Enneagram

Enneagram

“Can help understand fears and desires, strengths and

weaknesses, defenses and anxieties, how we react to
frustration and disappointment - and, more positively, what our
truest capacities and greatest strengths are so that we can
build on those rather than on misjudgments and illusions.”
 Enneagram
 self-understanding

 self-knowledge

 self-transcendence

 self-transformation
 Matching
 Paragraph A : Point 9 The Mediator
 Paragraph B : Point 7 The Epicure
 Paragraph C : Point 8 The Boss
 Paragraph D : Point 2 The Giver
 Paragraph E : Point 1 The Perfectionist
 Paragraph F : Point 3 The Performer
 Paragraph G : Point 6 Loyal Skeptic
 Paragraph H : Point 4 The Romantic
 Paragraph I : Point 5 The Observer

The Enneagram Advantage by

Helen Palmer
 Gifts of Each Personality Type

1 Discerner
Reformer 6 Responsible, dependable,
trustworthy
2 Empathiser/Sympathiser Loyal to what is lawful
Generous
Compassionate
7 Optimist, enthusiastic
3 Performer, achiever, efficient Happy - go - lucky
Dedicated to work Always a “silver - lining”
Concerned with productivity
8 Leader, magnanimous,
4 Sensitive, tragic romantic empowering
Creative with a new way of looking at life
Looks at life through art
Challenge taker

5 Wise, intelligent, observer, thinker

Able to make meaning out of experiences 9 Peace maker
Make the misunderstood understood understandable Mediator
The Enneagram of Personality Statements

I am Peaceful
9
I am Strong 8 1 I am Perfect

I am Happy 7 2 I am Caring

I am Loyal 6 3 I am Successful

3
I am Knowledgeable 5 4 I am Special
 The Enneagram of Basic Fears

Of Separation/Conflict
9
Of Being Weak 8 1 Of Being Imperfect

Of Being Deprived 7 2 Of Own Needs

Of Being Abandoned 6 3 Of Failure/Of Being

3 Rejected
Of Being Overwhelmed 5 4 Of Being Ordinary
 TYPE HEALTHY POINTS UNHEALTHY POINTS

1 Perfectionist Ethical, fair, honest, idealistic, orderly, Anxious, critical, controlling,

Productive, reliable, self-discipline
Adaptable, caring, compassionate,
2 Helper emphatic,
Generous, insightful, loving, sympathizer
Confident, efficient, energetic,
3 Achiever industrious
Optimistic, practical, self-propelled
4 Romantic Compassionate, creative, expressive,
introspective, intuitive, refined,
supportive, warm
dogmatic, inflexible, judgmental,
overly serious, obsessive-
compulsive
Hysterical, indirect, manipulative,
martyr-like, over-attention, over-
doting, possessive
Deceptive, narcissistic, overly
competitive, pretentious, superficial,
vain, vindictive
Depressive, guilt-ridden, moody,
melancholic, self-absorbed, self-
conscious, stubborn
 TYPE HEALTHY POINTS UNHEALTHY POINTS

5 Observer Analytical, objective, perceptive, Critical, cynical, distant, intellectually,

persevering, self-contained, sensitive, arrogant, stingy, stubborn, unassertive
wise
Controlling, defensive, hyper-vigilant,
6 Questioner judgmental, paranoid, rigid, self-
Caring, dependable, loyal, practical,
defeating, testy, unpredictable
responsible, warm, witty

7 Adventurer Impulsive, manic, narcissistic,

Charming, confident, curious,
enthusiastic, fun-loving, imaginative,
spontaneous, quick
8 Asserter Authoritative, direct, earthy, energetic,
loyal, protective, self-confident
possessive, rebellious, restless, self-
destructive, undisciplined, unfocused
Aggressive, controlling, domineering,
insensitive, rebellious, self-centered,
skeptical, vengeful

Diplomatic, emphatic, generous, Apathetic, forgetful, judgmental,

9 Peacemaker open-minded, patient, peaceful, obsessive, passive-aggressive,
pleasant, receptive spaced-out, stubborn, unassertive
 Life Story/Childhood History

1 High standards of excellence 6 Memories of warmth prematurely cut - off

“Good boy/girl”
Resentful towards mother
2 Lived in the shadow of somebody important
Self-evasive
Not aware of theirs needs
Over protective parental environment
Close to authority figure
7 Experience of happiness early in life,but
prematurely cut-off

3 Put up a front
Needs approval for achievements and 8 Adult at an early age
affirmation Source of difficulty

4 Abandoned child
Sense of “trip - drama”
9 Unaffectionate mother
Can stay long in pain
Wants to be understood and not understood Family members not emotionally close to one
another but in good terms with one another
5 Poor mother contact Lived with little “should’s”
Authoritarian mothers
Feel that they have not been loved enough
 LIFE STATEMENT SELF-CONCEPT MOTIVES
Life is being… I am … To/To be...

1 Perfect Right Correct

2 Needed Generous Needed/Loved

3 Successful Efficient Approved/Affirmed

4 Unique Different Understand the self

5 Knowledgeable Wise To know/understand

6 Responsible Faithful Approved the authority

7 Joyful Fun Have fun

8 Content Powerful Self-reliant

Peaceful Have unity and harmony

9 Peaceful
Circle of Personality Types with the Centers

GUT
9

8 1

7 2

6 3 HEART
HEAD

5 4
 LIFE QUESTIONS MOVEMENTS

HEAD Where am I? Inner world to

What will I gain From it? Outer world

HEART Who am I with? Outer reality to inner reality

GUT Who am I? From past to present

How will it help me move in life?
Where do I stand?
CENTER PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS
TYPE

FIVE (I) Escapes fear by withdrawing and not being

HEAD involved
SIX Alternates between avoiding and confronting
fear
SEVEN (E) Escapes fear through plans and diversions

TWO (E) Over relates with people

HEART THREE Denies own feelings

Assumes image and role from society

FOUR (I) Relates to self-image

ONE (I) Keeps cold anger within

GUT NINE Denies own anger

EIGHT (E) Expresses hot anger to others

 FACIAL EXPRESSION PHYSICAL APPEARANCE SPEECH

1 Sharpness of features Neat and well-scrubbed Sermonize

Tightness in the mouth or jaw With authority that sounds
Usually thin right

2 Concerned look Warm and attractive smile Complimentary

Comfortable clothing Flattery
Usually a little overweight “Advise getting”

3 Youthful looking Dresses well/Stylish Propagandizes

Try to be fit and trim Demonstrative

4 Casual/Sad look Dresses with a sense of Dramatic

uniqueness of “drama” Lamentations

5 Hard post look Uncomfortable smiles Summarizes

Beard for men
Couldn’t care less for fashion

6 Hyper-alert/ Radiate a nervous energy Cautions

Scanning look Comfort rather than style Puts limits
Protected
 FACIAL EXPRESSION PHYSICAL APPEARANCE SPEECH

7 Cheery, chubby look Smile a lot Story-telling

Teddy bearish but not fat Talkative
Sense of style Humorous
Entertaining

8 Weather-beaten face Husky side Sarcastic

Liable to wear massive outfit “NO”
Debunks

9 Plain/Blank look Fairly relaxed and pleasant Monotone

Comfortable clothing “Matter-of-fact”
TYPE STRENGTHS

Does the right thing and not easily swayed by external

1 pressures
Careful

2 Sensitive to emotional levels

Excellent caretakers/care-givers

3 Goal Oriented
Have an innate way of knowing how to relate to the world

4 Highly developed artistic sense

Deeply in touch with the pain and sadness in life
Keen sense of style and fashion

5 Good sense of objectivity

Utilizes resources efficiently
Excellent listeners
Independent that they don’t seek others to take care of them

6 Long attention span

Careful and precise
Focused concentration
TYPE STRENGTHS

7 Pleasant and very easy to get along with

Imaginative brainstormers and visionaries
Positive approach to life

8 What is within, so without

Defenders of the weak
Confronts life as it is

9 Sees all sides of an issue

Fairly generous and easy-going
Does not expect something in return
 OCCUPATIONS
TYPE

Physician Teacher Librarian

1 Nurse Accountant Secretary
Clergy Technician

Social Worker Nurse

2
Psychologist Executive Secretary
Physician Clergy

3 Acting Advertising
Medicine Corporate Management
Marketing Banking
Sales Entrepreneurship
Promotion Politics
4
Acting Critic Counselor
Dancing Entertainer
Painting Interior decoration
5
Accountant Computer Programmer Academic Positions
Archaeologist Research Scientist
Writer Librarian
TYPE OCCUPATIONS

6 Engineer Civil Servant Officer in the armed forces

Machinist Technologist Police Officer
Builder School Instructor Fire fighter

Consultant Entrepreneur Public relations

7 Editor Writer
Management staff Scientist

8 Police Officer Armed forces officer Businessman

Lawyer Union Organizer
Sports figure Manager

9 Arbitrator Umpire Bureaucrat

Ambassador Referee
Administrator Lab Technician
TYPE ATTRACTIVE UNATTRACTIVE

1 Quality control No clear-cut guidelines

Meticulous attention to detail Work that requires on-the-spot
Clear organizational structure decisions with minimal information
Correcting errors
Work that requires continuous
improvement

2 Associations with others Work that provides the least stroking,

Associations with the “needy” positive feedback and gratitude
others

3 Routinary
Space for continuing development Work that involves time and
Where potentials excel the most experimentation
Performance-oriented
Quick turn-overs and results
4 Mundane and ordinary
Creative jobs that facilitate unique,
strange or eccentric approach
5 Open competition
Analysis and reanalysis Confirmation and direct association
Limited association with others with others
Information and research
TYPE ATTRACTIVE UNATTRACTIVE

6 Hierarchy-oriented On-the-spot decisions

Being with authority or being authority
to oneself

7 Planning and conceptualizing Implementation

Visioning Fixed guidelines
Being in the new

8 Leadership Following orders

9 Mediatorship Conflict
TYPE HELPING THE OTHER

1 Don’t like to be told

Show interest in what they are doing
Teach them to relax

2 Help them to be aware of their feelings

Acknowledge their needs
Assure them
Help them express their need
Delay your “thank you’s”

3 Affirm what is real in them

Help them to accept failure

4 Ride on to the mental framework but be in touch with the truth

Help them to focus on the ordinary

5 Help them to come out of their cave. Do not wait for them to come out
for you will be out-witted
By coaxing their creativity, challenge them and affirm them
Show interest in their writing
Challenge them to something new
TYPE HELPING THE OTHER

6 Call to test courage

Affirm them
Follow them through

7 Don’t like to be told

Call them to be accountable of their own plans
Give them the hardwork
Do not pick up pieces for them, let them do it
Call them to awareness of what they are doing

8 Call their gentleness

Do not counter aggression
Disarm them in a gentle way

9 Help them manage the conflict

Call them out of their shells for they contain gold
 FRIENDSHIPS

1 1-2-4-7-8–9 6 6-3-5-7-9

2 2-1-3-4-5-8 7 7-1-5-6-8

3 3-2-4-6–9 8 8-1-2-5-7-9

4 4-1-2-3–5 9 9-1-3-6-8

5 5-2-4-6-8
 Point 1 The Perfectionist
 Attention goes to error, to what needs correcting
 Judging mind. Things are either right or wrong
 Powerful inner critic monitors thought, word and deed
 Worried about getting things right; unusually sensitive to criticism
 Striving for perfection
 Responsible
 Postpones pleasures
 Repression of impulses/desires
 Focus on being good
 Rigid, overly controlled
 Independence valued
 Virtue is it’s own reward

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 One at Work
 Work Best In -Organization with clear guidelines and in
jobs requiring details such as Accounting, Finance,
Science and Technology
 Have problems working in - Fields where the rules of the
game constantly change, such as Marketing technological
products, Entrepreneurial set ups, where decisions are
made with partial information
 Where business wants it’s ones - Hospital operating
rooms, Nuclear reactor inspection teams
The Enneagram Advantage by
Helen Palmer
 Point 2 The Giver
 Attention goes to the needs of significant others
 Price in giving/helping”People depend on my help”
 Gives to get approval and acceptance
 Sometimes feels taken advantage of
 Hard to express own needs
 Self-presentation alters to please significant people
 Manipulative. Indirect approach to meeting own needs
 Likes to be the power behind the throne

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 Two at Work
 Work Best In - Jobs where there’s a high interpersonal
component: Human resources, health care professions,
service industries, sales representatives.
 Have problems working in- Jobs that are isolated from
positive contact with people: lighthouse keeper, forest
ranger, computer programmer
 Where business wants it’s twos - Facilitating a fund
raising drive, representing them at local chamber of
commerce luncheons, dealing with the media

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 Point 3 The Performer
 Attention goes to accomplishing things
 Leisure activities are also results oriented
 Focus on goals not means
 Seeks approval and acceptance based on performance
 Image is important. Looking good
 inattention to feelings
 Fits own image to a work role
 Anger at obstacles to tasks
 Impatient. Feels constant pressure to perform

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 Three at Work
 Work Best In - Competitive environment with a ladder to
climb and a clear system of rewarding effort. Salary,
titles, and decision-making roles are incentives.
 Have problems working in - Jobs that require periods of
apparent inactivity no clear game plan. Threes do not
like to sit around and talk about ideas, revise a decision or
get slowed down by questions.
 Where business wants it’s threes - Marketing, sales and
advertising; during rapid expansion phase of any
business; situations that require efficiency, streamlining
and rapid turnaround.

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 Point 4 The Romantic
 Attention goes to what is missing
 Push-pull Phenomena
 Feels special and elite
 An abandonment theme “ I’m not lovable”
 Empathetic, especially for the suffering of others
 Romantic and artistic
 Resists being evaluated. I’m different

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 4 at Work
 Work Best In - Jobs in which creativity and individuality are prized.
They gravitate toward distinctive work-advertising,
performance arts, product design
 Have problems working in-Jobs that are rigid, impersonal
structures, or where the work is repetitive: the military,
insurance warehousing. Fours don’t work well with better
paid, more popular coworkers
 Where business wants it’s Fours-Onstage, creating in the lab or
at the drafting table: modeling

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 Point 5 The Observer
 Marked need for privacy
 Attention goes to observing rather than participating
 Intellectualizes
 Detached from feeling
 Limits intrusion from a world that wants too much
 Minimalist. Reduces needs;limits desires
 Self-sufficient
 Hoards time, space, energy, knowledge
 Compartmentalizes
 Looks superior (aloof), but feels inferior

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 5 at Work
 Work Best In - Jobs where there’s time to think. Research and
development, libraries, night shift at the computer lab
 Have problems working - Jobs that require open
competition or confrontation: The trading desk at a
brokerage firm. Fast paced interpersonal jobs, customer
service desk at a department store. Jobs requiring
emotional contact, day care provider, airline hostess
 Where business wants it’s Fives - Jobs calling for
continuous reanalysis: University professors, long-range
planner, on the board of directors

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 Point 6: Loyal Skeptic
 Attention goes to potential difficulties, danger, interference
 Active imagination;amplifies questionable areas
 Safety and security concerns
 Doubting mind, contrary thinking
 Questions people. “Bullshit detectors”
 Sees implications, inferences and hidden meanings
 Questions authority
 Ambivalent about success; discounts it or fails to complete
project
 Procrastinates because of fearing the outcome

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 6 at Work
 Work Best In - Environments where there are clear lines
of authority and defined problems. Jobs where honesty
and asking hard questions are valued: University
classrooms, auditing and investigative work
 Have problems working - Environments that have
ambiguous guidelines, an insider track, and lots of behind
the scenes wheeling and dealing
 Where business wants it’s Sixes - Prosecuting attorneys,
Chief financial officers, heading planning departments
and compliance officers

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 Point 7: The Epicure
 Attention goes to what is positive and to future possibilities
 Optimistic; sees multiple options
 Difficulty with commitment
 Doe not want limits
 Pleasure-seeking, life is an adventure
 A glutton for experience and enjoyment
 Has many interest
 Active-lots of projects and overbooked
 Experience is more important than success
 Feels entitled; narcissistic
 Charming and disarming
The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer
 7 at Work
 Work Best In - Jobs where there’s a spirit of adventure: fast-
paced settings and rapidly changing information Sevens are
theoreticians, futurist and multi task people
 Have problems working - Jobs with predictable futures that can
be finessed to make them more interesting, or repetitive work
isolated from, simulation, laboratory and assembly-line worker,
tailor
 Where business wants it’s Sevens - The brainstorming and
planning stage of any interesting project. Discovering points of
similarity between different fields of interest, university
interdisciplinary studies track, jobs requiring networking and
promoting complex ideas, such as politics, lobbying, media
production manager, public relations outreach, field works

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 Point 8: The Boss
 Attention goes to power, dominance, and control of
territory
 Concerned with strength and protecting the weak
 Denies own vulnerability and weakness
 All or nothing polarities; things are black or white
 Believes in absolute truth, justice
 Aggressive, intimidating and impulsive
 Wants stimulation and excitement
 Direct and confrontational
 Express anger (“gets pissed”)

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 8 at work
 Work Best In - Jobs where there’s competitive juice and
constructive outlet for energy. Eights like their own fiefdom and
a clear chain of command for redress of grievances. Real estate
developer, CEO of their own company, Military commanders.
 Have problems working In - Jobs that require protracted
diplomacy and shared power: co-chair of anything , consumer
relations, representative commanders.
 Where business wants it Eights - At the helm during
confrontation, spearheading an expansion phase; trial lawyers,
union organizer, manager of a sports team

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 Point 9: The Mediator
 Attention shifts to secondary activities
 Nonessentials may get equal attention with the essential
 Sees all sides of an issue
 Peacemaker/harmonizer; overly adaptive
 Pleasing and caring;has difficulty saying no
 Participates. Joins in
 Wants the comfortable solution, avoids conflicts
 Ambivalent
 Indirect anger;passive aggression
 Contains own energy and anger

The Enneagram Advantage by Helen Palmer

 9 at Work
 Work Best In - Jobs that require big-picture
perspectives and take account of multiple inputs:
global planning.
 Have problems working In - Fast paced, rapidly
changing environments that downplay
interpersonal communication.
 Where business wants it Nines - U.S. postal
service, Vice President administration, office
manager, big picture planning