Motivation, which can be an internal drive or an external stimulus, propels our behavior. It might be toward something we want or, conversely, away from something we don’t want.

Each Enneagram type comes with specific motivators, ones that propel people of that type forward in a specific direction, as well as key demotivators, intense avoidances that also drive their responses and behavior.

The core motivators and demotivators can be thought of as 1st level motivators and demotivators for each type. In addition, there are 2nd and 3rd level motivators for each type; 2nd level motivators are type-based improvements, while 3rd level motivators are deeper longings and high aspirations.

ENNEAGRAM ONES

Core Motivator: Search for perfection

For Ones, this is a never-ending search that has no real endpoint. The impulse is to keep trying their best, approximating perfection, no matter what.

Core Demotivator: Avoidance of mistakes

Avoidances are often as strong or stronger than what we search for. In the case of Ones, mistakes are to be avoided at all costs. They may understand rationally that trying something new often comes with making mistakes. After all, there is risk in experimentation and exploration. The issue is that making a mistake causes Ones to judge themselves harshly and, often, relentlessly. Better to avoid errors!

2^nd Level Motivators: Improvements

Particularly if Ones are no longer solely driven by their core motivators, they want to improve in two specific areas: (1) To be able to continuously improve themselves without feeling that they have done something wrong. (2) To be less critical of themselves on such a continuous basis.

3^rd Level Motivators: Aspirations

Improvements as motivators often lead to 3^rd level motivators: aspirations. These are the felt/sensed aspirational possibilities to which Ones are attuned: (1) To be more consistently compassionate and attuned to others as well as themselves. (2) To relax, have more fun, and feel more serene, especially when mistakes are made or things feel out of control.

Next in this series will be the motivational structure for Enneagram Twos.

About Ginger

Ginger Lapid-Bogda PhD, author of nine Enneagram books including The Art of Typing, is a speaker, consultant, trainer, and coach. She provides certification programs and training tools for business professionals around the world who want to bring the Enneagram into organizations with high-impact business applications. TheEnneagramInBusiness.com | ginger@theenneagraminbusiness.com