Understanding the Enneagram by Herb Pearce

Understanding the Enneagram
by Herb Pearce

The Enneagram is a personality system that describes nine attentional styles. It is described in detail in the book, The Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and Others by Helen Palmer (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1991). The Enneagram is very useful in business as well as personal relationships. More and more companies are using the Ennagram in their training and coaching needs. Here's a brief description of each type and hint on self-development. See which type best fits your style.

Type 1 – The Perfectionist: Type 1s strive for perfection and constant improvement, tend to be critical both of self and others, have strong moral values and believe that there's a right or best way to do everything. You need to learn flexibility, notice what's right as much as what's wrong, have fun, and strive to see perfection in what is, as much as what should be.

Type 2 – The Helper: Notices and meets the needs of others though can often get overinvolved in helping. Watch the tendency to expect appreciation and feel hurt and angry if it is not forthcoming. Tends to be upbeat and appear happy no matter what the situation. You need to focus more on your own needs and make it easier for others to give to you, too. Be more direct about what you want.

Type 3 – The Performer/Achiever: You are the great achiever at work—efficient, bottom-line, task-driven, goal-oriented. Often praised, but exhausted. Instead of competing to win or doing too much of the work alone, learn to be a team player, ask for help and realize improving your relationships is as important as, and often contributes to, results.

Type 4 – The Individualist: Focused on being unique and independent the 4 has emotional flair, is creative and aesthetically inclined. Learn to fit into the "norm" a bit more, avoid creating office theatrics and support other's uniqueness. Be more objective and realize your feelings are a part of you, not the whole of you.

Type 5 – The Observer: Inspired by knowledge and information, the 5 is excited by ideas often more than people. You tend to be private, annoyed by intrusion, but can be engaged by the sharing of mutually interesting subjects. Be more self-revealing and share your process and needs along the way. Your compatriots are always trying to guess who you are. You wouldn't want them to make make up stories!

Type 6 – The Questioner: You question everything (thank God someone is) and want to know what's going on below the surface. You tend to be skeptical and doubting, yet very loyal to people when they are honest with you. Focus on the positive as well as the negative, watch your tendency to project parts of yourself onto others and use your body intuition as well as your mind.

Type 7 – The Optimist: You see the best case scenario in every situation. You love ideas, possibilities and the bright side. You love to start new things and have fun but move on quickly when routine sets in. Complete things or get help and don't avoid reality and the pain that sometimes goes along with it.

Type 8 – The Challenger: You often are the boss. You like to be in control and take charge. You do what you want, say what you want and go for what you want and can't understand why others don't. Learn to be more patient, less impulsive and more open to and revealing of your hidden insecurities. Others will appreciate seeing your sensitive side.

Type 9 – The Peacemaker: Often the mediator at work, the 9 tries to calm and soothe others' internal and external conflicts because the 9 can't stand conflict. Focus more on yourself and your own goals and realize conflict is often a natural consequence of differences and can create resolution. Communicate more directly what's really going on for you and save the stress of obsessing about it beforehand.

Each type can benefit from different "affirmations" to help them cope with daily life and its challenges; for example, Type 1s (Perfectionists) can say, "I am grateful for what I have; I look at the positive in all things" and "God doesn't make junk" amongst other suggested affirmations. Each type also has to watch for certain addictions and compulsions, e.g. Type 3s (Performers) can be addicted to narcissism, work, money and power, among others. Each type also needs different strategies for self-development. Type 7s (Optimists), for example, need to see and accept emotional pain in themselves and others.

Overall the Enneagram offers a method of categorizing our complex personalities and styles, along with methods for improving interactions with others.

Herb Pearce is a management trainer, public speaker, workshop leader, psychotherapist and personal coach who specializes in training and teambuilding in organizations. With the Enneagram and the Myers-Briggs as his major tools, he has helped many organizations improve team communication and relationship dynamics. Contact Herb at .