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A Quick Note: When we discuss personality types, we can often wear these as a label and say they now define us. I want to encourage you to see all personality assessments as an opportunity for reflection, not a badge of identification. It is also important to remember that no personality type is better than any other. Each one has its unique strengths.
The Enneagram is a personality system that describes nine distinct personality types. Each type has unique core motivations, fears, desires, and behavioral patterns. While MBTI is focused on how one thinks, the Enneagram is more focused on how one behaves. It is a powerful tool for self-awareness, personal growth, and understanding others.
The history of the Enneagram is complex to track. The basic ideas have been around for centuries. History often credits Georges Ivanovich Gurdjieff of Russia with introducing it to Western audiences in the early 20th century. Through the 1900s, it continued to evolve before being introduced to psychotherapy and psychology in the 1970s by Claudio Naranjo. Since then, it has continued to be refined and popularized into what we have today.
The setup of the Enneagram is straightforward. There are 9 Enneagram types. While individuals may exhibit aspects of multiple types, they have one overall type that they default to most often. The Enneagram design points to its use (seen below). The numbers adjacent to each other on the circle are called wings. For example, a Type 3 has a wing of 2 or 4. Each type will lean towards one of these wings to further represent an individual personality. The lines connecting numbers (1 to 7 and 4, for example) are how each type acts in stress and growth.
The last notable aspect of the Enneagram design is the triads (see below). There are three triads, each containing three Enneagram types. These show how we approach and react to our surroundings and our predominant emotions. There is also a related idea known as Tri-Typing. This approach looks at your personality by combining your dominant type from each triad (for example, 7-3-8).
To ensure an accurate result, be completely honest with your answers. Don't answer how you want to be seen or think others see you. Answer honestly based on who you know yourself to be. And don't dwell on a question - go with an honest, "gut" response.
A word of caution. Assessments are not always accurate. Mistyping is a common outcome as some types appear very similar (for example, 8s and 3s and 2s and 9s). Working with the system and close peers can help you hone in on your type.
Ready to learn more about your personality and how it can help guide your life? Let's connect today and explore how we can work to align your life with your unique personality!
And because I know you are curious. I'm a 7w8! My Tri-Type is 7-3-8.
Ready to learn how you can use insight into your personality to improve your life? Reach out today, and we will get started moving you from overwhelm and uncertainty to clarity and direction.
Tom Chapman, TruePath Discovery Coaching
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