The Enneagram

A powerful system to grow your insight and impact

WHAT IS THE ENNEAGRAM?

Nine Types.
One Dynamic System.

The Enneagram describes nine distinct and interconnected personality types representing nine different strategies for being in the world. Each type is rooted in a unique motivation, the “why” underneath what we think, feel, and do in our everyday lives.

Think about the Enneagram as a well-detailed map where each of the nine types represents a unique territory. These territories represent landscapes of human nature, each with its own strengths, challenges, motivations, and ways of engaging with the world

Having the Enneagram as our map helps us venture out and explore other ways of being. This new awareness expands our perspectives and in so doing, expands our capacity for change and impact.

"The Enneagram does not put us in a box — it shows us the box we're already in, and offers us the door."
— The Narrative Enneagram

Motivation-Based: Explains why we do what we do, not just what we do.
Relational: Acts a lens to see the relationship we have with ourselves, others and the world.
Compassionate: Provides neutral, non-judgmental language to describe how we experience the world.
Dynamic: Shows us our “home base” and how we move among the types throughout our everyday lives.
Ancient Wisdom: Builds on hundreds of years of insight and wisdom across many practices.

The Enneagram is:

HOW WE USE IT

The Enneagram for Individuals and Teams

We use the Enneagram in two primary contexts - with individuals and teams. Each builds on the same foundation, and both deepen presence and awareness that help people expand their presence and impact.

THE NINE TYPES

Each type is a strategy for navigating the world.

Think of personality as a strategy developed early on to help us make sense of and be in the world. This strategy emerges in what we feel, how we think, and how we behave. The Enneagram helps us see these patterns clearly — not to change our personality, but to give us a chance to think, feel, and do things differently in different situations.

TYPE 8 / Body Center

The Protector

Motivated to protect self and others from injustice. Direct, powerful, instinctive. Gifts: strength and advocacy.

TYPE 9 / Body Center

The Peacemaker

Motivated to create harmony, inner and outer. Accepting, steady, unifying. Gifts: inclusion and presence.

TYPE 1 / Body Center

The Improver

Motivated to reform and improve. Principled, purposeful, discerning. Gifts: integrity and high standards.

TYPE 2 / Heart Center

The Giver

Motivated to meet the needs of others. Warm, attuned, relational. Gifts: deep care and emotional presence.

TYPE 3 / Heart Center

The Performer

Motivated to achieve and be seen as valuable. Focused, adaptable, driven. Gifts: achievement and inspiration.

TYPE 4 / Heart Center

The Individualist

Motivated to be authentic and deeply known. Creative, expressive, emotionally rich. Gifts: depth and originality.

TYPE 5 / Head Center

The Observer

Motivated to acquire knowledge, conserve resources. Perceptive and independent. Gifts: clarity and insight.

TYPE 6 / Head Center

The Questioner

Motivated by safety and preparedness. Alert, loyal, questioning. Gifts: foresight and fierce commitment.

TYPE 7 / Head Center

The Enthusiast

Motivated by freedom from pain & limitations. Visionary, joyful, generative. Gifts: possibility and energetic.

A few things to keep in mind as you explore the Enneagram: 1) You are not your personality or type - it’s a part of you, not the other way around; 2) We have better access to all types as we grow our self-awareness; and 3) We all have a “home base” type that is our default strategy for navigating the world.

THE CENTERS OF INTELLIGENCE

Body. Heart. Head.
Three ways of knowing.

The nine types are organized into three Centers of Intelligence — the foundational architecture of the Enneagram. Each center represents a distinct way of making sense of the world. We use all three, but we tend to rely heavily on one, usually the one where our “home base” type lives.

Body Center of Intelligence

Types 8, 9 & 1 · Lead with Instincts

Kinesthetic knowing through gut instinct, physical sensation, and a keen sense of right and wrong. When out of balance, issues around anger can arise.

Heart Center of Intelligence

Types 2, 3 & 4 · Lead with Emotions

Perceptive, attuned knowing through emotion, image, and connection. When out of balance, issues around grief and shame can arise.

Head Center of Intelligence

Types 5, 6 & 7 · Lead with Intellect

Clarity, foresight, and pattern recognition through analysis and planning. When out of balance, issues around fear and anxiety can arise.

What combination of Instinctive, Emotional, or Intellectual intelligence serves you best? Chances are you use a different mix of all three depending on the situation and who you’re with. You beginning to see the dynamic nature of the Enneagram.