What's Your Number? Understanding Your Enneagram Type

Fifteen or so years ago, I sat through a dinner party where the discussion at the table went something like this...

"Well, as a three, I felt like I really needed to finish the 10k in less than an hour," said the perky blond. The whole table cracked up, but I missed the joke.

"I'm a two, so my time was longer this race, since I of course had to stop and help the guy next to me -- who was lost," said the guy to my left. This also brought chortles from the group, but left me confused.

"My cousin Jim's an 8, so he spent all his time complaining about how badly marked the route was, and how much better a job he could have done," said the hostess as heads nodded in complete understanding. Ok, who the hell were these people and what kind of cult did they belong to?

A few martini's and many hours later, I came to discover that the mysterious numbers they were throwing around with abandon represented the Enneagram -- an ancient spiritual and psychological system that reveals nine different aspects of human consciousness and personality.

Since then, I've spent some time studying the Enneagram and found it a useful tool for personal growth, conflict resolution and even character development in acting.

The model itself is both simple and deeply complex (just like people) and has layers that make the Enneagram system worthy of decades of study. However, for a quick look at the system, I had a chat with Diana Redmond -- a practicing Enneagram teacher and coach for the past ten years.

Q. How can people use the Enneagram to better their lives?

A. By understanding your primary Enneagram type, natural gifts are fully appreciated and self-made limitations understood. People report that they are more able to find deeper satisfaction in their work, and in their relationships, when they more fully comprehend the natural way they and others think, process and respond, based on their type.

Q. Can you give a quick two-sentence description of each of the nine types?

A. Sure.

Type One-Reformer. Their focus is to make the world 'right' in their eyes. They are conscientious, principled and can be very purpose-driven.

Type Two-Helper. Their focus is to take care of others needs in an effort to feel loved and accepted. They are generous, empathetic and can be very humble.

Type Three-Achiever. To be perceived as successful in the eyes of others is their goal. They are assertive, like to be the best, and have a focus on winning.

Type Four-Individualist. Artistic, with an eye for beauty, this type is highly attuned to their own emotions and that of others. They are the consummate romantic and can retreat into their inner fantasy world.

Type Five-Investigator. With a passion for knowledge/ideas, and an ability to focus along with a keen intellect this type is a visionary, able to articulate whole new paradigms. They have also earned a reputation as the 'absent-minded' professor.

Type Six-Loyalist. Full of courage and ability to stay the course, this type is trustworthy and self-reliant. When not filled with doubt they are very decisive and committed.

Type Seven-The Enthusiast. Joyful, playful and spontaneous this type has an ability to savor the richness of the world. If not distracted or scattered, they have huge potential for accomplishment.

Type Eight-The Challenger. Intensity! They are self-determining, big-hearted and powerful. At times their need for control can be overwhelming.

Type Nine-The Peacemaker. Peace and harmony is the driver for a Nine. At their best they are patient, unpretentious and have the ability to recognize the highest potential in others.

Q. How does knowing what Enneagram style you are help create a more balanced life?

A. The Enneagram helps people learn to see their particular motivations and habits, which is the first step in learning balance. For example, if you're basic desire is to feel needed by others, you might say 'yes' to additional work, far more than is healthy. In this case, learning to say 'no' would create more balance and satisfaction.

Q. What are two or three books you recommend on the Enneagram?

A. Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Riso and Russ Hudson, and Enneagram of Liberation by Eli Jaxon-Bear. Also, If you go to www.internationalenneagram.org you will find a host of tapes that you can listen to on sessions with some leading experts that can help guide you in this most intriguing exploration of your own type and the overall system itself.

Q. Where can someone go to take a quiz and see what type they are?

A. The best self-assessment that will guide you toward understanding your own type is on The Enneagram Institute site.

Karen Leland is author of the recently released books Watercooler Wisdom: How Smart People Prosper In the Face of Conflict, Pressure and Change and Time Management In An Instant:60 Ways to Make the Most of Your Day. She is the co-creator of a new line of Productivity Pads from Time Tamer™ and the co-founder of Sterling Consulting Group. For questions, comments or to book Karen to speak at your next event, please e-mail [e-mail].

Comments

[Cult Diva]

Fascinating article! I learned about Enneagrams through my current therapist, and like many was initially skeptical about being labeled like a horoscope sign. After much reading and research of my own, I really began to understand that the descriptions of each type went much deeper and were much more faceted than the first descriptive article about my number. I gained a much stronger sense of who I am and who my husband is. Though we were having problems when we went into counseling, we learned how our Enneagram types totally complemented and balanced each other's strengths and weaknesses, and more importantly how to embrace those qualities in each other. I look forward to going to exploring some of the books and websites that were suggested in other comments.

[signwrite]

of course this leads to a web site where you can take a test to find out what "type" you are, for a fee, of course......another stupid gimmick.........

[kanester]

Can't wait to see your analysis of more useful divination tools. Maybe reading animals' entrails next?

Seriously folks, if you build enough boxes, everyone will magically find one they fit into. That's REAL human psychology at work.

[Nyland8]

Anything that can offer insights into the self, and others, is a useful tool worthy of study. My experience with the enneagram is that it fits that description. We live in a world where not wanting to know who we really are is bordering on pathological - I suppose, in part, because we often would prefer to think of ourselves as different than we are. Self-delusion is enormously seductive.

But one of the ways we can most easily become who we really aspire to be is by recognizing who we genuinely are. And an effort to understand and utilize the insights provided by the enneagram is a step in that direction.

It may be axiomatic that the journey of a million miles begins with the first step - but you're more likely to go off course if you have no idea from what coordinates your first step comes. Can we know where we're going if we don't know where we are?

[princeofwhales]

Excellent short intro piece to the enneagram. i use this tool constantly in working with others. The understanding that I get from recognizing a particular type enables me to work more efficiently and with less friction. Worth looking into more deeply.

[PocketWatch]

My training in martial arts (which is a training of the mind and self-awareness as much as the body, maybe more so) very much parallels the evolution of these kinds of awareness systems.

You start as a "white belt," which signifies innocence, a complete lack of knowledge and understanding, and a certain naivete. You move through the colors of belt (really stages of understanding) to ultimately a black belt, which most see as an end. It is really just a beginning, a place where you now have the fundementals necessary to explore your own capabilities. In the old days, you always had a white belt. It just got dirtier and dirtier, changing colors until it became black. When you were at it long enough, it faded back to white again, at which point, it was understood that you probably knew what you were doing.

The move to full circle where you fought or performed with the same innocence and lack of planning that you did at the beginning was and is the ultimate goal. Only now you have complete mastery of yourself.

Any road to understanding yourself can't be all bad. These systems are like different languages. One system will "speak" to some and not others, but they all have the same goal... mastery of self. Not a bad thing.

[sbhorton]

I enjoyed the interview with Diana. Her answers were clear and concise.. As to the value of Enneagrams it will be of no value to those who've already dismissed it as nonsense. With an open mind and heart it can expand awareness and sharpen clarity in daily interactions with "others" and ultimately perhaps bring about the realization that there are no "others" You are all the numbers and wings.

[pragmat]

"it can expand awareness and sharpen clarity in daily interactions"

How?

[brandnewstuff]

I concur with those who do not have their heads stuck in a numbers game or semantics

[NMonson]

Excellent introduction to Enneagrams. While there are many layers to Enneagram typing, still finding your primary number and wings can begin a valuable process of Self Inquiry, which itself has many layers. With guidance from a qualified teacher Self Inquiry can lead to discovery of your true nature: pure awareness.

[LynetteSh]

Great article here on Huffpo. Thanks, Karen. Twenty years ago when I began teaching the Enneagram, I would tell people what I did and they would need me to spell the word and explain in depth. Now when I'm on a plane or at a gathering and mention the Enneagram, I'm more likely to hear "I'm a Six" or "We learned it at work, I"m a One." The Enneagram is merely a map, not the territory. One of the best things about this map is that it promotes inquiry with a common language - it is not simply categorization. (And it is not the only map that does this, but I find it the most profound and useful.) Things we might have taken personally, we come to realize are often simply people being themselves. The Enneagram promotes awareness and consciousness, not stereotyping. It is rich and deep - and if we are lucky and aware, someday we will no longer need any map for understanding one another - we will truly be able to appreciate the territory of another as well as ourselves.
For more resources or to learn more, check out www.everydayenneagramblog.blogspot.com and www.9points.com.
Lynette Sheppard
author of The Everyday Enneagram

[Bhimiji]

I am fascinated by this system as it is so important to have a deeper understanding of what motivates you to think, feel and take actions. We need tools to go deeper into who we are consciously and thereby find out more of what we are unconscious about. Awareness is key and what Diana outlined for the 9 different types was so clear and direct. A quick snapshot of how to identify yourself and others. Very important in business to know who you are dealing with and how to work with them. Thanks for this great article!!!

[violimo]

I haven't gone into the enneagram other than label myself as a 4. but whether to hitch my wagon and start reading extensively in the hope it will change my life is another thing. In the 90s I read hundreds of these books, researching extensively including a great deal of Jung. To me it all boiled down to one word(thanks to Jung.) AWARENESS. You can't change the way the wind blows in your life,there is no cure, but being aware of things happening to you, helps you survive . On a cynical note, after reading hundreds of these self help books I began to notice a couple of things. If it was American it always had god as the main helper, if you don't believe in him well you are screwed. Secondly, I began to see a great deal of books were just skimming off ideas from other books-what a way to make a fast buck. The most recent book by Ekhart Tolle was one such book. Not a single idea in his book was original, I heard it all before. I do recommend the basic elements of Jung though-archetype, the shadow, anima, animus,collective unconscious, are all useful to explain the modern world.

[pragmat]

I'm definitely a 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9.

We read these kind of lists and see patterns that we identify with and feel comforted because we have a nice neat little category that we fit in to... but I think it can be just as harmful for someone who reads this and says, "oh, I'm definitely a 6!"... when in reality, they could personify any of the traits listed... and probably do as they go about their daily lives. YOU ARE NOT A NUMBER!! You are a modern homo-sapien... an animal that has evolved a greater capacity for adaptation than any other. So go out in to the world with vigor... and resolve yourself to be the best parts of each of these types... and you will change. Don't listen to non-scientific new age mumbo jumbo... if you wanna throw your money away, give it to the poor.

[SueW0]

I don't see what there is to be gained by giving ourselves such meaningless labels, other than as a way of starting conversations in bars ("What's your sign?").

[DiogenesOfAlaska]

If it did only that, it would already be useful, don't you think? There are worse ways of starting a conversation than dwelling on psychodynamics.

[SueW0]

Maybe, but do we really want to be identifying ourselves by numbers now? If so, I'd rather be pi. :-D

[Vajara]

These Enneagram #'s are made up and don't make any sense at all. I think you should do your research and you may discover that this system is well designed and created by Oscar Ichazo, Arica Institute. There is much more to this program than you show here.

[sophiej]

Recycling's very popular. Eckhart Tolle made a career of it.