Enneagram: Understanding Its 9 Personality Types

Recognized for its ability to reveal and understand people's deep nature, the Enneagram test is a personality study system based on various aspects of human nature. This system distinguishes nine personality types by identifying their motivational drivers and behavioral patterns. Its reliability makes it a recommended test for human resources issues in business and other life contexts. Discover here the 9 Enneagram personality types, as well as the various uses of this test in both professional and personal settings.

Overview of the Enneagram

The Enneagram is much more than a simple behavior analysis tool. It is a learning and wisdom model whose effectiveness continues to be demonstrated.

Origin and Definition of the Enneagram

The word "Enneagram" comes from the combination of the Greek words ennea and gramma, meaning nine and figure respectively. Introduced by Georges Gurdjieff in the 20th century, the Enneagram became more accessible and understandable in the 1970s through the research and work of Oscar Ichazo, Claudio Naranjo, and several other experts such as:

• Pascal Ide;
• Russ Hudson;
• Don Richard Riso;
• Patricia and Fabien Chabreuil;
• David Daniels;
• Helen Palmer, etc.

The Enneagram is a personality study system presented through a geometric figure. This figure consists of a circle with 9 points located on its circumference and connected to each other by arrows. The interpretation of this figure for a person is a personality test that allows understanding them deeply and explaining their relationships with those around them. Its ability to improve the recruitment process makes it one of the most utilized tools by human resources professionals.

The Enneagram Principle

The principle of this personality test is based on the fact that a person's beliefs lead them to avoid certain situations and seek others. It defines these as compulsions and fixations that characterize each of us. Based on this principle, nine personality types are identified. Also called enneatypes, these personality types exhibit different behavioral tendencies. They act unconsciously, even instinctively, in compulsion and fixation processes by following their deep beliefs and motivations. Companies use this principle with the Enneagram test to identify the ideal candidate for a position.

The 3 Centers or Forms of Intelligence in the Enneagram

The Enneagram takes into account the three main attributes or modes of functioning of a human being to evaluate soft skills and their deep nature. These modes of functioning or intelligence centers are present in everyone and interact constantly.

The Mental Center: Thinking

The mental center is responsible for the various thoughts a person may have. Its main function is to create representations to meet a need or achieve a specific goal. The mental center allows creating comfort, making decisions, understanding one's real environment, or even carrying out projects. Thanks to this intelligence center, humans make choices based on their advantages and disadvantages, for example. The mental center also enables awareness of reality and projecting into the future.

The Emotional Center: Emotion

The emotional center is considered the place where emotions are formed. These arise from interactions with oneself, one's environment, or other people. They impact habits, physiology, and behavioral tendencies. The effects of the emotional center are felt, for example, in assessments, intra-personal and interpersonal relationships, and in one's way of living.

The Instinctive Center: Action

The instinctive center is at the root of action and inaction. Independent of emotions and thoughts, it triggers a specific reaction to ensure psychological and physical survival. This intelligence center can lead to making a physical movement, making a choice, or adopting reasoning depending on the situation experienced. It allows carrying out projects and reacting to one's present environment.

The Nine Personality Types According to the Enneagram (Enneatypes)

In the Enneagram, each person has one intelligence center they use more than the other two. They can use each center in 3 different directions. If each of the three centers has three directions, nine personality types or enneatypes emerge. It is important to know these nine personality types to effectively use the test results. In a professional setting, this can be useful for better prevention of psychosocial risks.

The Perfectionist

The Perfectionist is Type 1 according to the Enneagram.

Description

The Perfectionist is a person who always strives to do things right. They firmly believe there is always something to be done to improve things. They are critical of themselves and others. They have high standards in all aspects of life and constantly compare their actions to those of others. Additionally, they pay great attention to detail in their work while being diligent and responsible. Very meticulous, they avoid making mistakes and put ethics and integrity into everything they do. Besides being convinced they must be perfect to be accepted, they also stand out for their ability to repress their anger.

Interactions with the Enneatype

To get along well with this type of person, you need to be honest, serious, and diligent at work. You must know how to admit your mistakes and defend your ideas. It would be helpful to teach them to be less critical and to accept situations they cannot control. They also need to learn to share their responsibilities to thrive better.

The Helper

Type 2 of the Enneagram is the kind of person who loves to serve others.

Description

Also called the Giver or the Helper, the Helper has strong empathy toward those close to them. Very humble in their actions, they prioritize others and their needs. This can make them seductive or manipulative in certain contexts, to the point where they have difficulty identifying their own needs. They intuitively perceive others' qualities and the ways they can help them. They are very warm and project the image of a loving person.

Interactions with the Enneatype

The Helper needs to be surrounded by people who help them understand their own needs, set boundaries, and take time for themselves. At work or in daily life, the Helper feels deeply hurt when criticized or taken advantage of despite their good faith. When dealing with someone with this personality, show gratitude and affection toward them.

The Achiever

The Achiever is personality Type 3 according to the Enneagram. They are also called the Performer or the Go-Getter.

Description

Enneatype 3 is a good team leader. Considered a productive individual, they are efficient and motivated when working toward a goal. Very ambitious, the Achiever wants their projects to be successful and their work and efforts to be recognized. Due to their fear of failure, they may sometimes limit themselves to low-risk projects they are certain will succeed. The Go-Getter can lose sight of their overall vision and personal challenges, especially if they place too much importance on positive external appreciation and recognition.

Interactions with the Enneatype

To collaborate well with this enneatype, you need to be pragmatic and appreciative of the work they accomplish. To help them, make them understand they need to take breaks and recharge if they want to be effective in their work. Beyond the professional aspect, show them they have great personal value.

The Individualist or Creative

Type 4 or the Individualist is a romantic and creative personality profile.

Description

According to the Enneagram, the Individualist is a person who demonstrates authenticity and originality. Artistic and sensitive, they enjoy showcasing their talent to others. In business or personal life, Type 4 often struggles with administrative and procedural tasks.

Interactions with the Enneatype

The Creative generally maintains close relationships with those around them. They need to be taken seriously in their emotional outbursts and to be valued as an individual and for their creativity. To help them develop, the ideal is to help them become aware of the impact of their behavior on those around them and find a middle ground.

The Observer or Intellectual

Enneatype 5 is an observer or intellectual who is not influenced by feelings, people, or their environment.

Description

Type 5 of the Enneagram is characterized by their quest for knowledge. They are autonomous and like to withdraw from their environment to observe, analyze, and reflect calmly on the situations they face. They place great importance on privacy, technical expertise, and knowledge.

Interactions with the Enneatype

The Observer or Intellectual often has difficulties in interpersonal relationships. They do not appreciate being under pressure from others. They sometimes fail to share their information and opinions. Therefore, they often need to be given space to think at their own pace in a setting that suits them, and encouraged to directly share their opinions and knowledge.

The Loyalist

Enneatype 6 refers to loyal and anti-authoritarian individuals.

Description

The Loyalist is characterized by their sense of commitment and duty. They remain faithful to any cause to which they have chosen to devote themselves. Additionally, this personality type often seeks to protect themselves by envisioning worst-case scenarios in order to anticipate them. They are an attentive strategist who can become skeptical in certain situations.

Interactions with the Enneatype

To interact well with Enneagram Type 6, it is advisable to take their concerns into account and not be influenced by their skepticism. You should also be transparent in your interactions. Encourage them to face their fears, see the positive side of situations, and relax.

The Enthusiast

The Enthusiast or Type 7 of the Enneagram describes adventurous extroverts who display a genuine joy for life.

Description

The Enthusiast is an optimistic individual who loves experiences and challenges, despite their fear of suffering. Seeking excitement and good spirits, they also enjoy working on multiple projects simultaneously. However, they are not naturally inclined to concentrate or think deeply about a situation or topic. They don't always finish everything they start.

Interactions with the Enneatype

To maintain good relationships with such a person, be positive and listen carefully to their ideas. Motivate them to put their ideas into practice and be more responsible. Additionally, this type of person needs support to find the balance between reality and their idealism.

The Challenger

Also called the Leader, the Challenger is Enneatype 8. They are characterized by their courage and relentless desire to fight for justice.

Description

The Challenger is a person who desires to protect those around them. They generally fight for equality, justice, and independence. This enneatype is an excellent leader capable of asserting themselves in conversations and being resilient in the face of adversity. They also stand out for their authoritative nature and sometimes aggressive behavior in situations that don't go as they wish.

Interactions with the Enneatype

The Challenger does not like weakness. To interact well with them, you should avoid being defensive or overly emotional in certain situations. You should also support them and help them transform their anger into a force for defending just causes. Sometimes, their need for justice can work against them if they get carried away. Don't forget to teach them to be empathetic and show vulnerability when the situation requires it.

The Peacemaker

According to the Enneagram, the last personality type is the Peacemaker.

Description

The Peacemaker is a pacifier, a tolerant and open-minded person. They understand the viewpoints of each person around them and seek team cohesion and harmony. This type of person often avoids conflicts and thinks long and hard before making any decision.

Interactions with the Enneatype

Impatience and unnecessary conflicts are things to avoid in a relationship with a Type 9 person. Equity and negotiation should be prioritized instead. Furthermore, it is recommended to encourage them to take calculated risks and set their boundaries.

Uses of the Enneagram

Combined with other personality tests, the Enneagram can be used to meet various needs both professionally and personally. It is especially useful in situations where self-knowledge and understanding of others is essential.

In the Professional Setting

The Enneagram helps find tailor-made solutions to critical workplace situations. Here are the contexts in which it is used in business.

Optimizing Recruitment Processes

The Enneagram test significantly improves recruitment outcomes. It represents a factor just as important as logic tests in recruiters' final selection. It is used to identify the candidate whose personality is compatible with those of their future colleagues.

Determining Team Members' Strengths and Weaknesses

By indicating each person's personality type, the Enneagram provides information about staff members' strengths and weaknesses. This information serves, for example, to define work policies that suit everyone. Additionally, it can help assign tasks optimally to foster better work dynamics and good team cohesion.

Identifying Sources of Conflict

The Enneagram offers the ability to identify sources of disagreement through knowledge of employees' thought patterns and motivations. When combined with a SHAPE personality test, for example, employee behaviors and reactions can be predicted with greater precision. By identifying these behaviors, this study system anticipates situations that could provoke conflicts as well as the solutions to adopt to resolve them.

Better Time Management

Time management is not approached the same way by everyone. Some people naturally need time to be effective, while others react almost immediately to situations. Some recruiters prefer to use AI and the Enneagram test to determine their future employees' approach to time management. This combination of tools also helps find solutions to optimize their workplace productivity.

Skills Development

Applying the Enneagram allows each person to understand their deep motivations and identify their professional aspirations. Thus, it helps identify the skills to develop to strengthen their level and productivity. Its insights are as reliable as those of the SWIPE personality test for decision-making and career management.

Improving Communication and Collaboration Between Teams

In the workplace, the Enneagram test is one of the best ways to facilitate collaboration and ensure good communication. Its use provides information about personality traits at work of each team member. It helps understand working methods and communication styles of employees. This promotes harmony, team cohesion, and a more productive work environment suited to everyone.

Better Stress Management

The Enneagram describes each personality type and their stress patterns. Identifying these elements helps prevent stressful situations and manage them. An augmented recruiter can add it to their recruitment methods to understand their future employees' stress patterns and offer them a suitable work environment.

In Personal Life

The Enneagram provides important answers in each person's life through understanding enneatypes.

Self-Knowledge

The primary role of the Enneagram is to help deeply understand a person. You can use it on yourself to discover:

• Your fears;
• Your behavioral patterns;
• Your desires and motivations;
• Your strengths and weaknesses;
• Your preferred areas, etc.

Understanding Others

It is possible to better understand others by following the Enneagram's framework and principle. This personality study system helps understand your loved ones' motivations, their needs, and the reasons why they act in one way and not another. Through its use, you can develop your empathy and interact harmoniously with those around you.

Improving Relationships with Those Around You

Understanding others is an important factor in improving relationships with those around you. It helps better understand the dynamics of relationships between people and find solutions adapted to each person's personality type. Additionally, it helps anticipate conflicts but also resolve them more effectively through good communication.

Personal Development

The Enneagram has long been considered a personal development tool. By shedding light on strengths and weaknesses, it provides information about growth areas and life domains that need work for continuous improvement. Furthermore, good self-knowledge is the first step in learning to cultivate one's strengths and develop an authentic personality.

Understanding the Nine Enneagram Personality Types: Key Takeaways

The Enneagram test is useful both professionally and personally. In the first case, it can serve as a guide to better interact with employees and ensure good human resources management. In the second case, it serves as a tool for self-observation and personality reading. It therefore allows one to thrive in relationships and become a better person. Understanding the specifics of the 9 Enneagram personalities can be a real asset for improving your interpersonal relationships as well as the performance of your company's employees.