Therefore, enneagram type one careers that provide an opportunity for attention to detail, structure, and a systematic approach to work will allow them to naturally lean into their giftings and personality traits.
By the way, if you’re not quite sure which number you are, feel free to check out the post: Three Free And Accurate Enneagram Tests to help you identify your type. If necessary, take a little more time to discover your type and then come back to read more about what careers would be a good fit for you.
Famous Enneagram Type 1’s & Their Career
Below is a list provided by The Enneagram Institute of famous people who could be considered to be enneagram ones. Please notice that while they may share similar motivations and characteristics their careers are various and in a wide range of work.
Famous Enneagram Ones: Confucius, Plato, Salahuddin Ayyubi, Joan of Arc, Sir Thomas More, Mahatma Gandhi, Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, Prince Charles, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, Jimmy Carter, Michelle Obama, Al Gore, Hilary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, Elliot Spitzer, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, George Bernard Shaw, Thoreau, Martha Stewart, Chef Thomas Keller, Michio Kushi, George Harrison, Joan Baez, Celine Dion, Ralph Nader, Noam Chomsky, Bill Moyers, George F. Will, William F. Buckley, Keith Olbermann, Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Maher, Tina Fey, Katherine Hepburn, Maggie Smith, Emma Thompson, Julie Andrews, Vanessa Redgrave, Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, Harrison Ford, Helen Hunt.
Famous Enneagram Type 1 Careers: Philosophy, Politics, Law, Philanthropy, Business, Cooking, Entertainment, Musicians, Actors
The spectrum of work represented by the list of type ones above varies tremendously. Therefore, concerning enneagram type 1 careers, I believe the best question to ask is, “How can an enneagram one allow their giftings and healthy motivations to influence work they believe is meaningful.
Key Motivations That Should Influence Enneagram Type 1 Careers
How To Motivate An Enneagram One
Enneagram type 1 careers are motiving if the work is:
- Bringing justice to make things right
- Solving a problem
- Causing growth and improvement
- Helping others in need
- Moving the needle toward accuracy and correctness
Understanding Why Some Careers May Be Draining To You As An Enneagram 1
When a person experiences stress or fatigue in a job it is often related to activities that are draining to the individual. While there are almost always some aspects of work that a person will favor less than others, it is important when possible to identify which parts of your job are energizing and which parts are draining.
Because an enneagram one is motivated by a desire to be right and to create improvement if they are doing work that they feel causes them to compromise this core longing it will not be fulfilling to them.
How To Demotivate An Enneagram One
Enneagram ones will be demotivated from engaging with their work if:
- The environment or coworkers are negative
- There is an inability to see how things can get better
- Leaders ignore feedback and ideas
- They are labeled as critical for paying attention to detail
- Leaders or coworkers are unethical
If you are enneagram one, assess your current role and look for opportunities you may be overlooking to use your unique giftings and talents. If you still are unsure or feel stuck try the following two suggestions.
How much is a frustrating work environment costing you? Could your life be more fulfilling if you had a clear path toward meaningful work?
Are you wasting time and stress because you’re not sure what to do next? A confusing, tired, boring career may already be costing you a great deal.
The Enneagram Career Guide is an interactive workbook that uses the lens of the enneagram to help you create alignment between your personal motivations and the work that you do.
Two Ways To Address Your Career If You Unhappy As An Enneagram 1
- Consider if there is room in your current work to fulfill some of the motivations listed above. If not, speak to your employer about how you might be able to help in those areas.
- Consider if you are engaged in a field of work that you believe is important and meaningful. If not, begin a journey of identifying career paths that you will believe will be fulfilling.
If you believe it is time to make a change, use the guide to help navigate enneagram type 1 careers toward meaningful work.
The Enneagram Career Guide will help you:
- Become aware of thoughts that are limiting you and replace them.
- Identify what motivates you.
- Consider if your current work is meaningful to you and helpful to others.
- Use The new information about yourself to enhance your career.
What Is Included In The Career Guide?
- 35-page downloadable workbook
- Explanation of type
- Key motivations of type
- Demotivators of type
- Evaluation of current career path
- Connecting your key motivations with career options
- Next steps
FAQ’s About The Enneagram Career Guide
Will you mail me a physical copy of the Career Guide?
The Career Guide is delivered by email as a PDF file. It is yours to keep and use as often as needed.
What is your refund policy?
Because our products are digital goods delivered via Internet download refund requests made after you have downloaded our product are handled on a case by case basis and are issued at our sole discretion. Refund requests, if any, must be made within ten (10) days of your original purchase.
Do you have career guides available for other types?
Yes, you can view all available career guides by clicking HERE.
How do I pay for the career guide?
After you select the guides using the purchase button, select checkout. You will then be taken to the checkout page. On the checkout page, you can choose your payment method. Enter your information and finalize by selecting the purchase button.
Healthy Enneagram Type 1 Careers Conclusion
Healthy Enneagram Type 1 Careers should not be limited to a specific field or title. A career choice for an enneagram one should be based on their freedom to help improve outcomes and systems. Ones thrive in an environment where their attention to detail is appreciated and have the ability to drive positive change by correcting what needs to be fixed.
To emphasize one last time, I chose not to include a list of career fields for an enneagram one to consider because I believe it is limiting. As an enneagram 5, I have spent most of my career in a field that others have categorized as something I would not enjoy. Also, I often find career suggestions for my enneagram type unappealing.
To Summarize:
- Identify what motivates you
- Assess if there is room in your current job to capitalize on your key motivations and giftings
- Evaluate if you are in a field that you believe is important
- Consider if the work you are doing is meaningful to you and helpful to others
I hope this post helps you find enneagram type 1 careers and options that you’ll find enjoyment from and serve others well in too.
Connecting your passion with work that you enjoy should not be so difficult.
Download the guide specifically created to help direct enneagram type 1 careers! Create a clear path toward work you love and that is helpful to others too!
The Goal of the Enneagram Career Guide is to help you:
1. Become aware of thoughts that are limiting you and replace them.
2. Identify what motivates you.
3. Consider if your work is meaningful to you and helpful to others.
4. Use the new information about yourself to enhance your career.
Too often, we use the wrong lens when examining our career opportunities.
We say things like:
“I’m stuck here,”
“It’s too late to change,”
“I blew it (I’m a loser).”
“There are no opportunities out there for me.”
“I don’t need to network.”
“I can’t risk losing the money I make now.”
“I’ll be doing this forever.”
These are all limiting thoughts and do not have to be true for your life.
You can change, overcome, learn new skills, make adjustments, and create alignment.
You can connect the dots between your giftings and your career.
Using this guide to help you align your passion with work is a worthwhile endeavor and know that I am cheering for you!
