The Eight: A gift for confidence

Eights are confident, energetic and forthright people. They don't mince their words, being direct and oriented towards action. As a result they are able to get projects off the ground and motivate people who are carried along by their confidence and 'can do' attitude. Eights can really move mountains with the force of their energy and willpower. Winston Churchill is a good example of an Eight and what can be achieved when they put their mind to something. He was able to motivate the allied forces to achieve what many people would have thought of as impossible.

The downside of this is that they can get in over their heads. Their confidence can be very attractive - especially to those who lack it - but it may also be misplaced. They may not be as competent as their confidence makes them seem and thought it allows them to get into action and get things done, their plans can be ill-thought out and cause more problems than they solve. Furthermore, their direct approach - 'I like this', 'I hate that', 'This is bullshit' - lacks nuance and oversimplifies things, making things look much less complex than they really are. Whereas other Types might take a moment to reflect or allow doubt to temper their actions, the natural confidence of Eights means that they have a tendency to carry on regardless and can throw their weight around, not minding the consequences, feeling that everyone should just get out of their way and do what they say. They have to learn that reflection and doubt are not signs of weakness, they are as necessary as confidence and that might does not necessarily make you right.