Enneagram Series by Mark McGuinness
The Enneagram is a nine-pointed star drawn inside a circle. It has many meanings and uses – currently, it is best known as a system of personality types, where each of the nine points corresponds to a different type.
I was introduced to the Enneagram in 1997, since when I have found it a powerful and practical tool, in my own life and relationships, and in my work – originally as a psychotherapist and now as a business coach and consultant.
The Enneagram system is not confined to what modern psychology regards as the “personality” – it includes the whole of human nature, mental, emotional and physical – but I will limit this brief introduction to the personality types and how they can help you in your personal and professional development.
What can the Enneagram offer you?
Personal development
The Enneagram types are not made up of lists of character traits, but are founded on a person’s core values. Each type represents a fundamental decision about what is most important in life – such as power, security, harmony, knowledge or fulfillment. This decision is a two-edged sword: focusing on any of these important values enables us to make a valuable contribution in many areas of life; but it also causes us to neglect other values, creating a psychological “blind spot” that limits our perspective and prevents us from developing beyond a certain point.
Identifying your Enneagram type can show you this blind spot and open up unexpected options for change. It can help you break long standing patterns that have been holding you back, sometimes without your realising it.
Professional development
Whether or not knowing your strengths and weaknesses is important to you personally, it is vital to your professional development. Without this knowledge you risk choosing the wrong challenges or even the wrong career. You are also likely to keep coming up against the same obstacles to success.
Identifying and working with your Enneagram type can help you play to your strengths by choosing professional challenges that are most appealing and appropriate for your talents. Knowing your “blind spot” helps you work around the obstacles it creates for you.
Personal relationships
Well these don’t come with an instruction manual, do they? For most of us, personal relationships are most rewarding or the most frustrating part of life – or both. In some ways we can be so close to another, yet in others feel so apart. How many times have we all felt, when an argument starts or a misunderstanding arises, “That’s not what I meant at all!”?
Understanding your own and others’ Enneagram types allows you to relate to others with greater empathy and compassion, leading to less conflict and clearer communication.
Working relationships
It’s hard to think of a job in which dealing with people is not a vital skill. For anyone in one of the “people professions” – such as managing, teaching, counseling, coaching, consulting, sales, medicine or politics – it is central to the success or failure of your work.
The Enneagram offers you a powerful framework for relating to others more authentically and constructively. Whether influencing, managing, selling, caring, team-building, presenting or advising, it can help you communicate effectively and respectfully, extending your influence and opening up new options for collaboration.
Spirituality
I’ve left this one last as it’s perfectly possible to use the Enneagram as a practical tool for self-knowledge and relating to others without any spiritual element.
On the other hand, those with an interest in spiritual development will want to know that the Enneagram has been used as a framework for meditation and growth in several different spiritual traditions. For the Sufis, the mystics of Islam, the Enneagram is the “face of God”. Christian teachers have traced the seven deadly sins – and their antidotes – in the Enneagram types. And Buddhist teachers use the Enneagram as a “map of attachments” that can guide meditators on the way to awakening. More modern spiritual schools that use the Enneagram include the Fourth Way teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff and the Arica training of Oscar Ichazo.
So which Enneagram type are you?
Whether you are interested in secular or spiritual development, the Enneagram offers you a powerful lens for examining yourself and others – and making profound changes in your own life and relationships.
The first step towards using it is to familiarise yourself with the nine Enneagram types and start to get a sense of your own type. In my next few posts I’ll describe the nine types, but before we get to that here’s a short questionnaire to help you identify your type. It’s a shortened version of the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator (RHETI) devised by well-known Enneagram authors Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson.
Here’s a link to the free shorter version of the test – take 10 minutes to complete this questionnaire before my next post and it will make the descriptions of the types more relevant and interesting to you. [editor’s note 2021 – we’ve updated the link, as the original quiz was removed.]
I’m offering the link here to help you take the first step towards recognising your type – but don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions. It took me several months (and some brutal feedback from a well-meaning friend!) before I identified my own type correctly.
In my next post I’ll start to introduce the Enneagram types.
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Mark studied the Enneagram as part of his training as a psychotherapist. He has used it for his own personal development and in his work with individuals, families, and organizations. Mark McGuinness’ business Wishful Thinking, is a specialist coaching and training service for creative businesses such as design studios, ad agencies, film and TV production companies, computer games developers, architect’s practices and fashion designers.
Part 2 in Enneagram — a Brief Introduction, The Heart Types, will appear Wednesday at about this same time.
Thank you, Mark,
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Wow. I’m stunned to see this on your site Liz! I’ve been working with the enneagram for years. When we met at Sobcon, i was pondering what your number is! (at my women’s retreats, we spend an afternoon on the enneagram. it’s such a great tool.)
Hi Christine!
We did the Myers-Briggs . . . that’s when I asked Mark to do this.
So what do you suppose my number might be?
Liz, it’s great to see Mark’s series here. I’ll be sure to read every one!
Now off to see if I’m the same as I was last time. It should be, but, it’s been years and years between tests.
Hi Mark, Liz
Did the test again (done it a while ago too) and result is the same, but interpretation on the site Mark linked us to ‘sounds’ better (and much more detailed, so thanks for that Mark).
Found myself in the same group as one of my old (and one of my first) hero’s: Good old Dr ‘Bones’ McCoy. Love that!
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
Hi Cat
Oh dear . . . I really haven’t forgotten you. My son’w just returned from Central America and I’m being a mother too. . . . I wonder what number that makes me?
Hello Karin!
I’m not sure that I’ve ever taken the test. Many have offered to tell me what they think my numbers are, no two have ever said the same numbers. I find that most interesting of all. 🙂
looking forward to reading more. I’ve dabbled with Enneagram – I’m a Type 4 (although previously have referred to it as the ‘Artist’ rather than Romantic – guess there’s different names for them).
Hi Darren!
I’ll be adding my own number to the mix — as soon as I take the test. 🙂
Hi Liz, thanks for hosting the series, it’s like seeing my name in lights!
Christine – Glad to hear you’ve got so much out of the Enneagram. Heh, maybe we’ll find out where Liz places herself by the end of the series!
Cat – nice to see you. I should really do the test again myself, it’s been a while since I did it too.
Karin – glad you liked the Riso-Hudson site, their books are excellent too. I’ve been trying to keep the Enneagram series as simple as I can without diluting it – hope I get past your KISS filter!
Darren – yes indeed they do have different names, I mention that later in the series, apologies for not saying so earlier. Type 4 is also known as the Individualist, the Tragic Romantic and the Connoisseur. I’m not too attached to the names I’ve used, although I’ve tried to avoid ‘vocational’ terms such as Artist, as I don’t want to suggest that only Fours can be artists or that all artists are Fours.
When I told someone my strongest number just now, she said it was written all over me. 🙂
Hi Liz,
It’s a nice article of yours on the Enneagram.
I’ve been studying it for some time, and have published the first release of my research here
http://www.taitran.com/blog/index.php/2007/05/25/the-enneagram-version-01/
We have the same interest, let’s discuss sometimes 🙂
Regards,
Tai
Hi Tai!
Though I have an interest. I don’t go as deep as that. Mark McGuinness is the guy you want. 🙂
Hi Liz, Thanks for introducing me to Enneagrams. The personality type I fell into seemed to be spot on, although I found myself wanting to answer a lot of the questions both ways. Do you see this as a replacement for or complimentary to Myers-Briggs?
Hi Brad,
Most folks consider this as totally different from the Myers-Briggs. I think I’ll leave that question to Mark.
Mark – I don’t mind what the name is – as long as it makes me feel ‘special’ and ‘unique’ 🙂
Yeah Darren,
Me too and I love you for saying that. 🙂
Hi Tai, I’m intrigued by your version of the Enneagram – have you published any more material about it?
Brad – I don’t really see the Enneagram as either a replacement or complement to the MBTI, as they feel very different to me. The MBTI looks at preferences for ways of doing and thinking; the Enneagram is based on core values from which we take our sense of identity. I know people who use both systems, so they can complement each other, but I don’t see them as necessarily linked.
Darren – don’t worry, I’ll come up with a special, unique name for you! 🙂
Hi Liz and Mark,
Thanks for your interest. All of my knowledge and information I collected have been crystalized in the slide I posted 🙂
My currently plan is to gain more real-life experience and find ways to apply Enneagram (and MBTI, 16PF and other methodologies also) into my relationship.
Of course, I am following up the Enneagram series on Successful Blog and Wishful Thinking.
Regards,
Tai
I can’t believe that Darren is a four. The minute I started reading his site I thought, “Wow. What a five!” But he nailed it on the head with the ‘as long as i’m special’ remark. (yes, i’m a four.)
Liz, i had first thought you were a two. But no one can really tell you what you are. You have to be the one who nods her head and says, “oh, yea. that’s me.”
Hi Christine
You’re so good at this. I have three number that come out soooo strong. 2 wins by a hair . . . 5 and 7 right behind. I think I’m all three . . ., but yeah a 2. 🙂
Well – maybe you have a 3 wing. (I have a three wing to my four-ness.) But just how you describe your blog, and how your dad’s kindness is what motivates you now, and how open you are to other people – that’d be a clue to the 2!
Hi, Christine!
To take a word from your other comment . . . a three-wing — BUSTED!! Yeah I don’t mind that part of me. 🙂
Liz – I can’t say I’m surprised at 2, 5 or 7 in relation to you. I did also wonder about 9, as you obviously enjoy the community aspect of Successful Blog, and the fact that you can identify with so many different types is also very 9-ish.
Christine – yes, well spotted, the core motivations are often the key to the type. That story Liz tells about her dad’s kindness is a beautiful description of the spirit of her blog. Re the 3 wing – I’m sure any 3 would feel at home in a blog with SUCCESS in the title!
I also think Liz has a strong wing connection to 1 – Type 1’s make killer editors, and Liz is one of the few bloggers to consistently spell my name right!
Mark,
You are so gracious. Anyone who reads my blog knows that typograpical errors are the bane of my life. My fingers have your name memorized. 🙂
PS I just fixed a spelling error in this comment. 🙂
Ha ha, brilliant! As a 1 myself I do suffer when I leave comments on other people’s blogs then notice a spelling error I can’t correct…
Hey Liz, no prob. Life is busy like that. And beside, I know you’d never forget me or anyone else!
Hey Mark!
You must have wing to 2, because you’re so giving and generous. 🙂
Cat,
Which one is the mindreade. You know you are at the top of the list of poeple I’m thinking about. 🙂
Liz – I guess my Two wing was how I ended up as a coach and therapist. That and my One-ish need to change things. 🙂
Hi Mark!
That makes total sense and you’re totally great at it!
Hi Liz,
Great Enneagram series.
I’ve just taken the test.
It says my 6 & 9 is the highest, followed by 3.
🙂
Hi GC,
Mark did a great job on this series. He really knows what he’s talking about here. I can’t help but see myself in what he writes. 🙂
Glad you came by to see it. 🙂
Hi GC, thanks for sharing. Interesting to note that 3, 6 and 9 are all connected, they’re on the central triangle. One common theme is the individual’s relationship to the group – the 3 wants to impress the group, the 6 wants to bond with it and protect it, while the 9 wants everyone to get on with each other and live in harmony.
Mark,
I’m constantly impressed by how deeply you know this. 🙂
I attended a seminar last year delivered by Dan O’Connor. It dealt with sales and customer service, and he incorporated the Enneagram personality types into it–for purposes of knowing one’s self, one’s family, and one’s customers. It was great and most helpful (especially since I’m a FIVE and love to learn)to me both at home and at work. He has a pop quiz (watered down, but it whets the appetite for more) on his website at http://powerdiversity.com/the-library/customer-resources
I’d recommend searching him out; he now teaches a course totally devoted to the Enneagram, but I haven’t attended it yet.
Just an FYI
MM Sheehan