Aristotle said: “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all Wisdom.”

We get to know ourselves through life experiences, feedback from our external world and deep reflection. Consciously striving to know ourselves and others helps to develop our Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Social Aptness and Influence (SQ). EQ and SQ are factors in today’s world of work that have a big impact and weigh as much, if not more than IQ, especially in leadership positions.

In the effort to understand ourselves and others, it helps to have a reliable and easy-to-understand assessment framework through which to assess behaviour and personalities.

There are various personality and behaviour typing systems available. In this article, we will discuss one such typing system called the Enneagram. The Enneagram of Personalities is often used as a tool for personal and team growth, improving communication and understanding dynamics in personal and professional relationships.

The Enneagram has a long history, dating back to ancient times, that many experts and teachers have developed into modern interpretations and applications. This resulted in the Enneagram becoming a popular and very effective tool in fields such as psychology, coaching, and personal development.

What is an Enneagram Personality Profile?

• The Enneagram is a personality tool that describes nine different personality types, each with its own unique set of motivations, fears, and behaviours.
• The Enneagram Profile helps individuals to understand themselves and others by identifying their dominant personality type and the underlying beliefs and patterns that drive their thoughts and actions.

The Enneagram is based on the idea that each personality type is driven by a unique inner motivator that forms the catalyst for interpersonal behaviour. Humans are born with a core Enneagram type that is hardwired into the neurological pathways of the brain. This shapes an individual’s view of the world and themselves.

Individuals are not limited to their birth Enneagram type and can learn behaviours of the other Enneagram types based on external influences and experiences as they mature. The birth Enneagram type will however remain the strongest influence throughout their lives. Depending on the type of Enneagram assessment done, the Enneagram Profile will reflect either the core Enneagram type at birth or characteristics of the most dominant Enneagram type playing out in a person’s life based on life conditions and circumstances. 

Understanding the various Enneagram types can help you gain insight into your own behaviour, the behaviours of those around you and relationship dynamics. This helps a great deal in developing interpersonal skills.

How does ChangeVerve do Enneagram assessments?

Although Enneagram assessments can be done online, our unique approach to discovering your Enneagram is through an interactive coaching process in a group setting. This engaging process allows the individual to gain a deeper insight into all the enneagram types while assessing their own behaviour over the span of their lifetime to identify their deeply rooted inner drivers pointing to their core birth Enneagram type.

Online assessments can provide valuable insight into what a person’s behaviour might be indicating in the present moment and circumstances. However, it could lead to a mistyping if the person only considers present behaviour and circumstances as opposed to consistent motivators for behaviours throughout life. Through a facilitated, interactive session, individuals can dive deeper into the core of their personality and discover their core enneagram that consistently supports and challenges them through life.

What are the benefits of the Enneagram Personality Profile Assessment?

The Enneagram can be a useful tool for organisations looking to improve communication, teamwork, leadership, and conflict-resolution skills among their employees.

It is also a valuable tool for individuals seeking to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others, for personal growth and development, and to build more effective relationships.

The Enneagram Assessment offer the following benefits: 

1. It provides a comprehensive understanding of personality: The Enneagram system identifies nine distinct personality types, each with its own set of traits, motivations, fears, and strengths. This comprehensive approach allows individuals to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others, providing insight into the complexities of human behaviour.
2. It promotes self-awareness: The Enneagram encourages individuals to examine their own personality type and the motivations and behaviours that drive them. This self-awareness can lead to personal growth and development, as individuals learn to recognise and manage their own tendencies and patterns of behaviour.
3. It promotes empathy and understanding: By understanding the Enneagram types of others, individuals can gain a greater understanding and appreciation of their unique perspectives, behaviours, and motivations. This can lead to more effective communication, collaboration, healthy team dynamics and relationships.
4. It provides a framework for personal development: The Enneagram identifies areas of personal growth and development for each personality type, offering guidance for individuals seeking to overcome their weaknesses and develop their strengths.
5. It is a flexible tool: The Enneagram is a dynamic system that recognises the complexity and fluidity of human personality. Individuals can use the Enneagram to explore their own personality type, as well as the different ways in which their personality may manifest in different contexts or situations.

Benefits to the organisation include:

1. Enhancing communication and teamwork: Understanding the Enneagram types of employees can improve communication and collaboration within teams. Each personality type has its own communication style and approach to problem-solving, and knowing how to work with these differences can lead to more effective teamwork.  Learning to appreciate different perspectives and styles of working, leads to better teamwork and collaboration.

• Resolving conflict: The Enneagram can help individuals understand the root causes of conflicts and how to resolve them. By understanding the motivations and perspectives of others, individuals can work to find common ground and resolve conflicts more effectively. It can also help managers and team leaders manage conflict within the workplace. By understanding the motivations and fears of each personality type, they can anticipate and address potential sources of conflict before they escalate.

• Building leadership skills: The Enneagram can be used to help identify areas for leadership development. By understanding their own personality type and the strengths and weaknesses associated with it, leaders can develop strategies for building their strengths and addressing their weaknesses.

• Enhancing employee engagement: By providing employees with an understanding of their own personality type and how it relates to their work, organisations can promote employee engagement and job satisfaction. Employees who feel understood and valued are more likely to be motivated and committed to their work.

• Improving emotional intelligence: The Enneagram can help individuals develop their emotional intelligence and SQ by providing insights into their own emotional patterns and those of others. This can help individuals manage their emotions more effectively and be more empathetic and understanding of others.

Being such a diverse tool, ChangeVerve effectively applies the Enneagram in Organisation Culture, High Performing Team, and Leadership development journeys where applicable.

Ready to discover your and/or your team’s Enneagram? Contact Us for more information or to discuss your requirements.