Our personality is directly responsible for how we experience and interact with the world around us. It’s what makes us unique from other people and determines how we behave in certain situations. If you’re interested in learning more about your personality, you may have completed a personality test that can help you narrow down who you are as an individual. Furthermore, while there are several personality tests available online, a common one used is called the Enneagram Test. Therefore, if you have been following along in our Enneagram series, you would know the test is divided into 9 categories. As a result, today, we are going to be going over the enneagram 8 category, which is also known as the challenger.
To find out more about the enneagram 8, keep reading.
Overview of the Enneagram 8
Known as the challenger, the enneagram type 8 personality is someone strong, confident, and assertive. These individuals enjoy facing challenges and standing up for what they believe in. Other identifiable traits of the type 8 personality include:
- Advocating for other people
- The ability to make hard decisions from a place of logic
- They can sometimes be viewed as someone argumentative
- Have difficulties with being vulnerable
- Are highly independent
- Can be stubborn at times
- Require control in the environments they are in
- Are passionate about holding power
- Energetic at heart and enjoy being busy with projects
In other words, the enneagram 8 personality is someone who enjoys leading others. As a result, they act with reason and can find solutions with ease in troubling situations.
Strengths
Furthermore, like all personality types, they type 8 is someone who holds many strengths. Some of these strengths include:
- The ability to express themselves freely
- Strong communications skills
- Can act quickly and be decisive
- A born leader who enjoys being in charge
- Is a fair individual who can critically and logically think
- Feels the need to protect other people who cannot stand up for themselves
- The ability to positively influence others
- Have a strong sense of morality
Above all, when an enneagram 8 lives a balanced lifestyle, they can quickly bring about change that positively impacts others. They are always up for a challenge and feel confident in their actions.
Weaknesses
Furthermore, while the type 8 personality holds many strengths, they can also have many weaknesses. Some of these weaknesses include:
- Can be perceived as someone who is intimidating towards others
- The tendency to disregard the opinion and feelings of other people
- They have difficulty following the rules set by other people
- Sense of cruelty that is confrontational
When the enneagram 8 allows their weaknesses to control their lifestyle choices, they can lead themselves down a dangerous path. This often leads to wrong first impressions and broken relationships in their personal and work life.
Healthy Enneagram 8 vs. Unhealthy Enneagram 8
Above all, the key for enneagram 8 personalities is to live a balanced lifestyle that honours their strengths and weaknesses. When they allow this to happen, they will have no troubles succeeding in their personal and work-life. However, should a type 8 enable their weaknesses to get better, they can make negative choices that cause consequences. Let’s take a look at the difference between and healthy enneagram 8 vs. an unhealthy enneagram 8:
Healthy Enneagram 8
- Courageous individuals who are willing to put themselves at risk to help other people
- Honourable in their actions and behaviours
- Hard-working with an inner sense to achieve
- Resourceful with the ability to make something out of nothing
- Confident in themselves and their abilities to be good people
- Warm and inviting energy that many find comfort in
- Can easily make friends and foster meaningful relationships with people
- The ability to give good advice to those who seek guidance
- Not afraid to take on challenges
- Respect the opinions of other people
- They can stand up for themselves and what they believe in
Unhealthy Enneagram 8
- Vengeful individuals
- Will go out of their way to win, regardless of the consequences
- Can become prone to violence
- May develop delusions about their influence and power
- Highly intimidating to others
- Sense of proudness and egocentric confidence
- Confrontational with others they feel don’t respect them
- Can experience feelings of vulnerability
- The tendency to make reckless choices
- Do not believe in morality
- Have a hardened heart that is unable to love other people
Enneagram 8’s in Relationships
Above all, when the enneagram 8 is in a relationship, they are dedicated and honest in their communication. They will go out of their way to protect the physical and emotional wellbeing of their partner at all costs. Furthermore, they understand how to keep boundaries and are open to giving their partner space when needed.
However, at times, they can become emotionally vulnerable when they feel challenged. This can lead to arguments where the enneagram 8 uses harsh words to make their point known. Regardless, the enneagram type 8 must learn to gently communicate when they feel overwhelmed. Thus, they can maintain a healthy relationship where communication is vital.
Want to take another personality test that is even more reliable than the Enneagram test? Take our free DISC personality test here!
Best Careers for the Enneagram 8
Moreover, those with enneagram 8 personalities enjoy leading others. As a result, they thrive in careers that allow them to make decisions. As such, some of the best jobs for type 8’s are:
- Lawyer
- Doctor
- Politicians
- Advertising Executive
- Sales Director
- Financial Advisor
- Director
- Business Owner
- Event Planner
- Agent
- PR Director
- Author
Famous Type 8’s
Furthermore, as the enneagram 8 enjoys taking charge, many throughout history have become famous. Take a look through the list below and see if you can recognize any well-known type 8’s.
- Winston Churchill
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Chelsea Handler
- Alec Baldwin
- Clint Eastwood
- Rosie O’Donnell
- Aretha Franklin
- Queen Latifah
- Russell Crowe
- Phil
- Pink
- Barbara Walters
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Courtney Love
- Toni Morrison
- Kathy Bates
- Indira Gandhi
- Rosanne Barr
- Serena Williams
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
To sum up, many individuals on this list have led wars, social justice movements and held notable political positions. All these positions allow them to fight for others and make positive impacts on their communities.
