How Enneagram Types Show Up in Legal Practice

Do you wonder how the Enneagram might help develop your legal talent? The following insights give you just a glimpse into the power of the Enneagram to catalyze your lawyers into the best versions of themselves.

Type 1 (The Perfectionist) brings exceptional attention to detail but may become overly critical under stress causing unnecessary delay in meeting client needs.

Development focus: Learning when "good enough" serves clients better than perfect.

Type 2 (The Helper) excels at client relationships but struggles with boundaries that could adversely impact those relationships by inadvertently expanding work scope or overstepping by being too familiar.

Development focus: Building assertiveness skills and self-advocacy.

Type 3 (The Achiever) drives results and inspires teams but may sacrifice authenticity for image diminishing trust and causing others to doubt their integrity.

Development focus: Aligning personal values with professional success.

Type 4 (The Individualist) offers creative problem-solving but can become moody when feeling misunderstood, alienating colleagues and damaging long-term opportunities.

Development focus: Emotional regulation and finding unique contributions within team structures.

Type 5 (The Investigator) provides deep analytical thinking but may appear withdrawn from colleagues because they aren’t adept at articulating their needs.

Development focus: Building interpersonal connections and collaborative communication.

Type 6 (The Loyalist) demonstrates reliability and thoroughness but may struggle with self-doubt when they are unable to game out every possible scenario because of client or time constraints.

Development focus: Decision-making confidence and independent thinking.

Type 7 (The Enthusiast) generates innovative ideas but may lack follow-through on routine tasks because they are more energized by the “big picture.”

Development focus: Sustained attention and the importance of completing less stimulating but necessary work.

Type 8 (The Challenger) provides natural leadership but may intimidate junior colleagues because of their direct and authoritative style.

Development focus: Vulnerability in relationships and collaborative decision-making.

Type 9 (The Peacemaker) creates inclusive environments but may avoid difficult conversations because they wish to avoid alienating colleagues and creating disharmony.

Development focus: Assertive communication and healthy conflict engagement.

9/23/25