The Enneagram at Work
The Enneagram is tough stuff. I was recently exposed to the wonders of the Enneagram through at at-home retreat, and all I can say is… wow.
Experts say you know you have found your true number when you feel completely and utterly exposed, as if someone were reading your diary. The results can feel like a punch to the gut, and you will undoubtedly hear things about yourself that you believe to be true, but do not want to hear. There are no “good” or “bad” numbers, but it’s rare to meet a person who doesn’t feel “called-out” by their results.
The Enneagram is a set of nine distinct personality types. Each person is born with one dominating personality type, although it is extremely common to see yourself in multiple types. Each type analysis includes different motivational and growth techniques, communication tips, compatibility with other numbers, and has an associated fear, which I’ve added in parenthesis below.
1. THE REFORMER (FEAR OF BEING “BAD” OR CORRUPT)
2. THE HELPER (FEAR OF BEING UNWANTED OR UNWORTHY OF LOVE)
3. THE ACHIEVER (FEAR OF BEING WORTHLESS)
4. THE INDIVIDUALIST (FEAR OF BEING INSIGNIFICANT)
5. THE INVESTIGATOR (FEAR OF BEING USELESS OR HELPLESS)
6. THE LOYALIST (FEAR OF BEING WITHOUT GUIDANCE)
7. THE ENTHUSIAST (FEAR OF BEING DEPRIVED OR IN PAIN)
8. THE CHALLENGER (FEAR OF BEING CONTROLLED BY OTHERS)
9. THE PEACEMAKER (FEAR OF LOSS AND SEPARATION)
Find your number by taking the free tests below.
Your results will make you feel things, but there’s a strength, peace, and understanding that comes from self-awareness, and it’s a crucial piece of growth and leadership. When you are self-aware, you have the opportunity to learn from not only your mistakes but your successes as well. Knowing your type and the types of those around you will result in improved communication and overall better relationships.
Let’s say you have an employee that is clearly an 8, and another employee who is a manager that tends to adopt an authoritarian leadership style. Knowing that type 8 comes with a fear of being controlled by others, you might consider shifting a few people around so the 8 and the harsh manager don’t have as much contact. Knowledge is power.
As we were about to press publish on this post, Brené Brown released her newest podcast, and it happens to be on this topic. Brené takes the point of view of an Enneagram skeptic and asks all the right questions. You can listen here.
Do you know your type? I’m a 3, which explains my tendency to become completely submerged in my business - something I previously saw as a flaw, but now understand it as part of my make-up. Comment your '“type” below!