Desires, Fears & Your Inner Critic

Developed by John Andrew Williams, MCC — Founder and Lead Trainer, Coach Training EDU.

The core motivation personality tool is based on the Enneagram, a mixture of an ancient personality system and modern psychology. This particular model was developed by Coach Training EDU and is utilized by coaches in training as a coaching exploration tool.

Core Motivation Reflection: Desires, Fears & Your Inner Critic

Use your main Core Motivation Type as a starting point. Treat these patterns as hypotheses, not labels. If the original wording does not immediately resonate, look for its leadership expression and keep only what genuinely fits. Draw from stories meaningful within your culture and experience.

Nothing you write here is fixed. Please note this is a reflection starting point. Revisit what you wrote, revise it, or begin again with fresh eyes at another time. The value lies in the noticing rather than in arriving at a final answer, and the awareness tends to sharpen each time you come back to it.

Type

Basic Desire How it may appear in leadership

Basic Fear: What I Avoid

Internal Message: “I’m OK when…”

What Does My Inner Critic Say?

Personify Your Inner Critic Choose a fictional or original character from a movie, show, book, legend, cartoon or your imagination. Do not use a real person, such as a colleague, relative, leader or public figure.

The Perfectionist

To be perfectIn leadership: Upholding high standards and doing what is right.

My basic fear is being bad or flawed. I avoid mistakes and losing control.

I do what is right

The Helper

To be lovedIn leadership: Being valued through contribution and connection.

My basic fear is being unwanted. I avoid disappointing others.

I can help others

The Doer

To be the bestIn leadership: Being effective, successful and respected.

My basic fear is being useless. I avoid failing and looking bad.

I am recognized for achievement

The Artist

To be uniqueIn leadership: Being understood and recognized for an authentic contribution.

My basic fear is being forgotten. I avoid being rejected and fake.

I express my true nature

The Thinker

To be rightIn leadership: Being knowledgeable, capable and credible.

My basic fear is being wrong. I avoid strong feelings and demands.

I am the expert

The Friend

To be safeIn leadership: Creating certainty, trust and preparedness.

My basic fear is being threatened. I avoid being helpless and useless.

I avoid danger

The Optimist

To be happyIn leadership: Retaining possibility, freedom and positive options.

My basic fear is being trapped in pain. I avoid limits, boredom and pain.

I get what I want

The Defender

To be in controlIn leadership: Remaining strong, independent and able to influence outcomes.

My basic fear is being weak. I avoid vulnerability and being controlled.

I am strong

The Peacemaker

To be comfortableIn leadership: Maintaining harmony, stability and connection.

My basic fear is being in conflict. I avoid tension and being uncomfortable.

I am peaceful

Optional · after the session Explore Your Inner Critic Further With Your Coach Five reflection questions to take into your next 1:1. These are not part of the live activity — open them whenever you are ready.

Reflect on the following questions and bring your responses to your next 1:1 coaching session.

When does my Inner Critic most often show up, and what seems to trigger it?
How do my limiting beliefs contribute to the ‘Inner Critic’s voice’?
What might it be trying to protect me from or help me achieve?
What is the benefit of having my Inner Critic as a separate identity?
Now that I am more aware of my Inner Critic, what will make it easier to spot when it shows up?

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When you are ready

Next: Strengths & Inner Coach

You have named the voice that gets in the way. The next activity builds the one that helps — your Core Strengths, what it takes for you to step into leadership, and a character for your Inner Coach. What you wrote here is carried across for you. Take a copy of this page first if you would like one.

Click here when you’re ready for the next step

Disclaimer. The core motivation personality tool is based on the Enneagram, a mixture of an ancient personality system and modern psychology. This particular model was developed by Coach Training EDU and is utilized by coaches in training as a coaching exploration tool. The core motivation personality tool is not being used by Coachability as a psychological health diagnosis, screening of any type, mental health recommendation, or a sole determining factor of an individual's identity or being. The core motivation tool is for self-awareness, highlighting opportunities for self-reflection, and educational purposes only.

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