Common ESTJ Enneagram Types + Interpreting Differences

ESTJs are usually so fun, warmhearted, and pleasant that we can only wish for you to have at least one in your life. But, of course, not all ESTJs are the same. Needless to say, this only makes it more interesting to explore ESTJ Enneagram combinations and understand how an ESTJ's essence can be expressed in various ways.

In this article, we’ll analyze all nine ESTJ Enneagram subtypes, explain the subtle differences between them, and offer a fresh perspective on what makes ESTJs unique.

A Quick Overview of the ESTJ Personality Type

ESTJs are reliable, friendly people grounded in reality and oriented toward the here and now. Like all sensing types, like ISTJs, they are observant and logical and easily connect the dots in every situation they find themselves in.

Because they are so well-adjusted and quick to understand the context of everything, they don’t wait for others to tell them what needs to be done; they take charge and assume responsibility like that’s the most natural thing to do. They also make sure everything runs smoothly and according to the rules, which is why they are often seen as leaders.

Tradition, morals, and security are important for these benevolent individuals who have strong beliefs and consistently stand by them. Sometimes, these same traits may easily be perceived as stubbornness and rigidity, but for an ESTJ, that’s the price of success they are willing to pay.

When they finish with their responsibilities, ESTJs are ready to party hard and let their adventurous spirit out. Needless to say, they often have a captivating sense of humor and are the life of the party.

The Nine Enneagram Types of the ESTJ

ESTJs are strong people in every sense. Some Enneagram types will support their strengths, while others will challenge or enrich them with completely new qualities.

#1. ESTJ Enneagram Type 1

ESTJs and Enneagram Type Ones share a sense of responsibility, a strong moral compass, and love of tradition. Due to this, it’s no wonder many ESTJs identify with Type One, so this is not a rare combination.

We can expect all the typical ESTJs’ traits to be well-developed in this variation, so ESTJ Enneagram Ones will be very conscious, diligent, and hardworking, always standing up for the principles of good.

What’s different about these ESTJs is their idealism and sensitivity. Ones’ introversion and high-minded principles add a whole new dimension to otherwise realistic and pragmatic ESTJs. Due to this, Enneagram Ones are deeply moved by questions of social justice and fairness.

ESTJ Enneagram Ones can’t stand people who are lazy, sloppy, and inconsistent. They dread the idea of having to cooperate with someone who does not share their passion for work. Moreover, their biggest fears revolve around issues of competence and responsibility, while their biggest desires are about living stable, moral lives and making the world a better place.

#2. ESTJ Enneagram Type 2

Though it may not be immediately obvious, ESTJ and Enneagram Type Two share many characteristics. They are both responsible, hardworking, and diligent types who do not back down no matter how difficult the task is. But while ESTJs prioritize getting things done, Twos prioritize making everyone around them happy.

Therefore, ESTJ Enneagram Twos will be just as conscious, trustworthy, and devoted as ESTJs usually are. Still, they’ll show more warmth toward others and, in general, be more extroverted and people-oriented. These ESTJs are also amazing friends and make great bosses and managers who know how to motivate their coworkers.

Moreover, these ESTJs usually enjoy great popularity in their surroundings and easily make connections because they show genuine respect toward everyone who comes their way and never mock, insult, or belittle other people. Their deep fear of abandonment, typical of Type Two, motivates them to never forget the needs of others.

As for their desires, ESTJs want to taste the simple pleasures of life in the company of their loved ones. They deeply appreciate life's little everyday joys and have a strong hedonistic streak.

#3. ESTJ Enneagram Type 3

A large number of ESTJs identify as Enneagram Type Three, which is no surprise considering the overlaps between these two personality types. They are both reality-oriented, ambitious, and smooth communicators who know how to get what they want.

So, all the typical ESTJ traits will be very pronounced, making ESTJ Enneagram Type Three easy to spot in the crowd. They are the ones wearing fancy clothes, chatting and smiling to everyone, and making connections while not losing sight of their ultimate goal. In other words, these people make succeeding look easy.

While they show such a warm and kind face to everyone around them, ESTJ Threes may forget about their genuine motives and desires. Both Thress and ESTJs have trouble staying in touch with their feelings, so this challenge will be even bigger for an ESTJ Enneagram Type Three.

These charming, energetic social butterflies dread the idea of being seen as failures, so they grind till they reach the level of success that satisfies their hunger for social approval. They yearn for the time when they will be free to pursue their true passions without feeling constrained by the expectations of perfection they believe are placed on them.

#4. ESTJ Enneagram Type 4

It is extremely uncommon, if not outright impossible, to identify both as an ESTJ and an Enneagram Type Four. These two personality types have very little in common, so this will surely be an atypical ESTJ.

These ESTJs are significantly less extroverted and often suffer from feeling inferior to other people. They try to compensate for their feeling of inferiority by striving hard to accomplish something extraordinary, but they don’t enjoy their success like typical ESTJs; they just feel relieved.

ESTJ Enneagram Fours feel a strong need to be in touch with their authentic selves, so they are often invested in learning about themselves and mastering emotional regulation skills. They usually have artistic talents, but it takes them some time before they figure out what they want to do with them and how they can use them to their advantage.

They are terrified by the prospect of leading an ordinary life without having anything special and unique to share with other people. This fear is also reflected in their desire to create something completely new and different.

#5. ESTJ Enneagram Type 5

ESTJs and Fives are not complete opposites, but they don’t have too many things in common, either. Since Fives are logical, punctual, and structured, these traits will also be accentuated in ESTJ Enneagram Type Five.

In general, ESTJ Enneagram Fives are driven, efficient, and exceptionally smart people who find a way to translate all their talents into practical skills that are useful in everyday life. They value education and knowledge and are often professionally accomplished.

However, their emotional lives are usually underdeveloped since they focus so much on their education and careers. Relationships are not as logical and predictable as science is, and these ESTJs find it hard to get close to other people as they fear the uncertainty of emotions. For the same reason, they will also be more independent than typical ESTJs.

These ESTJs dream of being so competent and knowledgeable that they can predict the whole course of their lives. So, they don’t crave excitement but desire a peaceful, stable life in which they can pursue their interests. Still, their fear of relying on others is often a huge obstacle in forming meaningful connections with other people.

#6. ESTJ Enneagram Type 6

ESTJ Enneagram Type Six is the guardian of tradition, morals, and ethics in their community. Or in other words, these ESTJs are everything ESTJs usually are. However, the fear that is typical of Type Six influences every decision these ESTJs make, making them more cautious, level-headed, and oriented toward preserving security rather than making advances in their lives and careers.

ESTJ Sixess are among the rare ESTJs who experience anxiety. They fight against it by being diligent workers, good partners, and friends, and doing everything by the book, hoping that if they do everything right, they will earn the right to belong and feel safe and protected.

Their leadership skills are less pronounced because they tend to prefer to follow the rules and orders rather than give them. They chronically feel like they need some kind of manual for life, while they miss seeing that no one has such a thing. Moreover, they may have trouble relaxing and trusting the flow of life.

The typical ESTJ’s desire to live a steady and peaceful life is even more pronounced in this case, to the point of being a need and not just a desire. These ESTJs need to feel they belong somewhere to feel safe, and once they do, they actually begin to look more like typical ESTJs.

#7. ESTJ Enneagram Type 7

ESTJ Enneagram Type Sevens have a huge appetite for life. They are gregarious, humorous people who communicate with ease and bring a sense of lightness and comedy wherever they show up.

Enneagram Type Seven intensifies ESTJ’s extroversion, openness, and adventurous spirit, making these individuals enchanted with all that life has to offer. These ESTJs are less calculated and analytical and more energetic and playful, which is why they are easily mistaken for ESTPs and ESFPs.

The biggest obstacle in the lives of these ESTJs is their aversion to unpleasant feelings. They are exceptionally skilled at reframing all kinds of contexts to fit their frame of reference while completely lacking the skills to deal with deeper emotions. For that reason, they may be prone to making rash decisions in crises.

However, they usually have a large circle of friends who help them mature and overcome hard times in their lives. Some of them are lucky enough to never experience such hardships, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t benefit from learning how to face unpleasant feelings.

As for their desires, these ESTJs want more than a stable life; they want fun and adventure, but not to the extent that would compromise stability.

#8. ESTJ Enneagram Type 8

A large number of ESTJs identify as Type Eight, so we can expect these ESTJs to be typical in many ways. Therefore, ESTJ Enneagram Eights are resolute, level-headed strategic thinkers who go straight after what they want and usually achieve a lot early in life.

These ESTJs are similar to ESTJ Enneagram Threes in many ways, but their motivation is what makes the biggest difference. While ESTJ Threes crave social approval and recognition, ESTJ Eights are driven by the need to have power over their lives.

ESTJ Enneagram Eights radiate natural authority, and people see them as leaders even when they are not formally in such a position. They invest a lot of effort into gaining competence so that they have all the skills and knowledge they need to assume the position they aim for.

Passionate and driven, these ESTJs have high expectations of themselves in every sense. As friends and partners, they are passionate, loyal, and protective, but they never forgive betrayal, as that’s their deepest fear and their weakest spot.

Their ultimate desire and goal in life is to be in control of their destiny, invulnerable to the hardships of life. So, they may need to work on getting in touch with their soft side and overcoming their distrust of other people.

#9. ESTJ Enneagram Type 9

Not many Nines can be found among ESTJs, which is no surprise considering how different these two types are. Additionally, internal conflicts are a common problem for ESTJ Enneagram Type Nine precisely because of these differences.

On the one hand, ESTJ Enneagram Nines want everyone to be happy, and on the other, they want to avoid dealing with their feelings. The result of this inner conflict is that they try to do everything in their power to prevent disagreements and avoid such complicated situations as much as possible.

These ESTJs are more compassionate and sensitive to the needs of others but often don’t know how to express their own feelings. They are more compliant, polite, and withdrawn than typical ESTJs and are often mistaken for INTPs.

Being abandoned is the fear that haunts these ESTJs and inspires them to be more amiable than they typically are. Moreover, their typical desire to live peaceful, stable lives surrounded by their loved ones is even more pronounced in this variation.

The Most and Least Common ESTJ Enneagram Types

Considering the flamboyant character of ESTJs, it is not hard to guess the most common Enneagram types among them. On the other hand, the rarest ESTJ Enneagram combinations are so rare that it always makes sense to repeat the test to ensure no mistake has occurred.

The Most Common ESTJ Enneagram Types

The most common ESTJ Enneagram types are Eights, Threes, Ones, and Sixes. Eights and Threes share the ESTJ's pragmatic spirit, drive, and efficiency, while Ones and Sixes emphasize the ESTJ’s need to stick to tradition, rules, and morals.

The Least Common ESTJ Enneagram Types

The least common ESTJ Enneagram types are Twos, Nines, and Fours. Twos and Nines are deeply compassionate, sensitive types who are driven by the need to please others, which is very atypical for ESTJs.

Meanwhile, Fours are introverted, emotional people who have almost nothing in common with the pragmatic ESTJs, which is why this is an extremely rare, if not even impossible, combination.

Conclusion

ESTJs are lively, focused characters who are well-adapted to reality and know how to make their wishes come true. They don’t hesitate to take the lead and make things happen, which is why they are often chosen as leaders.

So, to reiterate—Eights, Threes, Ones, and Sixes are the Enneatypes that are the most common among ESTJs, which is not a surprise considering the fact that they share all the key traits. The Enneagram Types Two, Four, and Nine are the rarest Enneagram types among ESTjs—they rely heavily on their feelings and intuition, which is opposed to the logical spirit of ESTJs.