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THE ENNEAGRAM- 9 PERSONALITY TYPES

WHAT IS THE ENNEAGRAM?

The Enneagram teaches emotional intelligence and helps us to significantly expand our relationship skills with the nine human personality styles. It improves our understanding of ourselves and others by clearly outlining what drives each style to act, feel, and think the way they do. Each style has a particular set of positive traits, as well as related characteristics that cause us problems.

The Enneagram is taught in a wide range of venues, including Disney, Intuit, Apple, the Stanford MBA program, Harvard Law school, and to every school teacher in Prague. It is used by the CIA to predict the behavior of world leaders. Many managers, therapists, and coaches use the Enneagram in their work and find it to be the most effective tool available for developing change and awareness.

Relationship problems develop when one is unaware of the pitfalls of one’s dominant type. The study of the Enneagram makes it possible to stop the automatic mode of the style. Change is frequently more about noticing and halting specific habits rather than actively doing something.

Knowing one’s type helps break core unhealthy patterns and begin the journey toward more efective ways of living and being with others.

Each type has a particular view of the world that is not questioned. These "blinders", or tunnel vision, narrow our opportunities for alternative ways to relate to the world and can lead to poor decisions and conflict. The nine types and their basic beliefs are as follows:

Type 1 - The Perfectionists - believe they must be good and right.
Type 2 - The Givers - believe they must take care of others' needs
Type 3 - The Performers - believe they must be successful and have a good image
Type 4 - The Romantics - believe they must find the idealized love or situation
Type 5 - The Observers - believe they must conserve their energy and resources
Type 6 - The Loyal Skeptics - believe they must plan for potential hazards
Type 7 - The Epicures - believe they must keep life interesting and focus on
having many options
Type 8 - The Protectors - believe they must get power and control
Type 9 - The Mediators - believe they must blend with others' agendas

The Enneagram describes the CORE motivation of each style. The growth edge is to notice the habit of the style, observe it, and have a choice in how to respond. For example, Type Two can notice when they give to create a dependency with another versus giving without expecting something in return. The process is a life-long journey of self-development that brings effective rewards in our work and personal lives.

The Enneagram also improves our working relationships by learning about the hot buttons for each style. By recognizing the speaking style and body language of others, you can learn how to approach each style when in conflict, and how to deliver constructive feedback so they will hear what you say.

Find your path

.......to a deeper understanding of who you really are under the outer personality. The Enneagram describes both your gifts and path for development. You can learn these life-lessons and wisdom over the next 10 to 20 years, or learn the quick, insightful way using the Enneagram.