Freud’s Libidinal Types, first published in 1932, have been quietly informing the psychometric assessment of personality. So quietly, in fact, that it had to be rediscovered. Freud’s short work on normal personality types, published near the end of his life, was essentially a hypothesis, based on his life experience, but it was never formally tested or validated. This article is the story of how these seven types were independently rediscovered, expanded to cover conflict management, and applied to the practice of human development. Leaders who become more aware of their intrinsic motives and how those motives influence their use (and overuse) of strengths can improve the effectiveness of their leadership relationships. Furthermore, insight into these types brings a new line of inquiry to the creation, interpretation and communication of organizational purpose.