Enneagram 6w7: The Guide

If you have ever:

1. Categorized a group of people by “for me” and “against me”,
2. Gravitated towards systems and beliefs for guidance and security,
3. Fought for the underdog,
4. Been viewed as confident and friendly but felt indecisive or insecure,

…you might be a 6w7. But what does that mean?

What is a Wing?

You may have noticed results from an Enneagram test you’ve taken, or seen your friends mention their type, but with two numbers with a little “w” between them. That “w” stands for “Wing”.

Your wing will be the Enneagram type directly on either side of your core type. So wings for a 6 are either 5 or 7.

Your wing is not your next highest score or another type you feel like you may be. For example, you cannot be a 6w4 or 6w1.

Your wing will be like an accent to your core personality.

Beth McCord (Your Enneagram Coach) describes wings as salt and pepper, to your entree. It adds some flavor, and brings out the best taste your steak may have to offer, but doesn’t change the type at its core.

You will see traits of your wings type in your personality, but it does not change the core motivations behind your actions. The beauty of the Enneagram is it points out the root of your actions, not just the preferences of your personality.

Unlike your core Enneagram type, your wings can change. You will likely have a dominant wing while having the ability to access the other when needed.

Your dominant wing can change in different seasons throughout your life, and both wings will look a little bit different as your level of health and awareness increases, or decreases.

What is a 6w7?

Let’s start by looking at what we know about Enneagram 6s and Enneagram 7s.

Enneagram 6’s long for security, support, and guidance. They find comfort in routines, planning ahead, and thinking through and planning for worst-case scenario outcomes.

6’s are extremely loyal, often referred to as Loyalists. They are not only loyal to their friends, but to their systems, faith, beliefs, and political views.

Enneagram 7’s can also struggle with feelings of anxiety, but hide it from themselves by distracting themselves with fun and excitement. They are outgoing, the life of the party, and love to sample all life has to offer, from food to vacations, to making new friends everywhere they go!

The 6w7 personality is friendly, loyal, and fun, and can become quite anxious.

The Unique Gifts of a 6w7

Enneagram 6w7’s are supportive, witty, friendly, and liked by almost everyone. They are amazing friends who remember important things to celebrate and have a lot more social energy than someone who is a 6w5.

They pay attention to the reactions and responses of others and use that to be a better friend.

They are loyal loyal loyal. Though a 7 wing has more energy for more people, it doesn’t change their loyalty to them. They have the backs of their friends and family, and often their friends are their family.

They plan ahead, are structured, often organized, and are great party planners and delegators! They have the gift to see and troubleshoot that many others wouldn’t have thought of. They are our loyal protectors in so many ways.

The Struggles of a 6w7

In seasons of stress or struggle, a 6w7 can really struggle with anxiety. When they are seeking advice from the outside they don’t often go to just one person, but several, or many.

This can oftentimes make that anxiety worsen because though they may have gotten lots of good advice, it is more than likely all different good advice, leaving the 6w7 thinking “where do I even start?”

A 6w7 can struggle to view others’ responses to them as “for me” or “against me”, when that isn’t what others think, feel, or said. They can often get stuck in rabbit trails, or spiral thinking of awful things that started with almost nothing.

This can cause their insecurities and anxieties to deepen, and if addressed with others can cause issues in relationships.

How to Grow as a 6w7

Alignment with Christ and the Gospel is the best thing anyone could ever do for themselves. Believing He is who He says He helps you to believe fully that you are safe in His hands. Know that as long as we live in this Genesis 3 world, things will go wrong.

People will get hurt. Bad things do happen. But, Romans 8:28 says that “all things work together for the good of those who love Him…” and we serve a good and loving Father who is the ultimate defender, and ultimate physician, and the one who will wipe away every tear and make things as they were created to be, perfect, once again.

Know who you are and where you stand with Christ above all else. Know what he says about you and believe it.

Relationships won’t always be perfect, but if any type is willing to stand the test of time in relationships, it’s this one. Even when things aren’t pretty or your mind gets the best of you, give your thought pattern and relationship expectations to the Lord.

Acknowledge your fears, and hand them over to Him. Ask someone you trust, no more than two people, to listen to you without judgment or intention of giving advice unless you’re ready to hear it.

Being heard and saying your fears out loud can go such a long way when you have a loving ear for them to land on.

More Resources

On the other side of Six is the 6w5. A six with a five wing is more serious, emotionally reserved, anxious, and intellectual.

To learn more about yourself as a Six and how your Seven wing may present itself, check out my guide to Type Six and guide to Type Seven.

And lastly—if you want to dive deeper into what it looks like to grow in your Enneagram type, check out The Enneagram Growth Guide, which you can download for free.

This is a guide with a Christian perspective—it’ll show you how to overcome the struggles and temptations of your number, discover the incredible gifts hidden inside you, and use that knowledge to go deeper in your relationship with God. You can grab a free copy by clicking this link.