The Integral Model of Ken Wilber postulates five independent variables: state, stage, line, quadrant and type. Type is frequently overlooked by Integralists as being “obvious,” yet it is overlooked by Pluralists, Rationalists and Traditionalists for other reasons.
Pluralists tend to disown any hierarchy, any difference of ability, in the big illusion that we are all “equal.” Ken Wilber speaks a lot about that fallacy, so I’ll only mention here that being equal means having human DNA and deserving respect and dignity in treatment by society. It says nothing about a person’s ability to contribute to society, or whether he is so blocked by lack of intelligence, health, or training, that his ability to contribute is limited.
Rationalists, when they ignore type, see people as needing only good educations to bring them all to the same level. Certainly a good education is useful for all, but it will not make an individual with a proclivity for logic and spatial awareness into a superior linguist, nor his verbally gifted sister a good mathematician.
Traditionalists see individuals as needing to follow a common moral path. If only… everyone followed the One True Way, they would all turn out to be good.
Type, that way of differentiating humans (types apply in all systems , but I’m focused on humans today), explains differences left when you have individuals at the same state, stage, line development, quadrant perspective… They are still not the same. Among type systems, male-female is one that continues to be useful. The Myers-Briggs system also explains differences. Astrology would be another system, in use from ancient times. But the enneagram is a system that Ken Wilber upholds, so it is what I will use here.
I recently offered an Enneagram training to a local organization with which I’ve been associated for fifteen years. My offer was declined for two reasons. One was expressed by several people who had had Myers-Briggs trainings at work and felt that the system was used to pigeon-hole individuals and to justify holding them back in their advancement. Another reason came down to this: that classifying individuals made some into worker bees and others into queen bees, and thus got people out of their fair share of chores!
To ignore type is to fail to optimize any human system! Type is vitally important. If you have an organization (and families are organizations) that has varied enneagram types, why would you not recognize and capitalize on that? Each type brings strengths to the table. No type has everything, although any type at the highest level of consciousness and health will be highly functional in most situations.
Let us examine some types and how they can optimize or destabilize an organization.
Type One, the Perfectionist, is assertive and constantly looking to make things better. Perfectionists never seem to think things are at their best, and are always ready to offer suggestions or criticism, whether solicited or not. Perfectionists do make systems better. They can make themselves unpopular in the process.
Type Two, the Helper, is warm, friendly and wants to help you. Helpers jump right in and take some of your load. They follow directions and follow other’s leadership. Helpers can lose their own selves in the process of submerging themselves in a family or organization. They also may blind themselves to the big picture.
Type Three, the Achiever, is dynamic and focused on performing. Whatever the field, the Achiever is working to succeed. Dynamic goal-seekers, Achievers are many times the leaders of families and organizations. Yet they are not known for stopping to think or to smell the flowers along the way.
Type Four, the Artist, lives in a world of creative impulse. Highly emotional, Artists need to be faithful to their muse. This impulse is rewarded by society at large, and frequently misunderstood and deprecated by personal contacts.
Type Five, the Scientist, lives in a world of reason. Logical, constantly examining the world of objects and ideas, Observers can lose touch with the human community entirely. Yet Scientists’ abilities to focus on things and abstractions make modern life possible through technological developments we all use.
Type Six, the Skeptic, lives in a world of suspicion. They make good reporters and advocates, wanting to personally verify the facts before making commitments. Skeptics, also known as Loyalists, are good allies to those who have earned their trust. Once a Skeptic has made a judgment regarding a person, place, thing or idea, though, changing his/her mind is unlikely to happen.
Type Seven, the Adventurer, lives in a world of excitement and optimism. Adventurers are naturally drawn to the new and exciting, and tend to ignore the tried and true. Adventurers bring fresh air to any gathering, as they are out-going, optimistic, and always have new adventures to share. On the downside, Adventurers dislike the same old routine.
Type Eight, the Boss, takes charge. Driven to control all that surrounds him/her, Bosses have one way, their way, of having the organization run. Human feelings take last place in the world of tasks. In any survival situation, Bosses are the people who can act quickly and see the big picture.
Type Nine, the Peacemaker, sees all perspectives. Peacemakers are slowly absorbing the vibrations of all the individuals and the facts, too. They will take into account contributing factors that include heart, mind and body. Yet their dislike for confrontation will make them hang back and fail to contribute or follow-through.
Clearly there is an organizational niche for each type. Some types have more flexibility in their ability to contribute. Some organizations preferentially seek and need certain types.
What is your type? How are you best able to help the planet evolve?
Lalia
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