THE ENNEAGRAM

The Enneagram is a system of personality typing or testing consisting of nine interconnected types, numbered from 1-9. Each type has its own way of viewing the world, which creates a core belief system for that type. This belief determines that type´s underlying motivational drives and fears (conscious and subconscious), influencing the way people of each type act, react, make decisions and relate to others. The name comes from the Greek: Ennea is the word for nine and Gramma means something that is drawn or written. The Enneagram diagram shows the positioning of each type as well as how they relate to one another through a system of connecting lines. Each type also has a descriptor, for example, Type 1 is the Strict Perfectionist and Type 2, the Considerate Helper etc.

I use it in both my life and career coaching because it provides a shortcut to self-understanding, so you can make better, informed choices based on who you really are, not on who you think you are. This shortcut means you need fewer sessions to get to the same endpoint.

It is valuable in career planning because different careers suit different Enneagram types. And it anchors the self-development side of the programme, together with the EQ measurements I use, because it makes you aware of your patterns of behaviour. So you can take steps to change the thoughts and behaviours that aren´t productive (weaknesses) and make the most of the supportive behaviours (strengths). This leads to long-lasting changes in feeling, thinking and acting, which impacts all areas of your life, not only your work life. This focus on self-development is what makes the Enneagram different to other personality tests.

It is also being increasingly used in the business sector to help develop employee motivation and productivity, build teams, understand group dynamics and help employees
relate to and communicate with their colleagues.