Enneagram Type 9 vs Type 8 in Conflict
The type 9 and type 8 share a lot in common and are often in relationship. They are both gut types. As such, they both tend to know and experience reality in terms of their more physical, visceral, and sensing “gut” feelings. Both are resistant and enduring.

How are the 8 and the 9 different from one another?
Enneagram Type 8 is the Challenging Protector:
If you are an 8, you want to be open, honest, direct, and straightforward. Most importantly, you want to be independent, make your own decisions and direct your own course. You are honest and call a spade a spade. You say what you mean and mean what you say. You may have problems with being excessive and going to extremes. Under stress, you may be intense, overpowering, or unwilling to self-limit. At your best, you are a protective, compassionate, and magnanimous leader.

Enneagram Type 9 is the Peaceful Mediator:
If you are a 9, you want to be peaceful, relaxed, comfortable, and natural. Most importantly, you want to be agreeable and if at all possible, to avoid conflict. You go along to get along and want harmonious relationships. You are very receptive and a good listener. You may have problems with inaction. Under stress, you may be passive-aggressive, neglectful, or indifferent. At your best, you are kind and accepting, connected to others, and mediate differences.

When the 8 and the 9 are in conflict, they handle their style of asserting for what they want differently. The 8 is the aggressive gut type, and the 9 is the passive-aggressive gut type. That means that the 8 moves against obstacles to remove them, and the 9 moves out of the way of obstacles to avoid them.

The 8 can be direct and outspoken, and the 9 can be vague and obfuscate. This makes things merry, but they both have power of a different kind. The 8 moves into immediate action, which works at times, whereas the 9 moves to inaction and lets things work themselves out. When this happens, they can become frustrated with one another. Both have a valid point of view and can learn from one another.

Both have an approach that works if they have a chance to begin and end with their own approach. If either style is interrupted by the other’s approach, they don’t quite get the same result. This is when they both are resistant to changing course… and a type of stalemate ensues.

The 8 thinks the 9 is not handling things fast enough and that there will be bigger problems as a result, and the 9 thinks the 8 is acting too fast and there will be bigger problems as a result. This is why it is better if they work together and/or recognize that each has an important point of view.

When the 9 or 8 feels the other is overly negative towards them, it is because of the aforementioned viewpoint of each type. Resolution comes when they validate and explain both viewpoints to one another and consider what action might be the best approach and why.

Understanding their different Tritypes® can help both better understand the other’s position and gifts of differing points of view rather than just focusing on the differences.

More on Tritype® here:
Katherine created a test that has been programmed to pick up particular patterns that the types use.
Take the Test here: https://enneagramtritypetest.com
General Information: www.katherinefauvre.com/tritype
YouTube: Katherine Fauvre | Creator of Tritype®