Relationships between strategies

15 in a relationship

Two independent people who value self-control and careful thought. Their relationship tends to be matter-of-fact and practical. The One acts on principles, the Five on understanding.

Strategy 1

Principled Perfectionist

Desire
Goodness, integrity and being at peace with yourself
Fear
Making a mistake, failing and being bad inside

Strategy 5

Capable Expert

Desire
Understanding and the ability to handle the world
Fear
Helplessness, incompetence, and overwhelm

How they're connected

They're not directly connected. Pairs like this are often drawn to each other precisely because of their differences.

What draws them together

At first glance, the One and the Five have a lot in common. Both are independent, like to work on their own, and value keeping their emotions in check. They often build the relationship on practical rather than romantic ground: making a living, projects, a well-organized home.

In the Five, the One finds a calm, understanding presence that doesn't judge. The Five, in turn, is drawn to the One's intensity and passion. It brings them to life, as long as the One doesn't force them to show their feelings.

Where they click

  • Mutual respect for privacy and independence.
  • Matter-of-fact communication without unnecessary drama.
  • A shared sense of quality and thoroughness.

The rest is in the Couples Guide. How to get it

Where the friction is

  • The Five stays emotionally disconnected for long stretches while the One waits for the criticism to come.
  • The One reads silence as silent judgment, even when the Five isn't judging anything.
  • Neither wants to get angry, so important topics are left untouched.

The rest is in the Couples Guide. How to get it

Working together

At work, their styles are very similar. A Five as the boss sets clear goals and proceeds methodically, which suits the One. Both like to work independently, and both pull back first when a problem comes up. That's why the Five has to be the one to open the conversation, because the One reads silence as criticism.

The rest is in the Couples Guide. How to get it

The two of you, specifically

This is only a general description of the One and Five pairing. The Couples Guide goes deeper: you both take the Quick Test, and the guide works with your subtypes. The self-preservation, social, and one-to-one versions of the same strategy behave completely differently in a relationship.

  • The full text on where you get stuck and how to get out
  • Advice for each of you separately
  • The two of you, specifically: your combination of subtypes
  • How to understand your partner
  • Tips for growing together

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All combinations

What are the two of you really like?

Here you're reading how Perfectionist and Expert generally work together. The Couples Guide shows your relationship: what draws you to each other, where you get stuck, and what to do about it.

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