Effective Uses Of The Enneagram For Businesses

Are you striving to step up your leadership game in a big way? For those undertaking this vital process, it is common to recognise the spectral presence of self-sabotaging patterns of thought. Frustratingly, we can sometimes feel acutely aware that a limiting belief or the voice of an inner critic is getting in the way of steady progress toward our goals and dreams. However, drawing focus on these aspects of the psyche in a practical way can be challenging without a handy road map to direct us.

This is exactly where the Enneagram comes in—a powerful typology system that allows us to understand ourselves and others with far greater clarity. Joanna is an advanced Enneagram practitioner for both 1:1 and leadership teams, please contact her at ‘joanna@distinctionscoaching.com’ if you require more information.

As you can imagine, an increased awareness of the self and an enhancement of the way we perceive and engage with others, holds fantastic potential for those in positions of leadership. So, how does the Enneagram work? Well, this clever tool facilitates such vision by mapping a number of distinct but interconnected personality types and their various potential facets, which in turn helps us to better understand the thoughts, emotions, and actions of ourselves and others.

By investigating how our own unique natures are reflected within the Enneagram, we can shift unnecessary illusions, quiet the inner critic, and claim empowerment as we pursue a true calling. Equally, we can better comprehend how we interact with the world and interpret patterns of thought within others. So, are you ready to begin your Enneagram-empowered exploratory journey? Read on to learn more about this revolutionary approach to the cultivation of heightened inward and outward realisation.

What Is the Enneagram?

In elegant simplicity, the Enneagram is a nine-point diagram comprised of a circle, a triangle, and an irregular hexagon. Its various points represent nine basic personality types, each of which is characterised by dominant behaviours, motivations, qualities, desires, and fears. First and foremost, Enneagram theory proposes that we are each born with a dominant personality type that is then further shaped by life experiences.

Enneagram Personality Types

1. Reformer
2. Helper
3. Achiever
4. Individualist
5. Investigator
6. Loyalist
7. Enthusiast
8. Challenger
9. Peacemaker

In addition to each core type, the system extends to 27 different sub-types, shaped by triad groupings as well as “wings,” or the personality types that are adjacent. Finally, it provides insight into the balance of three “centres” that influence how our personalities manifest, being: intellect, emotion, and instinct. While we may have a basic type that is considered unchangeable, the various additional elements are in constant flux and can be proactively diminished and cultivated.

What Is the History of the Enneagram?

Historic records of philosophies akin to the modern Enneagram can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and even ancient Egypt, although its exact origins are disputed. Fascinatingly, it possesses elements thought to be drawn from Christian, Judaic, Buddhist, and Hindu concepts. However, it was an Armenian philosopher and mystic named George Ivanovich Gurdjieff who brought the Enneagram into popular culture in the 20th century. Next, Bolivian philosopher Oscal Ichazo distilled the contemporary Enneagram personality types, before finally, Chilean psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo expanded Ichazo’s concepts in psychological terms.

As the value of this tool led to its increasing adoption, the First International Enneagram Conference was held at Stanford University in 1994. Today, a diversity of research helps us better understand its potential for aiding professionals, academic communities, and businesses aiming to promote psychological growth, ego development, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Why Harness the Enneagram?

There are a diversity of possible applications for those engaging in a journey of self-exploration with the aid of the Enneagram. These include cultivating greater skill in interpersonal communication, pursuing personal growth and development, leading with greater universal awareness, and strengthening relationships in all areas of life.

By illuminating and clarifying those aforementioned unwelcome and unconscious habits that ineffectively influence how you move through the world, you can ultimately “wake up” and take control, steering your course as a leader and in all of your worldly interactions. So, if you know that your capabilities extend beyond your current achievements, the Enneagram offers an excellent opportunity to map out the terrain of your inner and outer landscape making it possible for you to finally navigate it with expertise.

Would you like to learn more about the qualities that define each Enneagram personality type? Head on over to our Enneagram page for a more in-depth overview of the qualities of each. If you see yourself reflected, you may wish to take the next step by connecting with us. Contact Joanna at ‘joanna@distinctionscoaching.com’ to discover more about this and the wider spectrum of coaching services offered by Distinctions Executive & Business Coaching.