8 The Boss

8s Say: “I can be assertive and aggressive when I need to be. I value being direct and honest. Some take offense at my bluntness. I tend to be an individualist and a nonconformist. I respect people who stand up for themselves. I work hard and I know how to get the job done. I easily make decisions. When entering a new group, I see immediately the most powerful person.”

Root Emotion: Anger

This type has the most power energy in the Enneagram.  They tend to be larger, barrel-chested, or wiry in both men and women.  The self-confident 8 energy is a masculine one.  Female 8s sometimes have trouble accepting their femininity or softer images. 8s take charge from early childhood and do not like to be dominated. They immediately assess who is the most powerful person in any room or situation and will lead or follow accordingly. Like 7s, 8s have strong appetites, but are not distracted from sexuality or food by adventure. They “control” their health by willing illness away. Vulnerability is to be avoided at all costs. They say that they are not trying to control people, but instead control the environment (which includes people).  As children they can be the bully or bully-destroyer on the playground depending on their emotional health.  They have a keen sense of protecting the underdog. Their defense style is aggression: they can “run over” people, are direct, confrontational, and authoritarian. 8s don't notice that their blows or bluntness can hurt and is often hard to endure.  A healthy 8 boss easily delegates, and subordinates feel supported.