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Beatrice Chestnut

The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge

Sixes and Nines can look similar. Both Sixes and Nines can be loyal, caring, and supportive of others. Sixes and Nines both procrastinate. Sixes procrastinate because they fear things will go wrong and they fear success, while Nines put off work and other tasks when they have a hard time accessing and staying with their own agendas. Also, at times, Nines can passively resist forward movement as a way to resist going along with what others want them to do (without saying so and risking potential conflict). Sixes can resist their own forward progress because they become caught up in questioning, overanalyzing, and doubting. In addition, phobic Sixes and Nines both want to avoid conflict, though Nines are more extreme in this regard. And people of both types tend to be self-effacing and humble. They both dislike being in the spotlight, but for different reasons. Sixes fear even positive attention can make them open to attack, and Nines are very uncomfortable being the center of attention, as they do not even place themselves at the center of their own attention.

Sixes and Nines also have distinct characteristics that reveal the differences between their styles. Nines tend to merge with others and trust others easily, while Sixes tend to stand apart and be suspicious, especially at first, until they gather enough information to ascertain whether or not someone is trustworthy. Nines tend to go along to get along and to overadjust to others preferences—they tend to comply with the wishes of others as a way of avoiding discomfort and potential separation. In contrast, Sixes are by nature mistrustful of others, and may question or test people before going along. In light of this tendency to go along with other people’s preferences, Nines are easily distracted from their own agenda, while Sixes tend to remain alert in their focus of attention on potential threats.

Nines can see many different points of view, and usually take on a mediating role when parties in a group differ in opinion. In contrast, Sixes think in contrarian terms: they can see one side, and then they can see the opposing side, and they tend to see things not in terms of many equally plausible points of view, but in terms of questioning and countering whatever view is put forward. Nines dislike conflict and do not usually have contact with their own anger (which might lead them into a conflict), and in this they differ greatly from the counterphobic Six, who may get angry and move toward conflict in certain situations as a way of dealing with a potential threat. Sixes tend to be somewhat (or very) anti-authoritarian, while Nines, wanting to avoid conflicts and create harmony, will usually go along with and cooperate with authority, at least on the outside.

The Enneagram Institute

Misidentifications

These types are actually frequently mistyped. Sixes and Nines are both concerned with security and with maintaining some kind of status quo situation. They are both family-oriented, and both tend to take modest views of themselves. Their affect, however, is the easiest way to distinguish them.

In short, Nines like to remain easy-going and unflappable. Nines work steadily at their tasks, but show little sign of being upset by the day's ups and downs. Sixes, on the other hand, cannot easily disguise their feelings. They get more easily worked-up and rattled by mishaps. While Nines can remain silent within their own inner peace, Sixes need to vent with others periodically to discharge their fears and doubts. Sixes are more obviously nervous and defensive when they believe there are problems. Nines remain strangely bland in the face of problems, although beneath the pleasant surface of average Nines, there is stubborn resistance and an unwillingness to be upset or troubled by conflicts or problems. Sixes tend to be suspicious of unknown people and situations–they need to test people before they let them get close. Nines may be protected by the disengagement of their attention, but they tend to be trusting of others–almost to a fault.

Of course, under stress, when moving in their Direction of Disintegration, Nines will begin to act out some of the behaviors of average Sixes, and for this reason, some Nines will mistype themselves as Sixes. But such periods of overt anxiety generally do not last long. As soon as possible, Nines revert to their more easy going approach to things. Compare Sixes George Bush and Dustin Hoffman with Nines Gerald Ford and Jimmy Stewart.